It is critical that the CAS remains engaged with its stakeholders, and the work done in marketing and communications (M&C) at the CAS is constantly evolving and shifting to meet their changing demands and keep the CAS top of mind in the industry.

Kimberly Guerriero, FCAS, MAAA, is responsible for overseeing the working groups and tasks forces within the M&C space. These include all the CAS engagement groups, including university, candidates, employers, new members, members and volunteers. The M&C space also includes public relations and the Joint CAS/SOA Committee on DEI (JCIED).

“One of my goals is to ensure that all stakeholders are heard and valued, and for the CAS to better understand how our members want to be heard,” said Guerriero. “Another of my goals is to diversify the pipeline of actuarial candidates. I was really fortunate that my mother knew what an actuary was and introduced me to the profession. I want all kids to have that opportunity. In my future world, the word actuary is a household name, kids play dress-up actuary, and #dressupactuary is trending.”

Guerriero is looking forward to the new structure and purpose of the Member Engagement Advisory Working Group and folding social media into that working group.

“I’m also really excited about all of the university outreach that we’re doing and how the CAS was able to quickly pivot in the middle of COVID to offer the Student Central Summer Program. I love how the JCIED has partnered with all the affinity organizations and is working to expand and support the pipeline of candidates into the actuarial profession. All of the work that the Public Relations Advisory Working Group (PRAWG) is doing to get the CAS into the spotlight and highlight all the great work P&C actuaries are doing is amazing,” said Guerriero. “It’s hard to pick just one thing or even a couple of things because there are so many great things going on in this area.”

“One of my goals is to ensure that all stakeholders are heard and valued, and for the CAS to better understand how our members want to be heard,” said Guerriero.

Guerriero is most proud of the M&C Council structure that formed in late 2021. This was informally put into effect with her predecessor, Shane Barnes, and then more formally with the rollout of the new volunteer-staff framework. With this new structure, all the working groups within the M&C can see what the other working groups are doing and can leverage those connections to enhance their own working groups.

“I would not have been able to do this role without the constant support of Mike Boa, chief communications officer,” said Guerriero. “I feel extremely lucky to have been able to work with him for the past almost four years. My predecessors set this position up for success the way that they worked with Mike in the past, so all I had to do was say yes and continue in their footsteps.”

Boa is appreciative of the dedication, enthusiasm and conscientiousness that Guerriero brings to the organization.

“Throughout our years of working closely together, Kim has been unwavering in her commitment to improving member engagement,” said Boa. “One of Kim’s standout accomplishments has been her strategic use of market research methods, such as focus groups and surveys, to gain valuable insights into our members’ needs and preferences. By harnessing the power of data-driven decision-making, she has spearheaded new tactics that resonate with our members, such as a focus on LinkedIn as our members’ social media platform of choice, leading to increased participation, enhanced communication channels and a stronger sense of community within our membership.”

When Guerriero became an ACAS in 2012, she joined the New Members Committee and got hooked on volunteering. She rose from member to chair of the New Members Committee within a few years. She has also volunteered on the Committee on Professional Education, the Examination Committee and the Member Advisory Panel.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to give back, and for me, it’s an opportunity to develop my network and professional skills,” said Guerriero. “At the time I was asked to take this leadership position, I was stepping down from my position as chair of the New Members Committee and was looking for my next volunteering opportunity. It was a natural progression from the volunteering work I had previously done with New Members. I was also really excited to learn more about the inner workings of the CAS and work with the JCIED and University Engagement.”

Guerriero graduated from Hamilton College in 2007 with a BA in economics. She began her Milliman career as an intern in 2005 while in college and rose to the role of principal and consulting actuary in 2022. Her primary focus is the alternative risk market. Most of her clients are captives, risk retention groups and self-insureds.

Guerriero encourages those interested in taking on a volunteer leadership role to dive into volunteering.

“There are so many ways to volunteer with the CAS, and, with the new volunteer-staff framework, the CAS is better poised to use the talents of its members,” said Guerriero. “I think the PRAWG is one of our best examples of this. Kate Niswander, director of communications and marketing, does a great job of identifying news outlets to highlight the amazing work of P&C actuaries. Most of us as actuaries don’t have media experience, but the CAS staff do. So, with their help we’re able to showcase our talents by getting placements in the media.”

Guerriero will conclude her term as vice president in November.