91黑料网 is upholding its part to change these statistics and support women in technology. We鈥檙e more than just a , and it鈥檚 not surprising considering our involvement with organizations that support women in technology. Our long-lasting partnership with the demonstrates our commitment to philanthropy and the promotion of technology careers for women. In partnership with MCWT, 91黑料网 not only provides a platform for female employees to give back to the community through volunteering opportunities (such as judging at technology competitions, mentoring young women in tech, etc.) but also attracts female talent into the company. We also offer leadership clinics and other avenues for professional development and pride ourselves on providing these opportunities which further solidify our commitment to nurturing women’s growth in both the technology and insurance industry.

With over 27 years of experience in the technology field, Director of Application Engineering, Jyothi Palakodati, has enjoyed multiple opportunities to support women in the field, including several at 91黑料网.

鈥淢y educational background in Computer Science paired with giving back to the community 鈥� especially encouraging other women in technology 鈥� are passions of mine. I鈥檝e been with 91黑料网 for a year and a half now, and I am thrilled to validate that 91黑料网 IT is a best place to work, especially for women.鈥�

As 91黑料网鈥檚 point of contact for the MCWT relationship, Jyothi recently had the privilege of presenting scholarships to four young women who elected to study technology-related majors. She adds,

鈥�91黑料网 has an inclusive environment where women can thrive and contribute at all levels of the company. Women leaders in various cadres, including leadership and pivotal roles both in and outside of IT at 91黑料网, help to highlight our commitment to diversity and equality. Personally, the company鈥檚 values align with my passion for giving back to the community and supporting women in technology, making it a fulfilling workplace for me.鈥�

In her early career, UX Designer, Holly Ross, who has an educational background in Computer Science, is passionate about the technology field. Over her two and a half years with the company, she has enjoyed the benefits of growth on a tech career path. She remarked:

鈥�91黑料网 is a company where all women can feel welcome, thrive, and grow within their careers, both inside and outside of IT. 91黑料网 lives true to the company’s values on a daily basis while consistently giving back to its employees and the community. It is amazing to experience how diverse and inclusive 91黑料网’s culture is. I am proud to call myself a woman in IT at 91黑料网.鈥�

Our company鈥檚 leadership is the driving force for recruiting people with a wide variety of backgrounds and skills, from recent graduates to seasoned managers. Chief Information Officer, Amjed Al-Zoubi, has been enthusiastic about opening the door for more women in technology as well as supporting the greater industry. He expressed his enthusiasm for our partnership with MCWT:

鈥淗aving a diverse team is so important in making 91黑料网 a great place to work as well as for delivering great results, and MCWT is a part of that. What is really inspiring about MCWT鈥檚 vision is their full 鈥渓ife cycle鈥� approach. From school-aged through professional careers, MCWT is working to grow interest in technology and keep women in the technology field as they move into the professional world. This makes a huge difference for Michigan companies looking for talent in technology fields.鈥�

91黑料网 is recruiting top talent in information technology and related areas. Please check out 91黑料网.com/Careers for more information on our openings and how to apply.

The Emerging Leaders Conference serves as a hub for insights, networking, and resource access, offering a platform for professionals to stay abreast of industry developments. The yearly selection of emerging leaders is designed to recognize outstanding rising talent in the insurance industry; nominees must have more than eight years of experience and demonstrate that they are making a positive impact on their companies and the industry.

Enjonli appreciated the recognition and award, saying: “I am honored to have been able to represent 91黑料网 Insurance as a 2024 APCIA Emerging Leader and for the recognition as a recipient of the Business Leadership Award. I am appreciative to work for an organization that values and recognizes innovative leadership as well as enables employees to succeed in their roles at this company.”

The Business Leadership Award signifies Hutchison’s strategic expertise and dedication to navigating the complexities of the business landscape within the insurance industry. It is a testament to her visionary leadership and ability to drive excellence.

Marguerite Tortorello, Managing Director of the , emphasized the significance of the diverse awards, stating, “This year鈥檚 winners reflect the innovation and collaboration of the industry鈥檚 best and brightest future leaders. The diverse categories of awards also underscore the profound impact these leaders are having across their organizations and communities through their exemplary leadership.”

