Careers In Insurance Month
As the final installment of our Careers in Insurance Month interview series, we are highlighting two key leaders of our organization, COO & Group President David Marino and Jennifer Westmoreland, President of American Global’s Georgia operations.
Like many of their colleagues, Jennifer and David both set their sights on careers in insurance. While David followed a path of family footsteps into the industry, Jennifer began her journey as a Risk Management major in college, where she also worked as an intern in construction insurance. This internship piqued her interest into the world of construction, and she’s been working in the space ever since. Jennifer stated that if it weren’t for starting her career in construction, she may not have stayed in the industry, adding “to see something being built from the ground up is so interesting and special to be involved in. I can’t imagine doing anything else!”
David noted “The commercial insurance industry offers a terrific way for professionals to be engaged in the businesses of their clients and help drive value by solving problems and providing solutions. As a broker specializing in the construction industry, no two clients are the same. Every day brings fresh challenges. I joined American Global to leverage my specialized skills and be surrounded by colleagues that value serving the sector exclusively.” As one of the largest brokers dedicated solely to the construction industry, David added “At American Global, we have the opportunity to work on some of the most amazing projects around the world!”
For Jennifer, it was more than just construction that brought her here. “The camaraderie and team environment are what led me to American Global.” After working closely with AG earlier in her career, she was able to see how the firm operated and was excited to “be part of a team that takes time to help others get to their desired outcome.” That attitude was inspiring to Jennifer and is one thing that David is particularly passionate about – the way in which their leadership team operates. “American Global was built with a strong focus on teamwork, collaboration, and excellence. We operate with a singular focus and mission. We are heavily investing in the next generation of insurance leaders to position us for continued strong growth in talent, clients and opportunity.” Being named by Business Insurance as one of the Best Places to Work three years in a row, is proof of the culture they have built.
David continued by saying “Our investments in team, technology, and innovation make us something very different than many industry peers” especially for a company only nine years old. “Many of our leaders come out of the construction industry directly, or through adjacent careers in finance, law, claims, and engineering which diversifies our thinking. Operating globally gives us a perspective that is valued by our clients and insurance trading partners. We have a unique view that makes us very different.”
It’s obvious that the powerful combination of meaningful work in a collaborative, supportive culture, serves as the driving force for American Global’s success, as we continue to expand under the direction of dedicated leaders like Jennifer and David. We don’t reserve only February, Insurance Careers Month, to celebrate the careers and accomplishments of our team members and fellow industry leaders – at American Global we have a culture of learning that is celebrated year round!