PRESIDENT: RACHEL EBERLE , AALU, ACS, ALMI (Munich Re)
Rachel is an Underwriting Consultant in Munich Re’s facultative underwriting team. Rachel had worked as a direct underwriter for many years and has experience underwriting life, disability income and long term care products. Since 2015, she held roles in both underwriting and marketing. Rachel has been involved in the Chicago Underwriting Association for the past 4 years and looks forward to continuing to serve our members.
VICE PRESIDENT: TIM BEAUCHAMP, FALU, FLMI (SCOR Re)
Manager, Underwriting Systems for SCOR for the past 3 years. Sr. Underwriting Consultant/Large Case Underwriter for Generali/SCOR for 5 Years. Director of International Team/Sr. Underwriting Consultant for Transamerica for 14 years. Current member of Kansas City Risk Selectors Club. Currently involved with Data Research Projects at SCOR. Manage all underwriting systems including Underwriting Manual, system improvement and troubleshoot system issues. I am pursuing the CUA board member nomination because I’m excited about continuing my involvement with the association. I feel the work the organization does for the insurance industry and underwriting profession is very important. I currently work in a team environment, where it is essential to meet deadlines and work closely with my colleagues. I love being part of the CUA Board and would like to continue my involvement to benefit the organization.
TREASURER: SANDRA NICHOLS, FLMI, CLU(R), FALU (RGA)
Sandra joined RGA as a Senior Underwriting Consultant in 2017. Prior to that, she worked on the direct side as a life underwriter with Northwestern Mutual for over 20 years. Sandra has a passion for underwriting, continuous learning, networking and the opportunities our industry associations provide. She has served two terms as President of WAHLU, President of MUC and VP of Conference for AHOU.
SECRETARY: LISA URBAN, FLMI, FALU (John Hancock Life) Lisa is a Consultant at John Hancock Life. She has been underwriting for more than 30 years. Underwriter education is critical, especially in our current environment of rapid change. Lisa values the educational opportunities that CUA has afforded her through the years and hopes to give back by serving.
MEMBERSHIP & WEBMASTER: VAL MUNCHEZ-VAN DER WAGT, AALU, CLU (R), JD (VM Insurance Consulting)
Val was a Chief Underwriter in the Underwriting Policy department at Allstate and now consults. During her many years in the insurance industry, underwriting Life, Disability, Health and Structured Settlements, Val has been an enthusiastic supporter of local and regional underwriting associations and especially the Chicago Underwriting Association, since 1992. She believes that an underwriter’s growth includes being actively involved in increasing ones knowledge about technical underwriting, innovation, product design, customer needs and expectations. Additionally, personal growth comes from networking, attending meetings, seminars and participating in a local association. Val is a former President of CUA and VP of AHOU. After retiring from Allstate as a Chief Underwriter, Val now consults on file reviews, expert witness cases, audits and claims.
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE: CONNIE COSTA, ASC, FLMI, FALU (Protective Life)
Connie has been a Senior Underwriter Consultant and Trainer at Protective Life Insurance for the last 6 years. In her current position at Protective Life, she is involved in the training of new Underwriters as well as developing training programs to educate and enhance the current underwriting staff. In addition to training and education, she is also part of the contestable claims team providing underwriting reviews of contestable death claims. She has over 22 years of underwriting experience in the Broker, Captive, and Direct Market areas with all product types including term, universal, whole life, and simplified issue. Throughout her career she has felt that education and keeping current with industry knowledge is key to being a successful underwriter.
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE: WALLY EMPLEO, FALU, ALMI, ACS (Lincoln Financial Group)
Wally entered the insurance industry in 1990 and started underwriting in 1998. He joined Lincoln Financial Group in 2008 and has served as a Senior Underwriting Director since 2014, leading a team of brokerage underwriters while still working on higher face amount cases. Prior to Lincoln, Wally’s experience included managing a Policyowner Service Department, working with contestable claims, and underwriting with a Paramed company. He was recently involved with the AHOU Education Committee and is looking to contribute toward the continued development of the underwriting profession as a member of CUA.
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Open Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for this role. chicagouw@gmail.com
THE CHICAGO UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION 