Change Management and Innovation in Insurance with Lindsy Graichen Hudnall
IN-the-Know
Lindsy Graichen Hudnall, CPCU, AIDA, AU-M, AINS, LSSBB, is a process improvement expert currently serving as VP Strategic Operating Model & Execution Lead at Chubb. With a background in mathematics, analytics, and underwriting, she leads change management, driving operational efficiency and growth. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Lindsy discuss process improvements and making operational changes within a carrier, Lindsy’s experience as a female leader in the industry, and her unique role in the CPCU Society. Key Takeaways ● Lindsy’s career success started...
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Navigating Reinsurance Markets Around the World with Bryan Fuller
IN-the-Know
Fuller Consulting Principal Bryan Fuller is a reinsurance and insurance regulatory consultant with more than 30 years of specialized experience for U.S. insurance regulators and international financial institutions. He holds a BS in International Economics from Georgetown University and professional designations as a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Reinsurance (ARe), Accredited Insurance Examiner (AIE), and Market Conduct Management (MCM). He is active in the CPCU Society (former Kansas City Chapter President) and currently serves on the Reinsurance and Excess...
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Surplus Lines Decoded with Glenn Leung
IN-the-Know
Glenn Leung is the Vice President of the Surplus Line Association of California (SLA), which serves as the statutory surplus line advisory organization of the California Department of Insurance. Glenn leads a team focused on analyzing the financial solvency of nonadmitted insurers in California, and his team reviews 150 U.S. and Alien insurers that write more than $20 billion of premium each year. He received his bachelor’s degree in Economics & American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is the President of the Golden Gate CPCU Chapter, past chair of the RE&S...
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The Data Behind Insurance’s Retirement Wave with Matt Rigsby
IN-the-Know
The Data Behind Insurance’s Retirement Wave with Matt Rigsby Description: Matthew Rigsby is a Principal Researcher for Enterprise Research at The Institutes, where he supports education and professional development through market research and business intelligence projects. His recent work includes a white paper called “Talent Transformation: Key Metrics for the Insurance Workforce,” which explores the impact of the demographic shifts facing the industry. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Matt discuss the findings from this paper about the aging workforce and the...
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The Evolution of Premium Audit with Lindsey Archila
IN-the-Know
Lindsey Archila is the Director of Premium Audit at MEMIC. Her 20-year career in the premium audit world began as a field auditor, and she now leads a team of field auditors and audit analysts. She is an authentic, people-centered director with deep experience in Premium Audit, P&C Insurance, Talent, DEI, Operations, and Project & People Management. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Lindsey discuss the impact of premium audit on other departments and how it fits into the overall insurance ecosystem, the evolution of premium auditing, and the future of the insurance...
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From NFL Lineman to Insurance COO with Joe Valerio
IN-the-Know
Former Kansas City Chiefs lineman Joe Valerio is the Chief Operating Officer for The Baldwin Group’s Insurance Advisory Solutions (IAS) segment. Most recently, Mr. Valerio served as Division Leader, Western Division, for World Insurance Associates, LLC, where he drove revenue growth and margin expansion through disciplined sales execution and operational excellence across 27 offices across 13 states. Before World Insurance, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the CRB North America Industry Verticals Division at Willis Towers Watson, where he guided a team of nearly 3,000 colleagues...
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Skills for the Future of Insurance with Diane Hanlon
IN-the-Know
Diane Hanlon serves as Head of Sales and Market Development at The Institutes. With more than 23 years of experience in Fortune 500 B2B sales, account management, and contract management, Diane brings deep expertise in business development and client relationship management. Before joining The Institutes, she held senior sales leadership roles at On Call International, a Tokio Marine HCC company, and Enterprise Holdings. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Diane discuss sales leadership and insurance industry careers, the latest initiatives at The Institutes, and the value...
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50 Years in Insurance with Betsey Brewer
IN-the-Know
Betsy Brewer is a founding member of the USC Marshall School, Peter Arkley Risk Management Institute. She serves on the Nominating Committee and is past global president of the CPCU Society and of Independent Agents & Brokers of California-Los Angeles. For her service to the risk management and insurance industry, she received the California Ramsden-Sullivan Award. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Betsy discuss her experience as one of the first female leaders in the global CPCU Society, as well as a female leader in the risk management industry and the brokerage...
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Developing an Emerging Insurance Market with Paul Dumitru
IN-the-Know
Paul Dumitru is an Insurance Specialist at the Financial Supervisory Authority of Romania, President of the CPCU Romanian Chapter, and 2025 CPCU Society International Ambassador, where he will represent the CPCU Society and continue fostering international connections and awareness of the CPCU designation and the CPCU Society. A CPCU Society member since 2013, Paul earned his CPCU designation in 2017. He is a member of the Europe Chapter, serves as the acting President of the newly forming Romania Chapter, and is a committee member on the Global Virtual Community Steering Committee....
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Strategic Operations Support in Modern Insurance with Brian Schmidt
IN-the-Know
Brian Schmidt is a senior insurance executive with more than two decades of experience across primary insurance, reinsurance, data and analytics, and consulting. At Xceedance, Brian leads the Strategic Accounts division as Senior Vice President and Business Leader, overseeing global teams that deliver operational excellence across the insurance policy lifecycle. Brian holds several industry designations, including CPCU, CIC, and ASLI, and earned both his BBA in Marketing and MBA from the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business. Brian has served as Chair of the Underwriting...
info_outlineRyan White serves as Assistant Vice President and Director of Ceded Reinsurance at UFG Insurance. He has held the roles of associate, commercial, and senior underwriter, underwriting supervisor, and the first underwriting manager of UFG Online. In 2021 he was named Assistant Vice President and recently transitioned into the newly created role of Director of Ceded Reinsurance. White holds extensive reinsurance experience, a BBA in Finance, and an MBA from the University of Iowa. He also holds the CPCU, ARe, AU-M, AU, and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) professional designations. He has served on the board of the Cedar Valley CPCU Chapter since 2020, and recently joined the CPCU Reinsurance and Excess Surplus Lines Interest Group in 2023, serving as Vice Chair for the 2024 term. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Ryan discuss launching an online platform in the reinsurance sector, ceded risk and reinsurance, and the career benefits of earning the CPCU designation.
Key Takeaways
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Unlike so many, Ryan entered the insurance industry intentionally.
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Reinsurance or primary insurance? Ryan weighs in.
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Details of the ceded reinsurance marketplace.
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Essential skill sets that aided Ryan’s rise from associate to management.
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The highs and lows of launching an online digital platform.
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The impact of the pandemic on Ryan’s work.
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Lessons learned while transitioning from the small business digital platform to the reinsurance arena.
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A tailored approach to meeting the ceded reinsurance needs of each client.
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An overview of the breadth of ceded reinsurance coverage.
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Ryan’s motivation behind his involvement in the CPCU Society.
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Reinsurance & Excess Surplus Lines Symposium 2025.
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Iowa as a global insurance hub.
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Ryan’s perspective on earning both the MBA and the CPCU.
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Ryan’s message to anyone considering the reinsurance sector.
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A five-year look to the future of the insurance industry and AI.
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Advice from current Ryan to his early career self.
Quotes
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“Launching an online digital platform was a really exciting time in my career and in the company.”
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“No matter what part of the industry you’re in, it’s all about relationships.”
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“The opportunities that are in front of you in the reinsurance industry are unlimited.”