Matthew Rodermund Memorial Service Award
Paul received the Matthew Rodermund Memorial Service Award for his many years of volunteer experience and contribution to actuarial profession.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
A week before I finished college, a recruiter from Aetna Insurance was on campus talking to students about the actuarial career. I was intrigued by what I heard and thought it would be a good fit for me. Prior to that, I knew very little about the actuarial career. This is what has driven my passion to help students learn more about the career at an earlier stage than I did. That is why I have volunteered with the University Liaison program, the University Engagement Committee, and mentoring students at CAS meetings.
What is your favorite CAS memory about volunteering?
My favorite CAS memories surround volunteering as a mentor for the Student Program at CAS meetings. It is inspiring to talk with the students who will be the next generation of actuaries – they are so much more knowledgeable and worldly than I was at that age. I enjoy sharing what I have learned about the profession and what makes it interesting to me, and learning from them what they have experienced in classes and internships. Their questions often make me think of things long forgotten (it’s been quite a while since I was an entry level actuary).
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
Volunteering is a great way to network! The actuarial profession is relatively small, and it is suprising how often your path crosses with those of other actuaries throughout your career. An actuary’s network is useful in many ways – from lifelong friendships, to future job opportunities, to sources for advice on projects, to recommendations for committee assignments, to dinner companions at CAS meetings, and many others.
Andrew received the Matthew Rodermund Memorial Service Award for his many years of volunteer experience and contribution to actuarial profession.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
To give back to the profession because it has given so much to me in terms of personal and professional satisfaction.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Meeting and collaborating with other members and the CAS office staff.
What is your best memory about volunteering?
Friendships that have developed over the years.
What is the thing you are most proud of with regards to volunteering?
Being able to successfully lead and manage committees consisting of members with diverse ideas and opinions.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
Start volunteering immediately after the attainment of membership and do not stop volunteering throughout your career!
New Member Award
Chor Leong received the New Member Award for his work on the Asia Regional Casualty Actuaries (ARECA) and the Asia Regional Working Group.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I enjoy the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and interacting with various levels of leadership and the community. There were no barriers and we were all treated equally and fairly. You could be a C-Suite of a large corporation or a student from a university but as a CAS volunteer, we are all the same! Without barriers, information and knowledge are freely shared and exchanged. This fits exactly the purpose of the CAS - to advance the body of knowledge of actuarial science.
Is there one aspect of volunteering that stands out?
One of the impactful advices I got from a dear friend and fellow CAS volunteer was "paying it forward". I also combine this with Guy Spier's advice on the power of "thank you" - writing gratitude notes to great people you met along the way. I would not been able to meet so many amazing and wonderful people if I did not volunteer. It's the "intrinsic value" of volunteerism. The fact that it doesn't stand out, makes it all the more "stand out" for me.
Best memory about volunteering?
Meeting Mr Geoff Werner is certainly one of it! My generation of Exam 5 utilizes his text, Basic Ratemaking, extensively. The local university volunteers even brought copies of his textbook to be autographed! That's what gets actuaries excited. Putting faces to the names is great too. I had worked with a couple of volunteers and CAS staff across the world and it's so exciting when we finally meet in person! It's like meeting up with long-time friends that we haven't met in a while.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And as the idiom goes, "many hands make light work." Just raise your hand to help out in any way you can! Start small. Be proactive. It's actually much easier that you think it is. And most importantly, enjoy the volunteering!
Anything else you want to share?
If you haven't, I strongly recommend all actuaries to read "The Psychology of Human Misjudgment" by the late Charlie Munger. I became a better actuary, and a better person with his wisdom.
Rohan received the New Member Award for his work on the Property & Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA) Project.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
I volunteer for the CAS because I truly believe in their mission to make a positive impact on our community of Property/Casualty Actuaries. The work the CAS does aligns with my values of giving back and promoting our professional society. Volunteering also allows me to grow personally and professionally, as I’m constantly inspired by the people I work with and the kind of tangible impact we can have.
What is the thing you are most proud of with regards to volunteering?
What I’m most proud of in my volunteering experience is how it’s pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I have had opportunities to collaborate with others on developing the Property & Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA) exam and project. I also had the opportunity to participate at the DC Black College Expo to share with high schoolers information about the actuarial profession.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
My advice to new CAS members is to start by being open-minded and proactive. Volunteer work can be a learning experience, so don’t hesitate to ask questions, offer ideas, and take on new challenges. It’s also important to build strong connections with your fellow volunteers, as teamwork and mutual support are key to making a lasting impact.