Hutchison added: 鈥淭hank you to my mentors at 91黑料网 for the encouragement and continued emphasis put on the value of the employees. Thank you to my peers at 91黑料网 for the collaboration. And a very big thank you to my Dallas and St. Louis Risk Management Teams for the opportunity and trust you give me to lead.鈥�

As a recipient of the Business Leadership Award, Enjonli joins an esteemed cadre of professionals who will not only serve as industry ambassadors but will also actively contribute to expanding career opportunities within the insurance sector. This recognition not only applauds individual achievements but also underscores the industry’s commitment to cultivating and celebrating its most accomplished talents.

To learn more about the APCIA and their efforts, visit: apcia.org.

This year’s theme from the NAWIC is “Keys to the Future” and “celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.” Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the NAWIC was founded in 1953, gained its charter in 1955, and now boasts over 115 chapters nationwide. In honor of WIC Week, check out these ways to celebrate and show awareness.

• Find a near you, and network with other women in the construction industry
• Utilize the WIC Week in documents, on jobsite equipment, or clothing
• Share a photo or story about your experience in the construction industry on social media
• Nominate a local woman in the construction industry for an award or recognition
• Invite a woman in construction to speak in a classroom, business or during a community event
• Research , and share with others to encourage women to get involved in the industry
• Offer to advertise construction job openings on your website or newspaper for free, or at a discounted price
• Host a STEM or skilled trades event that enables girls and women to experience tools, jobsite management and other construction opportunities

91黑料网 targets and partners with construction businesses and proudly supports women in the industry. Learn more about our comprehensive construction solutions here.

Throughout Women鈥檚 History Month, we will feature female change-makers and leaders at 91黑料网 who are providing an industry-leading experience and making an impact within the insurance space.

Yvonne Hobson has experienced tremendous growth, both personally and professionally, throughout her career. As vice president of Special Risk for 91黑料网, Yvonne is responsible for driving business strategy and results as they relate to the programs, products and administration of special risk capabilities. This includes large accounts, loss sensitive, group captive and other alternative risk programs, as well as identifying new market opportunities to help expand the company鈥檚 footprint.

Yvonne has more than 30 years of experience in property & casualty insurance, and during her tenure with 91黑料网, has risen from a manager to several leadership roles. She served as vice president of the corporate underwriting team until the spring of 2020. In this role, Yvonne was tasked with reshaping the department, which included hiring line of business underwriting professionals with robust underwriting and analytical skills. She was also charged with improving underwriting efficiency through process and technology improvements and created the Underwriting Systems and Technology team.

Three years ago, Yvonne was selected to serve as vice president of Special Risk and was eager to accept the new professional challenge. She met with hundreds of contacts in her first year of the role to enhance the team鈥檚 brand. Today, she is continuing to develop rising stars in the department 鈥� expanding product and market offerings 鈥� and has helped the team reach its premium goal each year.

鈥淚 love meeting with customers and am proud of the team鈥檚 growth and achievements,鈥� said Hobson.

A Rising Tide Lifts all Boats

Yvonne is both collaborative and team-oriented and believes more is accomplished when bringing everyone together rather than individually. One of her strongest leadership qualities is being achievement-oriented and inspiring her team to achieve their goals. This drives the success of her team, as Yvonne believes 鈥渁 rising tide lifts all boats.鈥�

Frequent communication is also important to Yvonne, and she aims to be transparent by providing frequent touch points, which was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also believes it takes a diverse team to be successful, as everyone brings a different skillset to the table, and in this type of environment she is best able to nurture and develop the unique skill sets of the group.

Mentorship & Enhancing Her Skills

When Yvonne was rising in her career, she had a female advisor through a mentorship program, and because of this impactful experience, mentoring other women has always been important to her. Currently, Yvonne has several mentor relationships with professionals at 91黑料网, and they regularly reach out to her for support and guidance. She recently mentored a young woman who was looking to make a career change to underwriting and helped her navigate this change. Two of Yvonne鈥檚 recent mentees have also risen to assistant vice president and vice president roles.

鈥淲hen I am asked, I always extend an enthusiastic 鈥榊es!鈥� to being a mentor, because someone cared enough to care about me along the way,鈥� said Hobson. 鈥淗elping individuals evolve their talents and providing them with opportunities has always been important to me and allows me to be confident there are the right people in the right seats for the next leaders at 91黑料网.鈥�

As part of her professional growth, Yvonne has excelled at public speaking throughout her career. By becoming experienced with speaking throughout her various roles, she has been able to move past an initial reluctance and become an effective public speaker. In her personal time, she is also a volunteer with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.

