SPECIAL REPORT
RISING STARS COLIN TINLEY Vice president, homeowners ICAT Age: 33
CAMERON ALFORD Risk and insurance specialist Evonik Corporation Age: 25
In his three years at Evonik Corporation, Cameron Alford has overseen and improved internal claims management for the marine cargo program, helped enhance the workers’ compensation process, and increased efficiency and compliance with the vendor risk management program. A proponent of continuous improvement, Alford is currently pursuing a master’s degree in risk and insurance. “Thinking ahead to the next 12 months, I expect companies within our industry to hold themselves accountable for standing against racism,” Alford says. “We must challenge management to support and listen to their teams and their members. We must also confront our external relationships and how those organizations may contribute to the systemic and systematic nature of racism.” To help drive that change, Alford is a member of RIMS’ Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, serves as alumni chair and co-founder of GammaSAID, and is a member of the National African American Insurance Association.
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Since joining ICAT in 2015, Colin Tinley has been promoted three times, culminating in his current role as vice president of the homeowners business unit. During his first few years at ICAT, Tinley led the buildout of the company’s full homeowner’s policy, including rates, forms and underwriting guidelines for catastrophe-exposed policyholders in 18 states on the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast. Tinley has also served as the state manager for all territories, carrying responsibilities for the product’s overall profit and loss. He is closely involved in the development of new products, including ICAT’s first builder’s risk product, a short-term rental product, a residential wind-only product and products targeting high-net-worth individuals. “Like a lot of people in the insurance industry, I got in by accident, but now I’m never leaving,” Tinley says. “I’ve always been highly interested in the capital markets, technology and data/analytics, and I feel very fortunate that the industry strongly supports these passions with opportunities to fuse multiple disciplines across product development and management.”
MELISSA SMYT Vice president OLI Insurance Services Age: 34
After graduating with degrees in biology and art history, Melissa Smyt quickly found a niche in sales and marketing. This skill set eventually paved the way for her to join Heffernan Insurance Brokers as a junior producer. Today, Smyt is vice president of OLI Insurance Services, a boutique insurance aggregator designed to boost local agencies with market access, back-office support, resources and perpetuation solutions. Under Smyt’s leadership, the business has experienced exponential growth and continues to expand its national footprint. Looking ahead, Smyt hopes to see more agencies working to develop comprehensive gender equity and diversity initiatives to help women and people of color forge career paths in insurance. “The insurance industry provides endless opportunities for professional and personal growth,” she says, “but it is critical that gender equity and inclusivity are built into the fabric of that advancement.”
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