FEATURES
COVER STORY: ELITE WOMEN SHANNON CLOONEN Director of risk management HERITAGE INSURANCE Recent business achievements: Oversees the risk management
strategies and reinsurance purchase for Heritage; in 2015, developed comprehensive risk management strategies and negotiated Heritage’s $1.8 billion reinsurance purchases; instrumental in making Heritage the fastestgrowing insurer in the US for the past two years Other professional roles: CPCU, ARM, ARe, ARC, AIM and AIS certifications; AIR
LAURA SHERMAN
certified catastrophe modeler
Founding partner BALDWIN KRYSTYN SHERMAN PARTNERS
Other accomplishments: Actively involved in fundraising for local charities
“Shannon has quickly become the go-to executive in our company, and is a guiding and mentoring our next generation of business leaders,” says Bruce Lucas, CEO of Heritage Insurance. “She is highly regarded by her peers both in and outside of Heritage and widely regarded a mentor to women in insurance industry.”
SHARON EMEK President and CEO WORK AT HOME VINTAGE EMPLOYEES Recent business achievements: Founded
WAHVE in 2010 to bridge the gap between insurance firms’ staffing needs and insurance professionals wanting to phase into retirement; currently provides staffing solutions for more than 100 insurance firms Other professional roles: Has served on numerous boards, including the Independent Insurance Agents of New York, Agents Council for Technology, the Center for Womens Business Research, the NYC Mayor’s Small Business Advisory Board and the IBM Small Business Research and Technology Advisory Council Other accomplishments: First woman to receive the IIABNY 1882 Fellow Award, the organization’s highest honor; first woman to receive the Sidney O. Smith Government Affairs Award from the IIABA; Helen Garvin Outstanding Achiever Award; National Promising Research Award (for her doctoral research); 2014 IBA Elite Woman; member of the 2015 IBA Hot 100 Prior to founding WAHVE in 2010, Sharon Emek was a partner at CBS Coverage Group, a regional full-service insurance agency. Emek also founded the Emek Group, which merged with CBS Coverage. Prior to joining the industry, Emek was a professor at Rutgers University, where she received her doctoral degree. A prolific public speaker on insurance, management and women’s business issues, Emek is often sought out by the media for her expertise. She’s appeared on CNN, CNBC, CBS and Lifetime and has been quoted by numerous periodicals, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
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Recent business achievements:
Co-founded Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners in 2006 and Baldwin Risk Partners in 2012; leads the company’s private risk management practice and marketing efforts; instrumental in BKS Partners’ consistently industry-leading growth and superior client retention; consistent top producer of new business; instrumental in the firm’s numerous awards and recognition for excellence in insurance and as a workplace Other professional roles: Member of the founding advisory board for the Council for Insuring Private Clients; member, AIG Private Client Group National Council; vice president, Safeco Southeast Regional Advisory Council; student and instructor with the National Alliance for the Certified Personal Risk Manager [CPRM] designation; currently pursuing the inaugural Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance [CAPI] designation Other accomplishments: Authors articles for Worth magazine as a leading advisor on risk management topics; speaks at national forums and seminars; sits on the board of directors for Meals on Wheels of Tampa and the Children’s Dream Fund; member, Bank of Tampa Women Connected Advisory Board Laura Sherman recruited 14 of BKS Partners’ 23 private risk management team members from outside the industry. She’s also created a career path to bring professionals and recent graduates to the insurance business.
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