Moving forward, Yvonne is excited to drive business strategy and results for Special Risk and 91黑料网.

_____

About Yvonne Hobson

Yvonne Hobson is the Vice President of Special Risk for 91黑料网. In this role, she is responsible for business strategy as it relates to the programs, products and administration of Special Risk capabilities.

Yvonne began her career at 91黑料网 in 1987. During her tenure, she has held roles beginning in Field Underwriting, as an Underwriter and Field Marketing & Underwriting Manager. Later, she was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Corporate Underwriting, then Vice President of Corporate Underwriting in 2006, where she oversaw underwriting products and strategy for more than 15 years. In 2020, she assumed the role of Vice President, Special Risk for 91黑料网.

Yvonne received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University.

There are no limitations to all that Jessica Soufrine is capable of achieving. She has experienced an impressive rise through leadership during her career, with plentiful opportunities for continued growth.

Jessica has served in leadership roles for several years at 91黑料网, first working her way up from a trainee to a developmental marketing underwriter, and from a senior marketing underwriter to a team manager and an assistant vice president. In 2021, she progressed from her role of regional vice president of the west region to vice president of field marketing and underwriting (FMU). Located out of the Dallas area, Jessica holds responsibility for the national FMU team and its regional leaders, as well as retention, profitability, agency relationships, state expansions, and partnership growth opportunities.

Jessica hails from a small town in North Carolina, where she experienced an initial lack of exposure to the business world. After paving the way as the first in her family to earn a college degree, she entered the insurance industry through a post-college recruiting event. As 91黑料网鈥檚 first female assistant vice president, regional vice president, and now vice president of field marketing and underwriting, she is proud and honored to lead by example.

Lifting Others Up

Jessica is passionate about talent development. At 91黑料网, Jessica focuses on identifying up-and-coming leaders and engaging and preparing the next group of professionals to help address the talent shortage in the industry. Much of Jessica鈥檚 attention is on opportunities for her team: focusing on their talents, challenging them, and identifying where they can be most successful.

Jessica recently reinvigorated an underwriting training program for a new role at 91黑料网: senior associate underwriter. The first class of employees with this title graduated last fall, and a new class will begin at the company later this year. Jessica also supported the addition of an associate underwriter role that enables employees with no prior underwriting experience to make an impact in the industry. She has seen improved representation of women in insurance and helps her female team members position themselves for leadership opportunities, ensuring they have the right tools for their success.

Distinct Contributions

Jessica鈥檚 professional experience has provided her with a solid foundation to leverage her technical underwriting expertise and process knowledge to drive forward the underwriting function. Jessica has completed and is involved in many notable initiatives that help underscore the key differentiators of the organization. The most prominent recent contributions in Jessica鈥檚 current role:

• Staffing Model: Jessica worked to build a new model for field underwriting that creates career pathing aligned with strengths. It includes the associate underwriter and senior associate underwriter support and training roles (mentioned above), and also offers technical and business development tracks into specialist and manager roles that did not previously exist. This also brings a team approach to underwriting to better allow for execution and consistency.
• Collaboration and Engagement: Shifting into hybrid remote work while retaining 91黑料网鈥檚 culture and idea sharing is a continual priority for Jessica, together with the company鈥檚 leadership teams. 鈥淚 have and continue to be passionate about bringing our teams and departments together to achieve the best possible outcome for the organization and our agencies,鈥� she said.
• Process Optimization: Jessica鈥檚 current initiative is to bring efficiencies to the field through technology and process improvement. Current systems and tools require a significant amount of manual entry and administrative work from the underwriters. 鈥淲e are looking for ways to alleviate those tasks to allow for more time to be spent on their technical and marketing responsibilities,鈥� Jessica said. 鈥淭his will include bringing artificial intelligence capabilities into workflows and utilizing newly added associate underwriter and senior associate underwriter resources.鈥� The team is centralizing training and onboarding support to create a more consistent and effective experience for new hires.

