Awards

The Dallas CPCU Society are proud of the following awards and award winners.

 

 

President's Award for Board Member of the Year - Karen Pieroni

Karen Pieroni has been awarded the President's Award for Board Member of the Year for the year 2019. Karen began her insurance career in 1994 with Great American Insurance selling home & auto until 1998.  She joined Liberty Mutual in 1998 holding several positions in Personal Insurance: Sales Rep, Life Trainer, Sales Manager, Lean Coach, and Sr. Compliance Analyst. She has a BS in Marketing from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  She earned her LUTCF in 2004 and CPCU this year.  She recently completed all requirements for her API designation. Karen has lived in Chicago, Lincoln, NE, Syracuse, NY and has been in Dallas since 1987. She recently served as Recording Secretary for the CPCU Dallas Chapter and is now serving as Treasurer.

December 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Stacy Rodriguez

Stacy has been a chapter volunteer since end of September 2019, serving as a webmaster assistant.  Stacy is a Full-time student at UNT majoring in Risk Management & Financial Services. She is Director of Communications for UNT's Gamma Iota Sigma organization, works 25-30 hours a week as a commercial lines intern, plays soccer during leisure time in a co-ed and women's adult league, and last but not least, Stacy loves being a wife and cooking vegan food for her husband.  Congratulations Stacy!

Alisha Elhassan - National Scholarship Recipient

Big news! One of the UTD RMI students, and GIS officer, Alisha Elhassan was awarded one of the very competitive national scholarships from The Institutes Griffith Education Foundation! Photo attached is from the RIMS Boston 2019 trip when she and I went to a private tour of FM Global’s research facility outside of Boston. She works at FM Global. This is part of the wall of sprinkler heads invented and developed by her company!  Alisha was also one of two recipients in April 2019  of the $1000 CPCU Dallas Chapter College Scholarship.

November 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Dannon Childs

Dannon Childs has volunteered as the Chapter’s Webmaster since mid- 2018. Dannon currently works for State Farm as a Software Developer and is currently involved with their telematics product Drive Safe and Save. Dannon attended Arizona State University and graduated with a Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Degree. Dannon and his wife Heidi have 3 rambunctious boys, James (5), Parker (3), and Benjamin (1).  Aside from spending lots of time with the family, he volunteers with the youth at his local church. Congratulations Dannon!

October 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Alex Salinas

Alex Salinas, CPCU is a current Social committee volunteer. He is employed with Central Insurance Company as a Sr. Field Claims Adjuster.  Alex graduated from Northwood Univ. with a bachelors in Bus. Admin. , Paralegal cert. from UNT, and Graduate Finance cert. from SMU.  He will receive his MBA (specialized in Ins.) in October 2019.  Alex has his AIC and AINS designations.  He earned his CPCU in 2017 and has been a chapter volunteer since November 2018.  Congratulations Alex!

September 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Jonelle Williams

Jonelle Williams, CPCU is a current All Industry Day committee volunteer and will co-chair this event in Jan. 2020.  She is employed with State Farm as an Underwriting Support Services Supervisor, where she leads a team of Underwriting Service Assistants in the Personal Lines Contact Center.  Jonelle graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in French.  Her diverse professional career includes teaching for City Colleges of Chicago, Real Estate Agent, and Director of Supplemental Education Programs.  After relocating to Dallas, Jonelle began her career with State Farm in 2013.  She began as an Auto Underwriting and joined the leadership team in 2018.  Jonelle earned her CPCU designation in 2016 and has been a Dallas CPCU Chapter volunteer since 2018.  Congratulations Jonelle!

August 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Kathryn Walsh

Kathryn Walsh, CPCU, AIDA is an education committee volunteer. She assisted with the selection process of our 1st annual college scholarship applications & volunteered to become our chapter CE coordinator. Kathryn has been a Dallas CPCU Society member for a little under a year.    She is employed with GEICO as a claims supervisor and just wrapped up coordinating her Summer Leadership Internship.  She completed her CPCU designation last Summer and just obtained the AIDA (Associate in Insurance Data Analytics) designation from The Institutes.  Kathryn enjoys practicing yoga and travelling when she is not volunteering or working.  Congratulations Kathryn!

