Gamma Iota Sigma Newsletter                           
March 2013 
 
In This Issue
Save the Date!
GIS Webinar Series
Featured Webcast
Free Subscription to Best's Review Magazine!
Latest Issue of WIN Magazine
Alumni Spotlight: Aaron Augustyniak
Featured Jobs & Internships
Alumni Update Form
New Deadlines Added
Quick Links

Upcoming Deadlines

   

InVEST Higher Education Scholarship Deadline
April 26, 2013 

 

April 30, 2013


DW Simpson Actuarial Science Scholarship Deadline
April 30, 2013

  

Robert Clements / ACE Scholarship Deadline

April 30, 2013

 

Actuarial Diversity Scholarship

May 03, 2013 

  

 Click here for a calendar of other deadlines and events

Executive Committee
 Jeffery W. Lamb

President

 

Dr. Alan C. Williams

Executive Vice President

 

Alan E. Hoffmann

Immediate Past President

 

John D. Meder

Past President

 

Lance A. Lancour

Secretary

 

Brian Bowerman

Treasurer

 

John Hammond

Vice President

 

Meg Allwein

Vice President

 

Josh Hart

Alumni Representative

 

Dr. RB Drennan

Faculty Representative

 

Christopher Place

Industry Representative

 

James Heuker

Student Representative

 

Noelle Codispoti 

Executive Director

 

Dear Students,
 
We are pleased to provide you with the latest opportunities for academic and professional development, plus special offers from our partner organizations to complement your own rigorous preparation to enter the dynamic world of risk management. This month we feature webinars, scholarships, and industry publications for you to take advantage of. We also encourage you to send your chapters' latest news and activities so we can share throughout the GIS network!

 

Fraternally yours,

Noelle Codispoti, ARM
Executive Director, Gamma Iota Sigma
Save the Date for the 42nd Annual International Conference!

The 2013 Conference, Get Your Motor Running, will take place October 3-5, 2013 in Charlotte, NC. We are thrilled to have the Rho Chapter from Appalachian State University as this year's co-host. Stay tuned for registration and reservation details.
Charlotte Skyline
GIS Webinar Series
Next installment is March 27, 2:30-4pm EST     

Register now for the March 27 webinar, Introduction to Reinsurance Pricing, sponsored by the Casualty Actuarial Society. Josh Fishman, FCAS, MAAA, Senior Treaty Underwriter & Vice President for Casualty Products for Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation and a 1997 Temple actuarial science grad, will present the fundamentals of pricing reinsurance contracts. We will start with the basic types of reinsurance a pricing actuary will encounter, including quota share, excess of loss, and catastrophe covers. Using practical examples, we will discuss the different approaches used in pricing each type of contract, and the data and assumptions required to price these contracts. In addition, we will discuss qualitative factors and negotiating strategies that often enter into reinsurance pricing. This webinar is brought to you by Gamma Iota Sigma and the Casualty Actuarial Society, a leading resource in educating casualty actuaries and conducting research in casualty actuarial science. Space is limited; register here. 
 
Catch the replays of the most recent webinars:

Thank you to Assurex Global for providing the host technology.

Featured Webcast: "Attracting and Developing Tomorrow's Insurance Stars," presented by A.M. Best 

Don't miss the replay of the timely and relevant webcast hosted by A.M. Best, "Attracting and Developing Tomorrow's Insurance Stars." Featuring our own Noelle Codispoti among the panelists, the webcast addresses a hot topic for all Gamma members and is also featured in the March issue of Best's Review - print edition. 
FREE Subscription to Best's Review!

Be sure you are taking advantage of the special offer from our partner company A.M. Best! Students and faculty can access a FREE subscription to Best's Review magazine - digital version. Link to the registration page here! Best's Review is the premier insurance industry monthly magazine, providing the latest global news and trends, plus industry analysis and featured articles.
WIN Magazine: Spring 2013 Issue

Check out the Spring 2013 issue of WIN Magazine! Wholesale Industry News (WIN) is a publication of our partner organization AAMGA and brings you the most up to date information on news and trends unique to the wholesale sector.

AAMGA logo
Alumni Spotlight: Aaron Augustyniak
Life after College

Fellow Gamma members,

 

My name is Aaron Augustyniak and I recently graduated from Illinois State University in 2012 and was president of the Alpha Kappa chapter. I currently work at Gen Re as a Property Facultative Underwriter in Philadelphia, PA. After graduation, I participated in Gen Re's extensive 10-week training program with 28 other trainees from around the world. This was an incredible opportunity to learn about the various lines of insurance as well interacting with other trainees from around the world.  

 

Enough about me, I want to tell you a little bit about my day-to-day job and some suggestions I have from entering into the insurance industry.

 

Typical Day as a Property Reinsurance Underwriter:

 

8:30 AM - Arrive at office

8:30-9:30 - Check email (delete ALL irrelevant email) 

9:30-12 Underwrite property accounts (depending on the complexity, can get 3-5 completed by lunchtime)

12-2PM - Client marketing (2 times a week roughly, i.e: lunch, office walk-through's, industry event, golf etc.)

2-3:30 - Underwriting 

3:30-3:45 - Coffee break (oh trust me, you say now you won't drink coffee, but soon enough you'll learn, young grasshopper. Just like those 5-Hour Energy commercials.)

3:45-4 - Catch up with manager/mentor (imperative to your growth within the company to find a second to catch-up with a one of them if they have time. Ask questions.)

4-5:30 - Underwriting

5:30 - Leave depending on my work load (don't be afraid to leave, but ask another employee if you can help with anything. Be proactive.)

 

A Couple of Challenges I've Experienced after College:

1.) Remembering Names: Depending on your interaction with your clients or co-workers, you are the "new guy" and you will be introduced to an overwhelming amount of people. 

Suggestions - write key points on the back of their business card, pick out something in cubicle to remember or just ask for their name again! 

 

2.) Studying for the CPCU after work: Let me tell you, I should have passed more of those suckers in college! LISTEN when your professors tell you to take as many as you can in school! 

Suggestions - a chapter a night right when you get home. Don't sit on that couch, go right to a table. Real Housewives of (name a city) can wait. Study on the train on the way to work or on the way home.

 

Suggestions For Post-Graduation:

1.) Ask Questions Now: This is the time to ask as many questions as possible and nobody will judge you. It's a lot easier said than done, but don't be afraid to ask for clarification not once, but maybe twice. Ask what can you do to help (i.e: company research, nitty gritty stuff, anything). Don't take it too far and be a brown-noser. Nobody likes them.

 

2.) Young Insurance Professional Group: Get involved. Take a step outside of your comfort zone. Try and bring a friend. I won't beat it into the ground because I know many of you already know, but networking is crucial in the insurance industry.

 

3.) Keep Those Gamma Connections: I relocated for my job out to Philadelphia from Chicago. Yes, it is extremely tough and is a lot easier said than done, but with my Gamma connections out here (Shout out to LaSalle and Temple), I've been able to expand my network and meet other insurance professionals that I will be doing business with in the future!  

 

That's all. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about my job, or anything in between. I'd say I'm a pretty laid-back guy and open to anything. Aaron.Augustyniak@genre.com

 

Cheers,

 

Aaron "Augie" Augustyniak

Featured Jobs at Partner Companies

Calling All GIS Alumni!

GIS boasts an alumni base of over 15,000 individuals from our 54 chapters and we need your help in updating our current records. Please use the link below to update your information and pass it on to as many alumni as you can.

Calendar Additions 

Be sure to check out the GIS online calendar. We continue to add deadlines for exciting upcoming scholarship opportunities!
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