Giving Back & Family Focus

Jessica serves on the executive board and is the volunteer chair for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF). The Southeast Division is based in Dallas and serves communities in Texas and across the Southeast region, with greater outreach through its Georgia and Houston Chapters. The organization鈥檚 grant focus areas include disaster preparedness and relief, children at risk, education, and veterans.聽All of 91黑料网鈥檚 FMU team members have competed in the IICF Step Up Challenge for the past three years, and volunteers from the Dallas office, together with Jessica, have supported at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery cleanup.

In her personal time, Jessica鈥檚 children, 6 and 10, keep her busy running to Boy Scouts, dance, and baseball and soccer fields. Looking forward, Jessica is excited to continue on the path of professional growth, and further strengthen 91黑料网鈥檚 strategic agency partnerships to accelerate mutual success.

__________________

About Jessica Soufrine

Jessica is the vice president of field marketing & underwriting for 91黑料网. In this position, Jessica serves as a member of the company鈥檚 operational leadership team and leads the Field Marketing & Underwriting (FMU) department in driving profitable growth with 91黑料网鈥檚 Partners For Success庐 agencies. Prior to her current role, she served as the regional vice president of FMU for the company鈥檚 west region and has held many positions during her 15-year tenure and progression with the company. Before joining 91黑料网, Jessica worked for Travelers Insurance as a claims representative. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communication and advertising from Appalachian State University.

Kimberly Vaughn has applied her expertise, passion for great outcomes, and emphasis on teamwork to deliver second-to-none service and grow in her career 鈥� and she鈥檚 not slowing down anytime soon.

In her role as vice president of claims experience & customer analytics at 91黑料网, Kimberly is focused on providing an exceptional claims experience for agency customers and policyholders. She is responsible for developing and executing a roadmap for the claims customer experience and uncovering ways to leverage data and provide insights to policyholders that positively impact their loss experiences.

Claims Experience Organization 鈥� A Unique Service Approach

Kimberly鈥檚 passion for commercial insurance and a collaborative claims process is reflected in the strength of her team 鈥� the Claims Experience Organization (CXO). Officially launched in November 2021, the CXO serves a broad portfolio of customers and policyholders by facilitating connections, solving problems, providing critical data insight, and supporting the delivery of a consistent claims experience.

In its first full year and as part of the company鈥檚 One 91黑料网 service value proposition, Kimberly and the CXO team accomplished a number of feats, including instituting policyholder welcome kits to onboard new policyholders to 91黑料网鈥檚 service offerings; rolling out account and agency-level dashboards for easy access to claims data; streamlining the claims review process by centralizing the scheduling, coordinating and creating action plan packets; supporting the company鈥檚 field marketing & underwriting teams to earn new business; and hosting policyholder presentations and training.

Building Up Those Around Her

Kimberly believes the most effective work environment is one in which a team can sort through many ideas by sharing them aloud, and building off one other鈥檚 ideas to ultimately create a better product. Her leadership style can be described as 鈥渃lear and direct鈥� 鈥� she believes everyone would rather be operating with the shared set of information and prefers to make transparent decisions.

Kimberly has a passion for teaching and inspiring other professionals within the industry. She also believes in recognizing opportunities for women and recommending talent within her professional orbit.
鈥淚 have personally been the beneficiary of those who have given me a chance to professionally develop,鈥� said Vaughn. 鈥淚 would not be where I am today if I hadn鈥檛 been given those chances.鈥�

Kimberly has made significant contributions to the advancement of younger colleagues, especially in helping them build their confidence. When asked to offer her insight to young women thinking of joining the industry, she shares: 鈥淚 love to tell young professionals, 鈥極wn your seat at the table, you鈥檙e there for a reason.鈥� I am passionate about encouraging women colleagues to plan their future and own their place in their professional universe. This helps to move them out of the common mind frame of 鈥榳ho am I to say?鈥欌��

Making Waves

Kimberly has experienced growth both personally and professionally and strives to try new things. She is a member of the Ann Arbor Triathlon Club, which has over 200 members. She has served on the board of the club, including as president, and as a member of the board helped cultivate a welcoming environment to all levels of athletes, whether elite or casual.

Kimberly鈥檚 favorite sport is swimming, and she is a certified lifeguard and a U.S. Masters Swimming Adult Learn-to-Swim certified instructor. She spends time serving as an instructor at the YMCA to coach water-shy adult swimmers. This activity allows Kimberly to positively influence the lives of other adults outside of her professional landscape.