Jack received the New Member Award for his efforts with the Candidate Advocate Working Group.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I enjoy the impact I am able to make in partnership with other CAS volunteers and staff! Seeing the Student Central Summer Program develop from an idea into a program that has had an immense educational impact on 100s of students every year has been very rewarding. If you have an idea, you can turn it into action at the CAS in combination with the broad network of other actuaries you build through volunteering.
Best memory about volunteering?
My favorite memory of volunteering is seeing fellow volunteers in person at CAS meetings! After years (sometimes) of Teams meetings, it’s nice to finally meet folks in person. As I’ve attended Annual Meetings over the years, I’ve made intentional efforts to meet up with other volunteers to get to know one another better and discuss what’s to come at the CAS!
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
Try it out! There are plenty of opportunities for you to immediately give back to the profession and your peers – from helping educate and inspire the next generation of actuaries through the Student Central and University Engagement programs to helping evaluate the next generation of actuaries through writing and grading. You’ll find your passion as you go, and meet lots of friends and colleagues along the way!
Zach received the New Member Award for contributions to the Professionalism Education Working Group.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
I started volunteering for a couple of different reasons. First, I specifically remember thinking when I took my Course on Professionalism that the facilitators were really enthusiastic and brought a lot of energy to the course. I wanted to do the same for future candidates after having such a good experience at what I expected to be less than exciting. On top of that, I wanted to start giving back to the actuarial community in a way that I could help bring about positive change that I wanted to see. I have had some struggles throughout my exam process and wanted to be able to influence changes to help future candidates not face what I faced. It has been incredibly rewarding to work with candidates and help to give them a voice.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I really enjoy facilitating the Courses on Professionalism and getting a chance to meet and work with the soon-to-be ACAS’s. It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting so many new folks who are on the cusp of finally getting their credentials and sharing in the excitement. I have had the opportunity to continue to keep in touch with many candidates and seeing many at CAS meetings and even helping motivate some to volunteer (many for the Professionalism Education Working Group!). It’s very rewarding to help give others the same experience I was able to have at my COP. Additionally, I have made some incredible lifelong friends from my volunteering with the Professionalism Education Working Group that I never would have met – and I am very thankful for that!
Best memory about volunteering?
One of my favorite memories from volunteering was seeing so many of my fellow volunteers and prior COP candidates in Phoenix at the 2024 CAS Annual Meeting, which was my first big CAS meeting since I started volunteering back in 2020. It was so fun catching up with past candidates and seeing so many familiar faces in the crowd at the sessions I presented. And of course, spending time with all of my committee friends I have made over the years throughout the 4 days!
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
My advice is to just dive into a volunteer opportunity that you think sparks your passion. There are plenty of different opportunities available and I would strongly recommend at least exploring the possibilities. The VIP survey is an easy consolidation of options out there that anyone can read through and get more information from. And if someone is interested in learning more about the Course on Professionalism or the Professionalism Education Working Group, I would love to hear from you and share my experiences.
Above and Beyond Achievement Award
Kyle received the Above and Beyond Award for his involvement with the University Engagement Advisory Working Group, the Case Competition Task Force, and the CAS Student Central Summer Program.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
I started my professional life as a teacher, teaching math obviously! Since then, I've always had a passion for helping students because I want to see them achieve more than what they think is possible. Within the CAS, I am still able to do that as a University Liaison, a Summer Program mentor, and most recently as the chair of the Case Competition Task Force.
As an ambassador of our profession, I had the honor of meeting in person some of the students I've mentored virtually while presenting at the student sessions of several CAS meetings. Seeing them in person and catching up is only rivaled by the follow up mentor meetings where I get to hear about how far my teams make it in the competitions. It's difficult to pick a favorite between the two.
Sara received the Above and Beyond Award for her work on the Candidate Advocate Working Group.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
Volunteering for the CAS has been a fun and fulfilling experience. Not only does it give me opportunities to give back to the organization, but it also allows me to meet and collaborate with other actuaries from diverse backgrounds and walks of life who have inspired me both personally and professionally.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
One aspect of volunteering that I particularly enjoy is learning skills that I wouldn’t typically get the chance to as an actuary, such as video storyboarding for Microlearning, and editing and writing articles for the Actuarial Review. It’s a refreshing break from looking at numbers and spreadsheets all day and has helped me develop my communication skills.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
The culture among the CAS staff and the volunteer working groups is non-judgmental, collaborative, and supportive. It’s a great community to be a part of. I encourage new volunteers to keep an open mind when exploring all the volunteer opportunities the CAS has to offer and not be afraid to try something new!
