By Sue C. Quimby, CPCU, AU, CIC, CPIW, DAE, CLP
MSO, Inc.
The value of IAIP designations cannot be overemphasized. Learning is a lifetime process. I was in college when I got my first job in insurance. As a younger female member of the industry, it was important to me to get designations such as CPCU, CIC and AU. In addition to the wealth of knowledge gained, having the letters behind my name gave me credibility and confidence I needed to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Once that goal was accomplished, I realized that there were other skills that I needed to master in order to advance in my career as well as advance in other organizations I was involved in.
IAIP designations are unique in that they are applicable to anyone in insurance. They offer opportunities for personal and professional development. Many courses can be completed as self study at your own pace. Far more valuable than the designations themselves is the leadership, management, negotiation, organizational and planning skills we learn that help us in our jobs as well as all other aspects of our lives. Earning a designation is proof that you are dedicated and serious about your career.
While getting a designation is great, we should not overlook the plethora of other educational programs offered by IAIP. One that stands out is Confidence While Communicating, which helps to enhance public speaking and overall communication skills. I encourage everyone to make the most of the educational opportunities IAIP membership provides. IAIP designations and other programs offer something for everyone – no matter where you are in your career or what your job entails. Not everyone has time or resources to go back to school, but IAIP can help us to never stop learning.
Sue Quimby has been in the insurance industry since May 1977. Starting as a file clerk Sue was quickly promoted to a CSR after a week. Sue continued working part time during the school year. She is a licensed property/casualty producer. She spent over 14 years as an employee of several New Jersey insurance agencies, handling all aspects of property and casualty insurance from the application submission to policy issuance and servicing to claims handling.
Sue earned her CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation in 1987 and is a tenured CIC. She completed her CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) designation in 1989. She has also earned the AU (Associate in Underwriting), CPIW (Certified Professional Insurance Woman), DAE (Diversified Advanced Education) and the CLP (Certified Leadership Professional) designation.
Since November 1991 she has been employed by MSO, Inc. (The Mutual Service Office Inc.). Sue serves as MSO’s Senior Vice President, Media Editor, Client Services, Product Development and National School Director. Her job responsibilities include product development – creation of rates/loss costs, rules, and forms for MSO as well as member companies, writing articles for industry publications, training, and marketing to prospective new member companies. Sue has over 200 published articles – many of which have appeared in Today’s Insurance Professionals. She has done multiple presentations for organizations such as CPCU, IAIP and PAMIC. She has taught the in person and virtual versions of the IAIP public speaking course, Confidence While Communicating numerous times.
Sue is the Director of MSO’s Continuing Education school which currently is approved in 23 states and is expanding nationwide. She has also served as Director for the NJ Council of IAIP Insurance School. She teaches numerous CE and non-CE classes for various entities.
Sue is active in a number of industry organizations, serving on the Board of the NJ Chapter of the CPCU Society for over thirty years. She previously served on the national board of the International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP) as Regional Vice President -Region I.She is currently co-chairing the international IAIP education task force, and serves on the convention and marketing & publications task forces. Sue was the 2022 IAIP International Insurance Professional of the Year. She was Region I Client Services Professional of the Year in 2023. She is past president of both the NJ Chapter of CPCU, past and current president of Insurance Professionals of Central NJ and served two terms as State Director for NJ Council of IAIP (formerly NAIW). Sue chaired the international Publications Taskforce for IAIP for four years and served as IAIP’s Region I Education Director. She leads an IAIP Mastermind Group. Sue served on the NAIW Legacy Foundation Board of Directors as well as the Legacy Foundation taskforce. She has won numerous awards and scholarships from IAIP and is an accomplished trainer and public speaker.