July 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Amanda Norris

Amanda, CPCU, CLU, SILA-F is our current Communication chair. In addition to handling her regular chair duties she has gone above and beyond by joining and assisting with the Education committee & I-DAY committee calls such as the June campaign calls and sending out emails on the 100+ others including revising the call campaign talking points making it more user friendly, and assisting with the IDAY agenda/flyer edits/formatting prior to going to the IDAY committee for review.  She often refers potential CPCU attendees/volunteers.   Amanda works for State Farm as a Staff Risk Compliance Analyst.  Congratulations Amanda!

June 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Allie Dean

Allie is a licensed Claim Trainer with State Farm Insurance, providing training to employees and their leadership across multiple claim segments. She earned her CPCU designation in 2016 and is currently pursuing her CLU designation. She attended Illinois State University where she received her BS degree with a double major in Finance and Insurance.  As a trainer, she has traveled to offices all across the country which has helped her pursuit of visiting all the MLB ballparks.  Allie relocated from California where she was the Social Committee Chair for the Golden Empire chapter. Allie is our 2019 Social chair. She coordinated her 1st chapter social in Mar. 2019 that included couples.  We had a record turnout of 55 people. Allie is working on the next big social/sporting event in the 4th quarter.  Congratulations Allie!

May 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Ben Orr

Ben Orr, CPCU, RPU is an All Industry Day committee volunteer and is always willing to fill-in where needed.  He is employed with the Hallmark Group as a Healthcare Professional Liability Insurance Underwriter and previously as an E&S Property Underwriter.   Ben have been a member of the CPCU Society for 4 years - Fort Worth (2) and Dallas (2).  When Ben is not involved in Insurance activities, he enjoys spending time with his family (wife, 2 kids - more in October), and Officiating High School Football for the last 15 years.  Congratulations Ben!

2019 Dallas CPCU College Scholarship Winner - Alisha Elhassan

Alisha Elhassan is currently a student at the University of Texas at Dallas pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Risk Management and Insurance, while also working full time at FM Global. Recently she was elected to serve as the Officer of Community Service for Gamma Iota Sigma Beta Phi for the 2019-2020 school year. She is excited to take on this leadership role to further serve her community and collaborate with the other officers and GIS members. 

Future career interests include getting the coveted CPCU designation and becoming an underwriter, more than likely in commercial property insurance lines. She loves her family and two dogs more than anything and when she is not working, going to school, or studying she likes to dedicate her time to them. Alisha’s hobbies include working out and browsing Pinterest for fun new recipes to try. She’s never been on a plane, but will be taking her first flight to Boston for the 2019 RIMS Conference end of April. Alisha is looking forward to meeting many knowledgeable industry professionals and making lifelong connections. 

2019 Dallas CPCU College Scholarship Winner - Landry Norris

Landry Norris is a senior at Wylie East High School and will graduate ranked 5th in his class. He will attend the University of Texas at Dallas and plans to double major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) drives his extracurricular activities and hobbies. Throughout high school, he was lead programmer on the robotics team and was head of software and data collection for the Solar Car Team which won 2nd at a national competition last summer. Landry recently took gold at the SkillsUSA state competition in Electronics Technology and is advancing to the national competition. In his spare time, he enjoys coding, building electronic components, and playing golf.

April 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Magda Barrie

Magda Barrie, CPCU, ARe; serves as the Communities Goods Works chair.  She is employed with Great American Insurance as a Commercial Lines Underwriter.  Magda is originally from Poland; however, she moved to England at an early age.  She graduated from Greenwich University with a Law Degree in 2010 and begun her insurance career at Zurich Insurance as Claims Paralegal. Magda moved to Texas in 2012 and worked in variety of roles including Operations, Risk Management and Underwriting. She received her CPCU and ARe designations in 2018. Magda is a member of the 3IG CPCU interest group.  Congratulations Magda!

