Please welcome two new candidate representatives and three new CAS members to the Candidate Advocacy Working Group this year! These volunteers help advocate candidates’ viewpoints to the broader CAS community. Candidate representatives are volunteers who haven’t yet achieved the ACAS but are actively taking CAS exams. Candidates interested in joining the CAWG can apply annually each summer; CAS members can indicate their interest in joining via the CAS VIP Survey. CAWG members are your voice in the CAS — don’t hesitate to reach out to CAWG@casact.org with any feedback, ideas or comments! 

New Candidate Representatives 

Emily Miske 

Working with CAWG is Emily Miske’s second CAS volunteer experience. She is excited to advocate for candidates’ concerns and communicate enhancements to the CAS that promote the candidate experience. Miske graduated from Montclair State University in 2021, where she majored in mathematics with a concentration in statistics and a double minor in psychology and leadership development. She has been a CAS candidate since 2020 and is working on finishing Exam 6 and the COP to complete her ACAS. She first volunteered with the CAS as a mentor for the CAS Student Central Summer Program in 2023. Miske is an actuarial analyst at AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc. in New Jersey, where her current responsibilities include reserving, financial reporting and analytics. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and aims to serve as an ally and mentor to those entering the field of actuarial science.

Curt Glatz 

If he’s not working or studying for MAS II, Curt Glatz is likely making music on his guitar or synthesizers. He is excited to be part of CAWG and volunteer with the CAS, and he hopes to help make a positive impact on the candidate experience. Glatz graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He studied math and economics in undergrad and finance in grad school. He began his career as a financial analyst at GM Financial but has since joined GAINSCO’s actuarial department, where he’s had the opportunity to gain experience with reserving, pricing and predictive modeling. 

New CAWG Members 

Jessica Ackley, ACAS 

A 2017 graduate of Illinois State University, Jessica Ackley holds a degree in actuarial science and a minor in music. She joined the CAWG because she wants to help advocate for people currently going through the exam process. Ackley spent a few years working as an actuarial analyst at WTW and is now an associate actuary at Enstar Group in their U.S. reserving department. She has lived in central Illinois since graduation but loves traveling to new cities. Her favorite hobbies are hiking, visiting coffee shops, reading, running, taking Peloton classes and cooking.

Matt Beine, ACAS 

Matt Beine couldn’t wait until after his exams to start volunteering for the CAS, so he joined the CAWG. He’s looking forward to listening to candidates’ feedback and supporting them through the exam process. Beine is currently on the commercial general liability reserving team at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where he’s spent his entire actuarial career working in various pricing and reserving roles. He lives in Grafton, Wisconsin, with his wife, two kids and their dog, so outside of work he can be found camping, cooking and playing games with his family. 

David Idoux, ACAS 

After learning about the CAWG through Future Fellows, David Idoux was inspired to volunteer. He is grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback on the candidate experience as well as the chance to sharpen his written communication skills. Idoux received his ACAS in 2021 and is currently an associate actuary with USAA, where he develops tools and analytics related to pricing modernization. Idoux is passionate about the use of new technologies to drive transformative change within an organization and hopes that this passion shines through in his articles. Outside of work and studying for Exam 9, Idoux enjoys hiking, traveling and finding ways to entertain his high-energy puppy. 

Thank you to our former CAWG volunteers for helping to advocate for candidate viewpoints across the CAS: Bailey Hescock, Rehan Sidique and Othon Hamill.