IN OCTOBER, Hugh B. McGowan, CPCU, president and CEO of McGowanInsurance Group, was inaugurated as the new president of the CPCUSociety. The society has about 27,000 members, representing alldisciplines within the insurance industry. Among them are some4,500 independent agents.

McGowan Insurance Group, which is located in Indianapolis, wasfounded nearly 75 years ago by Mr. McGowan's father. Mr. McGowan'sson, Hugh M. McGowan, CPCU, is vice president and represents thethird generation of the family to manage the agency.

Recently we talked with Mr. McGowan about his plans for his yearat the helm of the CPCU Society. Following is an edited transcriptof that conversation.

AA&B: How did you originally becomeinterested in the CPCU program?
McGowan: Many local chapter members encouraged meto attend meetings and get involved. I started participating, andafter attending a few meetings, it became clear to me that being anactive member in the Central Indiana Chapter would be a great wayto continue to grow professionally and develop rewardingfriendships. I received my designation in 1976 and later served onsome committees with the local chapter, then went through theofficers' chairs. I enjoyed this so much that I became a nationaldirector (now they're called “governors”) and went on to serve asregional vice president. I decided to pursue a national chair andwas fortunate enough to be nominated. And now I'm president.

AA&B: So was your initial decision topursue the CPCU designation a result of prompting from otherinsurance agents in your area?
McGowan: My father encouraged me strongly tobecome a CPCU. He was not one himself, but he saw that the industrywas becoming much more technical and sophisticated. He called WallyClapp to find out how I could go about getting involved. (The lateMr. Clapp, an Indianapolis native like Mr. McGowan, was editor ofRough Notes' Insurance Marketplace magazine for many years and wasactive in the CPCU Society.)

AA&B: What benefits have you received frombecoming a member of the CPCU Society?
McGowan: Sometimes it's hard to quantify benefits,but they include the friendships and the relationships that I havebeen able to develop, which have benefited the agency. Becoming aCPCU and being active in the society also has helped enhance ourrelationships with our companies and clients.

AA&B: In the past, the CPCU Society'spresidents have had various themes. Is there a particular theme orobjective for your presidency?
McGowan: The CPCU Society has created a theme fornext year's annual meeting, which is “Reach for the Stars.” We havea five-year strategic plan. Within that plan, each president comesin with an operating plan. In my particular year, there are certainthings I would like to accomplish. One is making lots of what wecall “Connections visits.” We want to meet with as many insurancecompanies and agencies as possible to spread the word about theCPCU designation and also to encourage those with the designationwho are not active to become so. The Connections visits are in thefive-year strategic plan; but in my own plan, I want to acceleratetheir pace.

AA&B: Any other major objectives that youhope to accomplish while you're president?
McGowan: We are working with the Independent Insurance Agents andBrokers of America to contribute to the educational content oftheir annual meeting. In general, I'd like to develop a strongerworking relationship between the CPCU Society and IIABA.

AA&B: How did that decision come about? Did you, as anindependent agent, have something to do with it?
McGowan: I met with Tom Ahart, who is pastpresident of IIABA, and we talked about this. The possibility ofworking with IIABA at their convention is in the planning stagesnow. Turning to another matter, we have a diversity task forcethat's just been formed to promote diversity within thesociety.

AA&B: As an independent agent, do you thinkyou bring a different perspective to the job than that of someonewith an insurance company or other background? Do you think yourpresidency will somehow reflect your status as an independentagent?
McGowan: I think it will to some degree. Some pastpresidents have been independent agents; others have come fromother disciplines in our industry, which probably was reflected intheir approach to the job. We pretty much are governed by ourstrategic plan and operating plans, which primarily are concernedwith our two major goals: building visibility for the designationand increasing members' success.

AA&B: Do you encourage your own employeesto pursue the designation? If so, how do you support theirefforts?
McGowan: We do encourage participation in the CPCUprogram, paying for all expenses associated with earning thedesignation. We have 25 employees, and four are CPCUs.

AA&B: You mentioned the five-year strategicplan. What year are we in now?
McGowan: We're in the middle-the third year.

AA&B: Does your particular year have any ofits own goals, or are you mainly working to further goals that wereannounced in previous years of the strategic plan?
McGowan: The goal of working with IIABA was aspecific goal initiated for this year. As for the Connectionsvisits, we sort of took them to a new level, raising the bar ofwhat we want to accomplish this year. The diversity task force isnew. And, of course, our 60th year, which will be celebrated at ourannual meeting in Los Angeles, is in this year's plan. We feel wecan capitalize on that milestone, as far as honoring the past,celebrating our current accomplishments and looking toward thefuture. One other item in this particular year's operating plan isa business plan for the Society's previously created NationalLeadership Institute, an educational program for insurance industryprofessionals looking to advance their careers or take onleadership roles within their organizations.

AA&B: Are you a member of one of thesociety's interest sections?
McGowan: I am a member of the agent and brokerinterest section.

AA&B: Do you and the society have anyparticular plans for these sections in the year ahead?
McGowan: We're just in the initial stages of ourplans for our 60th annual meeting, but all the interest sectionswill be involved in providing the educational content for it.

AA&B: Are there any plans or initiativesregarding how the national society interacts with or supports thelocal chapters?
McGowan: National is providing technical supportfor chapters to improve their existing Web sites or create newones. And National gets out to many of the local chapters'conferment and “I-Day” programs. The governors get to most of thoseconferment ceremonies, and we have great interaction between themand the local chapters. In that regard, having a large board isvery positive. We have 154 chapters, which include two new chaptersoverseas-one in Europe and one in Japan.

AA&B: Is there anything else you'd care tomention?
McGowan: I feel honored and privileged to be thepresident of the CPCU Society. We're financially sound and havehighly motivated volunteers, a dedicated staff and a soundgovernance structure.