The CPCU Society’s Minnesota Chapter Breakfast of Champions was an idea that began with the chapter’s 2009-2010 President, Mike Happe, CPCU, who is now the chapter’s governor. Royanna Carle, CPCU, MA, RMPE, took over the coordination and planning of the chapter’s Breakfast of Champions meetings when she became president, with the first breakfast taking place in February 2010.

Three Breakfasts have been held to date at the Mendakota County Club, located in a convenient suburb of St. Paul, MN. Download the powerpoint presentations from the breakfasts: (February 2010, May 2010, and March 2011). Agenda items have included:

• The role of a Champion 
• The value of the CPCU designation
• Changes to the CPCU and other Institute programs
• Perception of the CPCU “brand”
• How employers are using social networking
• Developing the chapter’s pipeline: new designees and CPCU candidates
• How can the Chapter better serve the local insurance community? Of the roles that the Chapter performs — which are of the greatest value to Champions and to local organizations? What can the Chapter do better, or more of to serve Champions? 
• Thoughts/ideas pertaining to being a CPCU Champion … and a CPCU in general.

At one Breakfast, Champions engaged in a lengthy discussion about how four generations are currently active in today’s workforce, and the big challenges the industry faces when it comes to attrition and obsolescence. They explored ways to reach younger professionals in the industry and to get them involved … and also shared the initiatives their companies had implemented in this area, along with their success stories. 

Royanna, a Marketing Director with Berkley Risk Administrators in Minneapolis, concluded her term as chapter president at the end of June, but she will continue to lead the chapter’s Breakfast of Champions initiative from her Ex-Officio Board position as immediate past president.

According to Royanna, “A little over a year after our first Breakfast of Champions meeting, we have close to 40 Champions with whom our chapter partners. This serves to help us keep an important pulse on what’s going on with the local insurance community so we, as a chapter, can better serve our local membership and community.”

Royanna Carle, CPCU, MA, RMPE

“It’s been an incredible partnership – one in which we all have gained so much - not to mention made some new friends! It’s been a pleasure to lead this effort on behalf of the Minnesota chapter… and I’m most grateful for the opportunity.”

Q. 1      What types of challenges do Champions in your chapter typically face? 

“As a chapter, we are fortunate to receive wide-spread support from the Twin Cities and out-state insurance community. Our local employers sponsor our chapter’s congratulatory ad for our new designees, donate funds towards our annual All Industry Event, and provide us with the use of their facility and training rooms to hold CPCU seminars and CPCU classes. In addition, most pay their CPCU employees' Society dues, encourage their employees to pursue their CPCU designation and support their efforts to do so, contribute toward their attendance at the Society's Annual Meeting/Conferment, and encourage employees to get involved in their local chapter. Employers who have individuals who serve on the chapters' Boards and Committees have also been most generous in allowing their employees to serve and take time away from their jobs/companies to work on behalf of the chapter. 

The Breakfast of Champions venue has been helpful for Champions to find out what other organizations are doing, not only in the areas of professional development, continuing education and employee mentoring, but  also how companies handle dues, attendance at seminars, and even attendance at the Annual Meeting once a candidate becomes a new designee, and so forth.”

Q. 2       Are there any other actions your chapter has taken to champion the CPCU designation/CPCU Society or to support its Champions?

“For the first time in over a decade, the Minnesota chapter is again offering CPCU classes. We held CPCU 520 in the fall of 2010, and in the Spring of 2011, we offered CPCU 540.  Plans are underway to host two CPCU courses again this upcoming chapter year. As a result of interest generated during the Breakfast of Champions meeting, I conducted two Lunch & Learn-type presentations with our local employers — Hays Group and Wells Fargo Insurance Services — where we talked about The Institutes' programs and about the many advantages of pursuing the CPCU program and what resources are available.”

Q. 3       Any advice for other chapters looking to help/capitalize on their Champions?

“I would encourage any and all chapters to routinely have a gathering of your chapter's Champions. It is a good way to stay in touch with the local community and make sure that you, as a chapter, are keeping a pulse on and serving the needs of the community as well as your chapter's members and candidates. Companies may not be aware of all that your Chapter does, or what is available through the CPCU Society and The Institutes. 

As an example, during one of our meetings, we discussed the President's CPCU Scholarship and provided a brochure on the program...which most Champions (and hence their employers) did not even know existed. These meetings are a great way to align your Chapter's efforts to make sure you are addressing the needs of your community and membership.”

Thank you Royanna, and the Minnesota chapter, for your continuing support!