COMMITTEE OVERVIEW
RISE is committed to creating actionable initiatives to drive positive change in the industry. With great people and ongoing support, the RISE committees are impacting the future of insurance.
DEI Committee
The purpose of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee is to promote D&I in RISE and the insurance industry, bring resources to our members, and to connect like-minded professionals. This committee hosts a broad range of speakers, launched a D&I podcast called Off The Record, and is building RISE’s connections with HBCUs to promote insurance to the next generation. If you’re looking to meet other professionals that look or think like you, you want to educate yourself on how to be more inclusive, or you’re passionate about making a difference when it comes to D&I in insurance, this committee is for you.
Our committee meets once a month. Check out the event calendar for upcoming events and committee meeting dates.
Meet the Leadership
Holli Charles
Chair
Holli is a Senior Account Executive with Helmsman Management Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance. Holli loves all things food, reading, dancing to House music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is also passionate about serving her community through her volunteer work and involvement in various non-profit organizations.
Awais Farooq
Co-Chair
Awais Farooq, CPCU, is the SVP of Strategy & Transformation at Crawford & Company. Insurance industry is evolving at a rapid rate and Awais is a strong advocate of innovative thinking to help insurance companies continue to make a difference for their customers. He is an active member of the insurance community and serves as a mentor to professionals in various areas. When not behind his computer, Awais enjoys exploring small coffee shops.
Faith Mason
Strategic Planning Board Sponsor
Faith is the VP, Strategic Analytics for Arch Insurance. When she is not working to help injured employees she’s home being a dog mom to two stately pups, Mustafa the Wonderful and Shango the Brave. On any given afternoon you can find her binge watching the recently discovered Amazing Race (32 seasons – mind blown) or blogging in her lady den. She enjoys a good run and beating her friends in Zoom Yahtzee.
Charmaine Rice
Advisory Board Sponsor
Innovation Committee
The RISE Innovation Committee discusses and teaches innovative thinking as well as brings innovation and creativity to RISE itself. Our group regularly researches and discusses the impact of insurtechs on internal and customer service processes. We host podcasts, interviews and share innovation news on a weekly basis. Check out our posts every Tuesday on the RISE Linked In page. If you want to stay up on what’s new and exciting happening in the insurance industry, learn how to be more innovative, or take on leadership roles, the Innovation Committee is for you.
Our committee meets once a month. Check out the event calendar for upcoming events and committee meeting dates.
Meet the Leadership
Ema Roloff
Co-Chair
Along with the team at EIS, Ema helps insurers set and execute their Digital Transformation strategy. As the host of the series Leading Change, she has conducted over 200 expert interviews in the space of Digital Transformation, Innovation and Insurance. Ema has been recognized as the AI Journal Young Tech Leader of the Year, a RISE 35 under 35 Award Winner, and named in Lightico’s Insurance Innovators Top 100.
Derek Burgess
Co-Chair
Megan Nelson
Immediate Past Chair
Megan is an Analytics Consultant at Gallagher Bassett where her team generates innovative solutions to improve claim outcomes for claimants and clients. She is passionate about building up the skills of others and increasing awareness of opportunities within insurance. Megan lives in Chicago and is a world traveler, a math nerd, a singer, a golfer, a golden retriever lover and a board game enthusiast.
Caitlin McPhillips
Social Media Liason
Owie Agbontaen
Strategic Planning Board Sponsor
Education Committee
The purpose of the education committee is to design the education content available to RISE members. This includes CE & CLE accreditation, webinars, website content, and videos. If you have a passion for learning, would like to share your ideas, or want to make a difference for the next generation, this committee is for you.
Our committee meets once a month. Check out the event calendar for upcoming events and committee meeting dates.
Meet the Leadership
Gracemarie Mende
Co-Chair
Gracemarie is a born and raised Jersey Girl and Arch Insurance Senior Claims Account Manager who spends her free time chasing her toddler around in his bat mobile, baking and trying new recipes, and traveling with her loving husband. With a background in Education prior to her tenure in insurance, Gracemarie brings a passion for teaching to her career and encourages her adjusters to keep learning to be their best.
Bert Dizon
Co-Chair
A resident Los Angeles, he is an avid home cook, aspiring world traveler and will never pass up an opportunity to Karaoke. With a passion for education and mentorship, he believes that everyday it is important to learn something new.
Anne Bowen
Strategic Planning Board Sponsor
Engagement Committee
The purpose of the engagement committee is to connect members with the best resources, connections, and events that will benefit them personally and professionally. The engagement committee hosts events, welcomes new members, has a presence on social media, and produces our newsletter. Best of all, we have fun!
If you’re interested in meeting other professionals, learning more about what RISE has to offer, connecting with a mentor, love social media or planning events, this committee is for you.
Our committee meets once a month. Check out the event calendar for upcoming events and committee meeting dates.
Meet the Leadership
Maren Mooney
Co-Chair
Maren Mooney is Director, Claims for Stratus Risk Associates, a custom risk management solutions and claim services provider. Maren has worked in the construction industry since 2009; She has a Master of Jurisprudence in Compliance and Risk Management, holds an insurance producer license in the state of Iowa for property and casualty lines and a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) certification from IRMI.
Erika Qualben
Co-Chair
Erika currently lives in New Jersey and is a VP, Talent for Westfield Specialty Insurance. She has spent much of her career within the Insurance Industry, working in Human Resources. In her various roles, Erika has partnered with leaders and teams to provide a wide range of HR support. Outside of work, Erika enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling, playing tennis, and spending time outdoors.
Mary Calmer
Strategic Planning Board Sponsor
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