Commercial Casualty - Classroom

Educational Consultant:
Gloria Thompson, CIC

Gloria Thompson began her career in the insurance industry over 40 years ago and obtained her insurance agent's license in 1984. She earned her CIC designation in 2000.  Gloria is currently employed by North Risk Partners as a Risk Advisor and enjoys the opportunities she has to mentor and collaborate with her fellow agents.  Gloria's passion for education and public speaking aligned her with the opportunity to instruct insurance courses. She has taught courses for several organizations, including the National Alliance's CISR program and Kaplan Professional Schools, as well as specific specialty topics written by her and presented at the MIIAB conventions. Gloria is a past board member for the National Alliance's CISR Board of Governors.  Through her service on the Board of Governors she gained in depth knowledge of the CISR program, and watched the program evolve over her six years of service.Currently, Gloria serves as the Education Chair for the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers, which serves as the oversight committee for the National Alliance's continuing education programs in Minnesota. Gloria appreciates the opportunities for mentoring, networking, and involvement in the insurance industry that these organizations provide.  She is also a member of the Twin Cities Insurance Club and has been a guest speaker for various insurance topics for the organization over the years.  She was named Agent of the Year by the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers in 2014.  Dan Riley, CEO of the association said, "Her professional experiences and her vast knowledge of the business have helped thousands of Minnesota agents become the best insurance professionals in the country."  Gloria completed her Educational Consultant training with the National Alliance in May of 2017, and now serves in that role on behalf of the MIIAB for Minnesota CIC and Rubles educational programs

Speaker Day 1

Jean Sundlof
CIC, CPCU, CCI, ACI, CPIA

BIO:

Jean Sundlof joined Kraus-Anderson Insurance in June of 1999.  Jean's first position with Kraus was a combined Senior Account Executive and Marketer role.  She moved into production in 2006 and is currently Director of Captives, Coverage, and Risk Consulting. Prior to joining Kraus-Anderson, Jean worked at Youngdahl Companies for seven years.  She had various responsibilities including sales, account executive work, and marketing.  Jean has also served as an Agency Operations Representative for Great American Insurance Company and as Executive Director of Associated Risk Managers of Oklahoma.  She began her career working with an independent insurance agency in Oklahoma in a sales and marketing capacity.

Jean received her BBA and MBA in Management from the University of Oklahoma.  She obtained her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1980 and her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1982.  She serves as a member of the National Faculty for the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, teaching both CIC and CISR.  She is also an active faculty member for Swiss Re in instructing Agent's E&O courses.  Jean completed the requirements to be designated as Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) in 2007.  She was the first Minnesotan to receive this designation.   She recently also holds the CCI and CPIA designations.

Jean was honored by the Oklahoma Association of Professional Insurance Agents in 1984 as Insurance Women of the year.  She was also privileged to be named Young Agent of the Year in 1998 by the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents.  She is currently Vice President of Big I Minnesota.

Speaker Day 2

Robert Ford
CIC, CISR, CPIA, CRIS, MLIS, CLCS, ERIS

BIO:

Bob started in the insurance business at age 19, when he was hired by Nodak Mutual Insurance Company as a territory producer in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and later transferred to Dickinson North Dakota.

Bob returned in 1978 to Devils Lake, North Dakota to work in and purchase the family run agency.  Bob sold his agency in 1998 and continued a 48-year career as a CEO, Regional Lead., Claims Dept. Lead, Personal Lines Dept. Lead, and Producer.

Over the years Bob has since involved himself in the insurance industry in several ways.  Early in his career he started training with the IIAA of Iowa at the University of Iowa on an annual basis with their agency management school.  These sessions were led by nationally known Dr. Emmett Vaughn.  Those sessions helped Bob to lay the foundation for a good understanding of the insurance industry and the agency company relationships.

Bob has also served on the Board of Directors for North Dakota PIA (Professional Insurance Agents) for 13 years.  During that time his favorite activity was chairing the education committee.  He held that position for eight years.  Bob especially enjoyed chairing the education committee because in his view a good technical education is critical to a successful career in the insurance industry.  He has also been privileged to serve as North Dakota PIA President and has also served as North Dakota PIA National Director.

To further his education, Bob completed his CIC designation in 2001, and his CISR designation in 2006.  In addition, he has earned the following insurance designations, CPIA (Certified Professional Insurance Agent), CLCS (Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist), MLIS (Management Liability Insurance Specialist), ERIS (Energy Risk Insurance Specialist) and CRIS (Construction Risk Insurance Specialist).

Enjoying education so much, Bob continues his educational pursuits by teaching many insurance workshops each year around the country and is also a member of the national faculty for The Risk and Education Alliance.