March 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Howard Townsend

Howard Townsend, CPCU®is a current volunteer on the membership committee and Community Good Works committee.  Howard attends every Chapter Luncheon and delivers the monthly collected canned/perishable goods to The Senior Source.   He worked for approximately 40 years as an insurance claim representative.  Howard is retired and essentially a professional volunteer.  He also volunteers at the Perot Museum, two area food pantries and The American Heart Association.  Congratulations Howard!

Feb 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Maimouna Diallo

Maimouna, CPCU®is a current volunteer on the Registration Committee and very dependable.  She started in the insurance business as an agent, then as a personal lines underwriter for ING Insurance in Montreal, Canada. Maimouna moved to the USA in 2009 and decided to explore the commercial side. She has specialized in Security underwriting (Security guards, alarm installers, fire suppression contractors, private investigators...) first with Crum & Forster / CoverX for 7 years and more recently with Houston International Insurance Group (HIIG). Maimouna has an MBA in finance from Laval University in Quebec, Canada and earned her CPCU designation in Dec. 2015, just in time to go to the Hawaii conferment ceremony.  Congratulations Maimouna!

January 2019 Volunteer Recognition Award – Dong Feeley

Dong Feeley, CPCU® is a current chapter volunteer on the Education Committee.  She actively assisted with our recent All Industry Day event, assisted with the newly candidate sponsorship program, came up with the idea and advertises the chapter luncheon/registrations on the State Farm message center (available to be viewed by all State Farm employees). Dong attends chapter luncheons when her schedule allows it. She works for State Farm as a License, Risk & Compliance Supervisor. Dong and her husband Ryan have 3 kids, Bryce (8), Blake (6), and Brock (3) who are actively involved in baseball, soccer, Tae Kwon Do, and gymnastics.  She enjoy volunteering in their classroom and supporting their extra-curricular activities.  Congratulations Dong!

Platinum Circle of Excellence

 

Congratulations to the Dallas Chapter for being awarded the Platinum Circle of Excellence recognition for the 2019 year!  The CPCU Society’s Circle of Excellence Recognition Program awards each chapter for its efforts to achieve benchmarks in chapter performance. The Program provides chapter leaders, and committee and task force chairmen, with structure and guidance to achieve strategic, chapter and member goals. Chapters earn Gold or Silver recognition by achieving key initiatives of the Society's strategic plan.

 

 

December 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Chris Pilcic

Chris Pilcic is a current member of our Social Media committee. He consistently attends chapter luncheons and handles all streamings for our CPCU Chapter private members Facebook page.

Chris moved to Plano, TX in 2012 for a job with FOX 4.  He worked in television and radio until joining State Farm almost 4 years ago.  He attended a technical school to pursue a career in radio and TV and now working towards a bachelor’s degree.   Chris currently works in Public Affairs as a Sr. Specialist. Congratulations Chris!

November 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award - Ksenia Wilder

Ksenia Wilder, CPCU, MBA is an active chapter volunteer who consistently attends chapter luncheons and assists with all luncheon registrations including All Industry. She received her CPCU in 2010.  Ksenia is a Data Solutions Analyst (US Product Design and Modeling) at Liberty Mutual Insurance.  Congratulations Ksenia!

October 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Fredricka Myles

Fredricka Myles, CPCU, is an I-DAY chapter volunteer.  She was very active handling the list of prior and new sponsors. Fredricka made multiples calls timely, followed up with emails, created a spreadsheet for tracking, and shared with all key stakeholders.  She was very instrumental in helping the committee exceed our sponsorship from 2017.  She attends all meetings subject to her schedule. She is a Custumer Contact Center - Support Center supervisor at State Farm.  Congratulations Fredricka!

