The Best Insurance Professionals Under 35 in the USA |
Rising Stars 2023
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Ahead of the curve
The 2023 Insurance Business America Rising Stars are top young insurance professionals from across the United States. After considering candidates’ roles, achievements, and goals, IBA’s industry-leading panel awarded the Rising Star status to more than 70 achievers.
Industry expert Michael Falvey, president and CEO of Falvey Insurance Group, offers his view of what makes a Rising Star.
“The way we do business is evolving, so those who drive innovation, without compromising the human touch of insurance interaction, will go far.”
And he highlights that an advantage is their “comfortability and curiosity in challenging the status quo.” IBA’s Rising Stars are shaping the future of the industry with their initiative and dedication.
Maddie BejaRisk Placement Services
Maddie Beja – determined to succeed
29 years old
“So much of this industry is going out there and working as hard as you can, making sure you’re giving 110% of everything you do because that’s a reflection on you,” says Beja of Risk Placement Services (RPS).
While at Indiana University, she spent two summers participating in an RPS internship program and started in an associate broker role after graduating. Although hesitant at first, she seized an opportunity in their underwriting team and proved herself through hard work and perseverance.
Now assistant area vice president, Beja has distinguished herself by:
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helping grow the book of business from $2.2 million in revenue in 2016 to a projected $7+ million by the end of 2023
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being promoted to first-time manager in 2023
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attending the RPS President’s Club since 2021
Beja has benefited from maintaining a proactive mindset.
“Being present helps with developing relationships in the office and providing hands-on exposure and training,” she explains. “And in addition, it’s important to continue to promote the industry to attract and develop.”
And she is also keen to bring other talented people into the industry from all backgrounds, which Beja can relate to due to not having any family links to the industry.
“The more attention we can bring to the opportunities and really limitless potential that the career can offer will continue to attract and make sure the next wave of young professionals is as engaged and excited as we are,” she adds.
Tyler JohnsonAlliant Insurance Services
Tyler Johnson – seizing opportunities
31 years old
Another proponent of perseverance is Johnson, assistant vice president and staff manager of the healthcare division at Alliant Insurance Services. He entered the industry through an internship and is a graduate of the Alliant leadership program.
“Alliant made an investment in me,” he says. “I knew I had to outwork everyone. I knew I had to show up every day and be engaged and raise my hand and offer to help. I would stock the refrigerator just to try to create value for myself.”
Johnson assumed a management role right before the pandemic. He continued servicing his book of business with operational management responsibilities and eventually realized the need to delegate and hand over control in certain areas.
“It’s made me a better leader within my team,” he said.
Johnson has distinguished himself by:
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getting promoted six times in seven years
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managing over 35 direct reports and several indirect reports
He emphasizes the importance of cultivating learning opportunities in his success.
“We’ll have senior account executives come in and we’ll invite everybody to a lunch-and-learn. They teach on a certain topic, whether it’s loss analysis, going over different coverages or coverage lines, and we also work with our carrier partners to get those underwriters in front of our younger staff and talk about what they’re looking for when we send a submission to them.
“Just last month, we did a staff event where we had all our employees come in. We had a meeting and then for the afternoon, we did indoor putt-putt golf. That was very helpful because we had new employees who had never met people who work on the same team. That was good to help build relationships.”
Omar DogbeySompo International
Omar Dogbey – living in the moment
27 years old
The senior underwriter at Sompo International is committed to taking on all responsibilities and dealing with them.
“It’s about being present at work,” he explains. “Being present in the offices or when you talk to your clients and brokers. But I also mean being present in committees and different organizations. At those events, I meet people I typically wouldn’t have met in my day-to-day role who have helped springboard my career.”’
Dogbey went to Stockton University in New Jersey and graduated with a math degree with an actuarial science specialization. He wanted to live in New York and applied for a host of positions. Ultimately, he got a role as a systems analyst with AIG and transitioned into underwriting.
Dogbey has distinguished himself by:
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sitting on the junior board for the eastern chapter of the Multicultural (Re)Insurance Association
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co-founding an Interfaith Employee Resource Group (ERG)
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participating in a Black Professionals ERG
Being on the steering committee of the eastern chapter of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Dogbey is a big advocate of encouraging others to join the industry.
“Why do we keep it a secret?,” he says. “It’s not as widely recognized as investment banking or working at Tesla or Google or anything along those lines. But insurance as a career provides longevity and job security.
“Insurance is the lifeblood of capitalism. Without insurance, none of those companies would operate. The messaging around insurance – it’s not a sexy job or whatever – but there’s a lot of fun to be had in the industry as a whole.”
Advice for future Rising Stars
Dogbey recommends surrounding yourself with people to bounce ideas off and learn from.
“Early in my career, I didn’t realize the impact my peers had,” he explains.
Whether it was collaborating with a property expert or a risk analyst, Dogbey was able to take advantage of those relationships to build his knowledge and acquire a holistic understanding of the insurance industry instead of his siloed area of influence and risks.
He says, “Being able to leverage the people around you – not just senior leaders in the organization – but people next to you and going through the same things day to day is very important.”
On that note, Johnson underscores the importance of being proactive.
