Alliance NOW! Risk & Insurance Podcast Series

Why risks rarely exist in isolation and often interact, overlap, and amplify one another The limitations of traditional risk rankings, heat maps, and siloed risk assessments How interconnected risks can create cascading impacts across an organization Lessons from the World Economic Forum's risk network approach to understanding complexity Why rapidly evolving business environments require a more d...

Why product recalls in the food & beverage industry are becoming more frequent and complex How large-scale production and rapid distribution increase the potential impact of a recall The role of supply chain risk and why contamination often originates upstream Understanding strict liability and exposure across the entire stream of commerce Key differences in regulatory oversight between FDA and US...

Topics Covered: Why high net worth individuals are considered “industry disruptors” in insurance The limitations of traditional personal and commercial insurance when addressing environmental risk Real-world environmental loss scenarios, including: Why many high-net-worth insureds are unknowingly self-insuring environmental exposures Environmental liability exposures tied to complex asset portfoli...

Why rising claims costs, nuclear verdicts, and premiums are reshaping fleet risk management The shift from reactive claims handling to proactive crash prevention strategies Why crashes are predictable when you focus on leading indicators instead of outcomes The importance of identifying high-risk drivers and understanding behavior patterns How data sources like MVRs, telematics, and violation trac...

Why onboarding should be treated as an experience, not just a checklist The critical difference between onboarding and true employee belonging Why first impressions extend beyond day one and shape long-term outcomes Common mistakes organizations make by focusing too heavily on tasks and compliance How understanding individual motivations, personalities, and learning styles improves engagement The...

In this episode: Why workers’ comp should be viewed beyond the claim How fear, uncertainty, and poor communication affect outcomes Why tone, timing, and clarity matter in claim conversations The employer’s role in building trust after an injury How return-to-work supports healing, dignity, and recovery Why consistency across HR, supervisors, and adjusters matters What agents and brokers should und...

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Noelle Codispoti of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance is joined by Ron Hocutt of Angela Adams Consulting for a practical discussion on what AI readiness really looks like for today’s insurance agencies. Ron reframes the conversation away from “Which AI platform should we buy?” and toward the far more important questions of how we best use technology, how...

If this episode helped you better understand additional insured endorsements and contract requirements, explore Contractors RiskPRO for deeper training on contractor coverages and ISO forms.  Learn more and become RiskPRO Certified: https://pro.scic.com/course-schedule/?name=Contractors%20Risk%20Professional Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk &...

If this episode helped clarify additional insured requirements, explore Contractors RiskPRO for deeper training on contractor coverages and ISO forms, become RiskPRO Certified: https://pro.scic.com/course-schedule/?name=Contractors%20Risk%20Professional Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical a...

Topics Covered: What Environmental Financial Assurance (EFA) is and why it exists The regulatory origins of EFA, including Superfund and CERCLA How contracts and environmental indemnifications can create hidden self‑insurance Why insurance is often the most efficient tool for meeting EFA requirements Common industries impacted by EFA: construction, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and enviro...

As you consider how AI might impact your workflows, your team, or your day-to-day work, the CIC Agency Management course offers a practical next step, helping you lead through change, improve operations, and apply new technology more effectively.  Learn more: https://pro.scic.com/course-schedule/?name=Agency%20Management Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional developmen...

In this episode, Darren moderates a deep dive into the fast evolving intersection of venture capital, startups, and carrier partnerships within the insurance industry. Guests Adam Care (HSB Funds) and John Javan (BrokerTech Ventures) unpack how AI is reshaping insurance, the explosion of new vendors, and what makes certain startups stand out. The discussion covers the rapid acceleration of AI—from...

Featured Guest Jay Gates Managing Director, Gallagher National Restaurant Practice 20+ years in insurance, former Applebee’s risk leader, RIMS committee member, and Kids Chance Nebraska board member. What We Cover Jay’s unexpected path into risk and insurance Lessons learned investigating EEOC claims early in his career Leadership principles developed while managing large claims teams Building a f...

Topics Covered: What inspired Chris Bunbury’s career in environmental risk How pollutants are defined beyond chemicals Why most businesses unknowingly self‑insure environmental exposures The limitations of CGL policies & hidden pollution exclusions Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) vs. Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) Real‑world examples of unexpected pollution claims The role and valu...

In this episode of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance Insights podcast, CEO William Hold talks with Dan Chuparkoff , AI expert, innovation educator, and former product leader at Google, McKinsey, and Atlassian. Dan shares his compelling journey—from discovering disruptive technology as a teenager in an architecture firm to spending 25 years guiding teams through massive shifts in how work get...

In this episode of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance Insights podcast, hosts Mitch Dunford and Dr. Lisa Gardner talk with Deborah Buettner, CIC, personal lines underwriter and manager at Risk Placement Services. Deborah shares her inspiring story—from making cold calls at age 12 in her father’s agency to building a thriving career in underwriting hard-to-place risks like homeowners, farms, a...

As you think about how your role and your team may evolve with AI, the CIC Agency Management course provides a practical path to strengthen your leadership skills and navigate change with confidence. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our partic...

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Tyler Jensen, President of Top Performance Group, breaks down the powerful ways business owners can use life insurance to protect their companies, employees, and long-term legacy. From key person insurance and buy-sell agreements to cash value accumulation, loan collateralization, and executive bonus plans, Tyler explains how life insurance becomes a strategic...

As you reflect on how strategy and innovation impact your organization, the CIC Agency Management course offers a practical way to build stronger decision-making, improve performance, and lead more effectively. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning...

In this episode of Alliance Insights, we’re excited to spotlight CISR High School Program graduate Katy Knapp - a rising insurance professional who is already charting her career path just one year out of high school. Thanks to early exposure, effective industry engagement, and internship opportunities, Katy has fast-tracked her journey into insurance and is already giving back by sharing practica...

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Jack Elliott, Regional VP of Operations with Alera Group and Risk & Insurance Research Academy Board Chair, shares how a high school internship changed the course of his life. The Academy's Sharla Floyd talks with Jack about his path from the classroom to the C-suite and why he is so passionate about creating opportunities for today’s students through initiati...

As you reflect on how ethics shows up in your daily work, the Alliance’s ethics courses and CE webinars provide a helpful next step, offering practical ways to strengthen your judgment, build trust, and apply ethical decision-making in real-world situations. View Ethics Webinar Schedule: https://pro.scic.com/course-schedule/?name=Ethics Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance profess...

On this episode of Streamlining Insurance, Darren Bloomfield sits down with Charles Merritt, CEO and co-founder of Buddy, an insurtech firm pioneering embedded insurance solutions. With their flagship ION™ engine, Buddy makes it easier than ever for businesses to integrate insurance directly into digital platforms. Charles shares his insights on how embedded insurance is reshaping customer experie...

If you want to go deeper into insurance risk analysis and better understand how to interpret actuarial data in real-world scenarios, the Alliance’s Analysis of Risk course is designed to help you build those skills—so you can make more confident, informed decisions every day.  Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Allianc...

In this episode of Streamlining Insurance, Darren speaks with Zhiyu Frank Quan, Ph. D. and Panyi Dong, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who recently co-authored “Automated Machine Learning in Insurance.” Together, they explore how automation and machine learning are reshaping actuarial science, underwriting, and risk management. We’ll also connect the dots to practical im...