鈥淢y area of specialty is working with adults who are scared of the water. Many of my students start too afraid to even put their faces in the water. The day my first-ever student treaded water in the deep end without my help, we both cried! It is really rewarding,鈥� said Vaughn.

Looking ahead, Kimberly is excited about further developing claims team talent and coaching future leaders for 91黑料网, as well as continuing to serve as a positive influence on the insurance industry.

__________________

About Kimberly Vaughn

Kimberly joined 91黑料网 in 2013 as a member of the technical claims team, focusing on high severity and high complexity Workers’ Compensation claims. In 2016, she was promoted to Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Workers’ Compensation Claims, before moving into the role of AVP of Claims for the North Region in 2018 and then launching the CXO in 2021. She began her career practicing law in Chicago, first as a member of the plaintiffs鈥� bar, then as a defense attorney, before returning to her home state of Michigan to join 91黑料网. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Michigan State University and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan. She is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Indiana, and the United State Supreme Court..

Kimberly earned the Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP) designation in 2015, the Advanced Claims Professional (ACP) designation in 2020, and the Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation in 2021. She is active with Chief, an organization connecting women executive leaders, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), previously serving as dean and faculty member for the CLM Claims College School of Workers’ Compensation, and with RISE Professionals, an organization supporting young professionals in the insurance industry.聽 She is a frequent speaker on industry topics, most recently with Reuters, ClaimsXchange, and the CLM鈥檚 Litigation Management Symposium.

While not always highly publicized, women have in fact been making an impact in construction for centuries, with notable efforts including the historical under the management of Emily Roebling. Today, there is a plaque at the landmark that reads, 鈥淏ack of every great work we can find the self-sacrificing devotion of a woman.鈥�

As with many industries, construction continues to face a labor shortage, leading many companies to tap into populations that may not have been as highly involved in previous years. As a result, there has been a significant and steady increase in women working in construction roles since 2016, according to . In 2022, women composed 10.9% .

The NAWIC has a number of resources available to recognize and celebrate Women in Construction Week, including information on in-person panels and workshops, webinars, podcast episodes, graphics and meeting backgrounds, and more. Visit to explore all of the resources.

Train Your Construction Team Today

Looking to train and onboard construction team members? 91黑料网 offers a variety of safety trainings for construction employees, including underground utility damage and avoidance, excavation, fall protection, and OSHA 10-hour courses. Contact riskmanagement@amerisure.com for more information.

Right now, being a woman in construction can be dangerous. Most personal protection equipment (PPE) is designed for the build and stature of an average-sized male. For example, women risk getting their fingers caught in equipment due to ill-fitting gloves, or head injuries because of loose hard hats or construction helmets. They may even fall by tripping over boots that are too big for their feet.

The PPE women utilize on the jobsite is oftentimes so uncomfortable they will attempt to alter the clothing for comfort and mobility. While the clothing may reduce productivity due to discomfort, altering the clothing may take away the 鈥減rotection鈥� aspect of PPE. PPE is tested as is 鈥� changing it from how it has been deemed safe can cause harm to workers and fail to protect them in a safety incident.

There are some companies, such as Charm and Hammer, which are beginning to take a stand. The company produces gender-inclusive equipment ranging from gloves to tool suspenders. Producing properly fitting equipment demonstrates a proactive commitment to safety. Companies that take employees鈥� PPE needs into account may experience fewer losses and a more committed workforce.

As more women enter the construction industry, it will become even more essential to develop the appropriate PPE. By creating a safe, more inclusive environment for women, their participation in the field of construction will increase, providing more tradespeople on jobsites to help fill the available and opening jobs. For more information and resources about women in construction, visit the

• Find a near you, and network with other women in the construction industry
• Utilize the WIC Week in documents, on jobsite equipment, or clothing
• Share a photo or story about your experience as a woman (or with a woman) in the construction industry on social media
• Nominate a local woman in the construction industry for an award or recognition
• Invite a woman in construction to speak in your classroom, at your business or during a community event
• Research current , and share these with others to encourage women to get involved in the industry
• Offer to advertise construction job openings on your website or newspaper for free, or at a discounted price
• Host a STEM or skilled trades event that allows girls and women to experience tools, jobsite management and other construction opportunities

91黑料网 is proud to provide coverage for many women in the construction industry. Learn more about our comprehensive construction solutions .