Jimmy received the Above and Beyond award for his contributions to Asia Regional Casualty Actuaries (ARECA) and the Asia Regional Working Group.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
For the CPD… no seriously, there are several reasons. One is the chance to get exposure to topics and develop skills that I might not be as readily able to in my daily work. The second is the opportunity to network, discuss and share knowledge with other actuaries from around the world (who are also very willing to share their knowledge and experience). The third is the chance to help the profession and pay it forward; just as today’s actuaries have benefitted from the efforts of past volunteers, volunteering now is a way to ensure future members benefit in the same way too.
Is there one aspect of volunteering that stands out?
I think it’s the culture within the CAS volunteer community of inclusiveness and curiosity. I’m not exactly the ‘typical’ CAS volunteer; most of my career has been outside of North America, as an Australian I spell and say my words differently (colour vs color, organise vs organize, I’ve been told my pronunciation of ‘shape’ sounds like ‘sheep’!). But I’ve found with the CAS, my fellow volunteers not only don’t care about any of those things (luckily), but are not only open to hearing my (often different) perspective, but also value it and look to incorporate it into what the CAS does.
Favorite memory about volunteering?
Being one of the facilitators for the Asia Course on Professionalism has been a real highlight. Not only for the interactions with the students, but many of the facilitators have been doing the course for several years now, and the discussions we’ve had between ourselves have been both thought-provoking and a lot of fun. In 2024 we did our first in-person CoP since the pandemic in Malaysia, and meeting up with the other facilitators was like catching up with old friends.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
Just start doing it as that’s often the hardest thing, getting started. Try different things that get you out of your comfort zone, have fun along the way,
Fran received the Above and Beyond Award for her dedication to the Admissions Transformation Plan.
I have been volunteering on the Syllabus and Exam Working Group for about 16 years. I started on Syllabus, mainly because the Syllabus committee chair called me. Of the admissions committees, I thought syllabus was the most impactful - to be part of the group who decides what’s on the exams. I then decided that grading and item writing would help with syllabus, so I volunteered to grade and write items for that exam. I learned a lot by grading (it’s weirdly fun, if time consuming) and item writing (I’m really not good at it).
Over time, the syllabus committee got folded into the exam committee, mainly for better communication, which was a rocky transition, but I think it’s worked out pretty well. After putting in my time commitment for grading and writing, I remained on syllabus and became the General Officer through the JTA/ATP process.
I have met some really great people through volunteering, which is definitely the biggest benefit. Personally, I think everyone should grade at some point, and write items if you have that skill. Learning how the sausage is made gives you new perspective on the exams. For example - did you know that what you think is a trick in an exam question is rarely an actual trick? Take the question as written. Answer the question as written. Don’t over think it!
Volunteering is what you make of it. Especially for Exams, graders, item writers and syllabus updaters are needed every sitting. But if you really want to make an impact, talk to the team leads, vice chairs and chairs. We often need people to step into leadership roles. And you don’t have to put in 10+ years to get there.
Ernesto received the Above and Beyond Award for his work on the Property & Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA) Project.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
I view volunteering as an important part of hearing and sharing different points of view and staying current with what others are doing.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Working with others, outside of my usual work group, to accomplish something that will benefit many people.
Is there one aspect of volunteering that stands out?
The perspectives from other people (CAS staff and other actuaries) have all been important to me and helped me shape my own thinking about different topics.
Favorite memory about volunteering?
When on a tight deadline, small is beautiful! Working with Rohan Bhale and Dustin Larson (CAS Staff), we were able to put the puzzle pieces together on a hands-on project. A big dose of collaboration and some elbow grease can yield amazing results!
What is the thing you are most proud of with regards to volunteering?
Through volunteering, we have been able to put together some interesting projects to further skill development for the next wave of actuaries.
What advice do you have for new CAS members just getting their start in volunteering?
When you first join a group, ask questions, offer your insights, and ask to pair up with someone else to accomplish some tasks.
Josh received the Above and Beyond Award for his contributions to the Professionalism Education Working Group.
Why do you volunteer for the CAS?
Volunteering gives me an opportunity for additional exposure to things I find interesting - anything from learning about how new technologies are impacting insurance to discussing how behavioral economics relates to the ethical decisions actuaries need to make.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I get to work with fun and smart people, and I get to share things I find interesting with them. Learning and sharing learning is a passion of mine.
Is there one aspect of volunteering that stands out?
I've been able to meet tons of people through the volunteer work and speaking that I've done. That certainly includes many other CAS members, but it also includes insurance experts and actuaries from around the world. Volunteering has definitely broadened my network.