September 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award - Peter M Morford

Peter M Morford, CPCU, CLU, ChFC, CAPM   consistently attends chapter luncheons and displays creativity.  He has been instrumental in identifying and helping to plan our social events.  Peter assists with registration on a regular basis, most recently All Industry Day.  He makes a positive difference with his enthusiasm and willingness handle the “thank you” cards for our speakers, most recently for all I-DAY speakers and guests.  Peter is a Business Technology & Support Manager with State Farm.  Congratulations Peter! Thank You for “Serving With A Purpose”.

August 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Kate Guy

Kate Guy, CPCU, is our current committee chair for Event Organizing & Planning (Registration).  She also assists with our chapter social events. Kate has been instrumental in assisting the I-DAY by providing an streamline process allowing our  sponsors to efficiently make payment. Kate is an Underwriter for State Farm, specializing in Market Area Support. She received her AINS designation in 2012 and her CPCU designation in 2015.  Congratulations Kate!

July 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – John A. Martinez, Jr

John A. Martinez, Jr, JD, CPCU, is an I-DAY committee volunteer who networked assisting to secure I-DAY speakers for 2018. John is our current Mentoring Chair. He has been very active re-introducing Mentoring to the chapter. John joined the State Farm Dallas Claims Litigation Counsel team in March of 2011 and as Supervising Counsel beginning in November 2016.  He also currently serves as the Relationship Manager to the Hispanic National Bar Association.  John earned his CPCU in May 2017. Congratulations John!

June 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Amanda Norris

Amanda, CPCU, CLU, SILA-F who had been an inactive member renewed her membership in January 2018.  She was open to using her skills to benefit the chapter. A new volunteer opportunity was created for her, Dallas Chapter Registrant Outreach. She sends prompt reminders and thank you’s including important details, and a brief survey to all registrants at every chapter luncheon.  Amanda attends luncheons regularly and has invited four associates in her department to attend our luncheons all who are now chapter volunteers. She is creative, has a positive attitude, and helps to impact membership retention.  Amanda works for State Farm as a Supervisor in the Licensing Dept.  Congratulations Amanda!

 

May 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Martinique Castal

Martinique, CPCU, AIC, AIS, AINS is our current chapter photographer as of January 2018. He has gone above & beyond to assist the social media committee in posting updates on google photos and on all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn). He has displayed consistent attendance on committee communications and attends all chapter luncheons. He has demonstrated exceptional commitment, service, creativity, cooperation and leadership.  He works for State Farm as a manager in Claims Business Services. Congratulations Martinique!

April 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Ed Kiley

Ed Kiley has been the Dallas CPCU Society’s webmaster for the past few years.  Behind the scenes, Ed is the one who creates event registrations for our luncheons and special events, and he creates the Chaptergrams for our chapter.   Ed has spent numerous hours volunteering for the Dallas Chapter, and his efforts have helped us reach a greater audience via our website.    He has a positive attitude, and he has created communications that help drive member and new designee attendance.   Ed works for State Farm as a Business Analyst within Agency/Sales Resources (ASR).  Ed has earned his CPCU, CLU, and FLMI designations.  Congratulations Ed!

March 2018 Volunteer Recognition Award – Nasrin Mahmud

Nasrin is a social media volunteer and close to receiving her CPCU.  She has been very instrumental in the planning and implementation of the “Facebook live stream test” which included sending invites to 700+ chapter members for the CPCU member Facebook page. Nasrin recently graduated from UTD.  As a senior at UTD, wife, and GIS member she maintained balance on the social media committee while working part-time as a State Farm employee.  She has great attitude.  Nasrin referred an attendee during the Feb. luncheon– the referral was a chapter transfer for membership.  She will be relocating to Atlanta with her husband and starting her new job with CNA.  Nasrin plans to virtually mentor her replacement while serving the Dallas chapter through the end of the year.  Congratulations Nasrin!