The Making Things Happen column features CAS and iCAS members who serve the associations in many capacities and enrich the volunteer experience for all.
For Art Zaremba, it is an inspiring time to volunteer in Admissions with the Syllabus and Examination Committee (SECOM).
Zaremba is a SECOM general officer who helps oversee one of the CAS exams. He will soon be moving into a SECOM chair role. His main responsibilities include ensuring that the writing and grading of exams are being handled effectively, teaming up with the CAS staff on exam-related processes and initiatives, and working with other SECOM volunteers in the process.
Since the start of COVID and moving exams to computer-based testing, important changes have been taking place to help modernize the exam process. Much of this is detailed within the Admissions Transformation Plan (ATP) that can be found on the CAS website.
“Looking ahead, it’s an exciting time where we can look to rely more on technology to help write, grade and administer exams,” Zaremba said.
Zaremba is a model volunteer because he consistently shows dedication, passion and reliability to the CAS and the SECOM, said Ashley Zamperini, CAS director of certification products.
“His willingness to give his time and effort to support the exam system is selfless, and he always advocates for what’s best for the candidates and volunteers,” said Zamperini. “He approaches volunteer work with a positive attitude, which inspires others to get involved.”
Zaremba is most proud of the various in-person meetings that the committee has hosted in numerous venues around the country.
“From large meetings with 50+ people where everyone has a chance to be heard, to small breakout meetings where we as actuaries get really in the weeds reviewing technical topics, to the social events — a lot of good memories come from these meetings,” Zaremba said.
While he started with SECOM as an exam writer and grader immediately upon attaining his FCAS in 2009, Zaremba spent many years on a reinsurance research committee and volunteered for several years on a planning committee for a joint CAS/CPCU conference.
Looking ahead, it’s an exciting time where we can look to rely more on technology to help write, grade and administer exams,” Zaremba said.
“The research committee provided some neat opportunities, including presenting to a small audience on different topics, including insurtech and insurance-linked securities. These opportunities provided me with a way to use my own personal time to get better acclimated to topics that I may not see at work day to day. The planning committee made me appreciate attending CAS meetings that much more, knowing the extensive work that volunteers put in behind the scenes to make it happen.”
Zaremba grew up in the Chicago area and attended the University of Illinois, graduating with a B.S. in mathematics in 2003. Admittedly, he did not know much about the actuarial field while in college.
“I started my career in a finance role in a large locally based corporation and began taking my first actuarial exams on the side,” Zaremba said. “Two years after graduation I moved into the actuarial field, and, looking back to that time, it was absolutely the right decision. I spent many years in consulting working for a ‘Big 4’ audit firm, which offered a lot of great opportunities. One of the most memorable was living in London for several months working on Solvency II-related projects. Currently, I just hit the 10-year mark in a chief actuary role with a managing general agent-turned-carrier that’s part of a large German reinsurer.”
Zaremba explained that there is a broad spectrum of thought about volunteering.
“Some actuaries may never volunteer, either for personal reasons or because they want more free time after completion of exams,” he said. “For some, they volunteer upon attaining a CAS credential but only want to serve for the minimum requested time frame and then be done. Then there are many others like me, where once they started volunteering for the CAS they haven’t stopped.”
“I’ve had to spend a significant amount of personal time over the years in my CAS volunteer roles. In general, I do find it rewarding and worthwhile, which keeps me at it. Just as important though, I feel a certain obligation to give back to the CAS. I’ve enjoyed my career path and give credit to the CAS for helping me get to where I am.”
Some fun facts about Zaremba: Outside of work and the actuarial world, Zaremba’s kids are at that age where sports and dance and other activities take up a lot of family time. He’s been coaching his kids for years in various sports, which gets him closer to the action. His main hobbies include playing basketball and skiing, two things he hopes to be able to do for many more decades. He and one of his daughters recently attended game five of the NBA Finals in Denver. He and his family are big fans of the NBA and like Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. He booked the trip, and they were lucky that it ended up being the final game of the series.
