What makes an IT executive stand out as one of Tech Decisions' Insurance IT All-Stars? For six years we have been handing out these accolades and the single factor that binds all of our all-stars over the years is their ability to address problems and—through collaboration—bring people, and processes, and technology together to determine the best solution.
The 2012 group is no different. Some have similar backgrounds; others do not. We have personal lines carriers, specialty lines, and even a life insurer. What makes this particular group stand out alongside any of the previous groups of all-stars we've selected is they are unafraid to admit they don't have all the answers, but they do have the inner strength, talent, and expertise to find the best possible solutions and initiate them into their corporate environment.
This year's list includes Rich Pedersen, senior vice president and CIO of National Life Group; Rick Roy, senior vice president and CIO of CUNA Mutual; Bryan Fowler, vice president and CIO of Oregon Mutual Group; Thad DeBerry, senior vice president and CIO of Western World Insurance Group; and Peter Moreau, vice president and CIO of Amica Insurance.
We believe you will find they all have interesting stories to tell about their experiences in insurance IT and that you'll agree they deserve the title Insurance IT All-Star
Peter Moreau, Amica Insurance
Peter Moreau, vice president and CIO for Amica Insurance, has risen through the technical ranks in an IT career that started following his graduation from college. His technical background made new technology initiatives exciting for him, but as he has matured into an IT leader so has his focus.
Today, Moreau's excitement comes from creating a shared vision with Amica's business leaders and developing a plan that will fulfill that vision.
“Laying out the roadmap and seeing that plan come to fruition is exciting,” he says. “It changes your focus because most of what I need to do as CIO is coordinate resources and use them in a fashion that will benefit our policyholders. As a mutual company, we're in business to serve our policyholders. Everything we do—the timeframes we take to do it, how much we spend—is focused on making sure it is beneficial to our policyholders.”
Thad DeBerry, Western World Insurance Group
Thad DeBerry is excited about the future of insurance technology because of the many opportunities that exist.
“There is so much untapped opportunity right now to improve the business,” says DeBerry, senior vice president and CIO of Western World Insurance Group. “Maybe more than anything else in the last couple of years, technology has the ability to transform an organization and change its future like nothing else. Having the ability to make and see that kind of impact and drive a company forward through growth and reach a new level of profitability is pretty exciting.”
Rich Pedersen,Nationl Life Group
In defining an insurance company's culture, Rich Pedersen, senior vice president and CIO of National Life Group, believes it is important to understand what the existing culture is, what are the norms of the people working for the company, and what are the structures those employees work within.
Coming to National Life four years ago, one of Pedersen's mandates was to change the culture around IT within the carrier. There were some sidesteps brought on by forces more powerful than he, but Pedersen is progressing toward that goal.
“You can't just transform any one area alone, whether it is process, culture or systems,” he says. “You have to create a unifying message of transformation to get people to understand there is a larger purpose for which you are about to lead them through—including a bunch of painful changes—and then lay out the steps.”
Rick Roy, CUNA Mutual
After two decades working on the vendor side, the opportunity to run an IT shop for himself was a big part of the attraction Rick Roy found in joining CUNA Mutual Group nine years ago. Roy, the carrier's senior vice president and CIO, is running IT again after a three-year stint as director of operations and he's happy to be back.
“The company was looking to elevate IT to more of a shared service as it has grown,” he says. “It's an interesting time [to be in IT] with all the mobility and consumerization going on in the technology world. It's also been fascinating being back in the CIO seat.”
CUNA Mutual Group serves credit unions and its members. The carrier has a B-to-B side with products and services provided to credit unions, according to Roy, and a consumer side with products provided directly to the members of credit unions.
Bryan Fowler, Oregon Mutual
For many people in IT—particularly those in the insurance industry—a job with Progressive Insurance is considered a dream opportunity because of the value the carrier places on technology.
Bryan Fowler, who spent 12 years with Progressive before moving to Oregon Mutual Insurance, described the experience as like working for a start-up company within a successful business.
“It was a lot of fun; a lot of energy and a lot of high-tech talent and focus,” he says. “Especially the start-up of the Internet business. That was my gig for a long time.”
Take a look back at Insurance IT All-Stars from previous years.
Read about the 2011 All-Stars here.
Read about the 2010 All-Stars here.
Read about the 2009 All-Stars here.
Read about the 2008 All-Stars here
Read about the 2007 All-Stars here.
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