“Find somebody who’s been in the industry, someone that you could jive with, a mentor who is open to taking you under their wing and having somebody who you can pick their brain and bounce ideas off of,” he says. “Find somebody who can motivate and guide you. That is crucial to success and growth.”
Meanwhile, Beja espouses the need to look long-term and at the bigger picture.
“Look at your current position and your company as a career and not a job,” she explains. “Really look at the company that you join and make sure it is somewhere to set down roots and really grow and develop. It’s not just a nine-to-five mindset. I truly believe it does really help you become successful.
“Never burn bridges. You never know where you will end up later down the road and who you might be working with.
“Lastly, small things go a long way. If someone takes the time to take you out to lunch or train you, make sure you thank them for that.”
The Best Insurance Professionals Under 35 in the USA | Rising Stars 2023
- Aarian Forman
Integrated Partnerships and Public Relations Strategist
The General - Albert Peterson
Director, Product
Travelers - Alessandro Trimarchi
Underwriting Director, Public D&O
Canopius - Alice Barresi
Vice President, Casualty Operations, US
Canopius - Amanda Constanza
Underwriting Manager
Agribusiness Risk Underwriters - Andrew Chen
Senior Commercial Underwriter/Broker
Burns & Wilcox - Angelica Ronga
Vice President, Cyber and Tech E&O
Canopius - Ariel Bach
Assistant Vice President
CRC Insurance - Armando Tellez
Account Executive
AssuredPartners - Ashley Wilson
Operations Manager/Senior Account Executive
AssuredPartners - Benjamin Rathbun
President
The Rathbun Agency - Brent Christman
Business Development Manager
Markel - Brian Crater
President
Crater Financial Services - Caitlin Townsend
Sales Executive, Health and Welfare Consultant
AssuredPartners - Cameron Alford
Insurance Manager
CSL Behring - CJ Nash
Underwriting Team Leader
CRC Group - Corynne Griffith
Assistant Vice President
RT Specialty - Dana George
Vice President, Life Science Leader
Newfront - David Watson
CEO/Founder at RiskAdvisor
Executive Vice President at Mappus Insurance Agency - Dominique Bolden
Underwriting Specialist
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty - Donald Carson Jr.
Office President
CRC Group - Emily Boody
Account Executive
Lockton Companies - Isabelle Repinski
Senior Account Representative
Marsh - Jake Doman
Consulting Director
Axion RMS - Jennifer Woiwod
National New Business Marketing Manager
USI Insurance Services - Jeremy Powers
Founder
Powers Insurance Experts - Jessica Centeno
Account Manager
Lockton - John McArthur
E&S Programs, Underwriter
Canopius - Jordan Owens
Regional Operations Manager
AssuredPartners - Justin Austin
Senior Partner and Strategic Advisor
USI Insurance Services - Kathleen Crowe
SVP, Southeast Zone Leader - Power & Renewable Energy
Marsh - Katie Wilson
Vice President
Marsh - Katrice Buck
Second Vice President
GenStar - Kelechi Anyanwu
Life Sciences Underwriter
CNA - Kyle V. Matthews
Director of Sales and Distribution
Hartford - Lindsey DiGangi
Assistant Vice President of Marketing
Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company - Maggie Stults
Manager, Inside Sales
Horace Mann - Megan Coe
Personal Lines Lead
North Town Insurance - Nicolette Cerne
AVP, Member Advocates
PURE Insurance - Patience Noah
Owner
Patience Noah Insurance - Sabrina Ali
Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
PURE Insurance - Santana Bozman
Managing Advisor of the Private Client Group
Gibson - Sarah Hudson
Employee Benefits Consultant
AssuredPartners - Shannon Gundersen
Chief Operating Officer
First Insurance & Risk Management - Shantelle Cabir
Senior Vice President and Producer
Newfront - Sydney Bowen
Underwriting Specialist
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty - Thomas Murphy
Senior Underwriter
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty - Tim Dunleavy
Senior Vice President
Newfront - Tom Carvalho
Associate Managing Director, Senior Underwriter, Personal Insurance
Burns & Wilcox - Victor Tang
Vice President
Marsh McLennan Agency
Insights
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Michael Falvey
President and CEO
Falvey Insurance -
Saray Uribe
Business Insurance Specialist/Agency Owner
CharSan Insurance & Consulting
Methodology
Starting in May, Insurance Business America invited insurance professionals across the country to nominate their most exceptional young talent for the ninth annual Rising Stars list.
Nominees had to be aged 35 or under (as of October 1, 2023) and be committed to a career in insurance with a clear passion for the industry. To maintain a focus on new talent, only nominees who hadn’t been previously recognized as an IBA Rising Star (or Young Gun) were considered.
Nominees were asked about their current role, key achievements and career goals, as well as the contributions they’ve made to shaping the industry. Recommendations from managers and senior industry professionals were also taken into account. The Rising Stars were determined by an independent panel of industry leaders composed of:
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Jacqueline Waters of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society
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Kristen Peed of the Risk and Insurance Management Society
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Victoria Learned-Fenty of Big I
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Sherita Hardy of the National African American Insurance Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter
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Akhil Chopra of Lockton Financial Services
The Rising Stars report is proudly supported by ACORD and the Association of Professional Insurance Women.
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