Welcome to the CAS Staff Spotlight, a column featuring members of the CAS staff. For this spotlight, we are proud to introduce you to Colton Needles.
- What do you do at the CAS?
I am the product coordinator for The CAS Institute (iCAS). That means I maintain the current iCAS exams and certifications, and I work on new products and additions, such as the new Property and Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA) requirements. - What inspires you in your job, and what do you most love about it?
I’m continually inspired by the passion that our volunteers have for their work and the CAS. I love that I can turn that passion into effective action. - Describe your educational and professional background.
I earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Southern Utah University and then moved to Washington, D.C. where I found some theatre work, as well as a variety of jobs in customer support. I joined the CAS Administration and Customer Support (ACS) team as a representative in 2018 and became the ACS coordinator later that year. In 2022 I made the jump to iCAS. - What is your favorite hobby outside of work?
Pretty much anything adventurous! I love to travel, and I’ve been fortunate to see some amazing places around the world. I also love camping and hiking, and this year I took up rock climbing. - If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Japan, which is currently the country at the top of my bucket list. The food is a big motivator, but it also seems like an incredible country to visit — especially during cherry blossom season! - What would your colleagues find surprising about you?
I will eat pretty much anything except pickles. (I hate pickles.) - How would your friends and family describe you?
A somewhat quiet person who chooses carefully when to speak.
