WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE AREA AND/OR AREA OF EXPERTISE?
I am a health actuary focused on cost-effectiveness, health quality, and health equity.
WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME AN ACTUARY? AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PROFESSION?
I had worked as a bookkeeper throughout high school and college and intended to pursue an accounting degree. One day my college calculus professor told me about the actuarial science program at my university (Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash.) and explained how it incorporated my love of math with my love of business. I checked out the program and as they say, the rest was history.
DESCRIBE A TIME WHEN YOUR PROFESSIONALISM TRAINING HAS HEALPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER.
I think it would be more difficult to describe a time when professionalism has not helped my career! A cornerstone of being an actuary is professionalism. I can describe a recent interaction while working with an insurer looking to become a new provider in one of the states my company supports. As part of the readiness review process, we require the company to submit various financial documents. The provider was reluctant to submit some of the requested documentation. By utilizing the professionalism and ASOP (actuarial standard of practice) requirements, I was able to navigate a difficult conversation and provide our state partners with the information they required to make an informed decision on whether to allow the insurer to support their population.
TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOUR ACTUARIAL EXPERTISE INFLUENCED AN IMPORTANT DECISION IN YOUR WORKPLACE.
Due to changes in public policy, a new insurance product became available to members in my market. Using my skills, I was able to effectively project the cost of the proposed benefits for the new product, develop pricing that was advantageous to the consumer as well as the insurer, and broaden the footprint of the company in a particular market segment.
WHAT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER?
I think one of the most important lessons I have learned is to not get lost in the weeds. As actuaries, we tend to focus on the details. While this is important, we must also understand and keep the bigger picture in mind.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH WERE GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER?
To focus on maintaining balance between work and exams. As a new actuary, remember that a large portion of your job is to focus on working toward your credentials.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST ABOUT YOUR ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP OR ACADEMY VOLUNTEER WORK?
I love the ability to work with so many people with diverse backgrounds! We are all actuaries, but how we got to this point is unique and different. I greatly enjoy the opportunity to learn from, and network with, other committee members.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE WITH ASPIRING OR NEW ACTUARIES, OR THOSE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE ACADEMY?
If you can, do! There are so many ways to learn and help develop the actuarial field of the future. Volunteering for a committee is a phenomenal way to see how the world is changing from the actuarial perspective and allows you to be a voice in the change!
BEYOND WORK—WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES OR OTHER PERSONAL INTERESTS?
I love golfing, reading, and traveling. I am also an avid music fan and enjoy attending rock and metal concerts and festivals. I like the metal band Disturbed, and am also a big Cincinnati Bengals fan. This could be their year—Who Dey!
