Kris West
Property Claims Examiner
Commercial
“At Susquehanna University, I learned that alumnus John Rendina (now Seneca COO) was conducting interviews for Seneca’s summer intern program. I was accepted as a property claims intern, getting exposure to underwriting, claims, actuary, and more. I did another internship over the winter, this time in Operations, helping producers and agents switch over to a new program, and was hired full-time in February 2019. It was great to have a solid plan for what I was going to be doing after graduation. I hope to continue to make meaningful connections, and learn from my mistakes – and grow.”
How has focusing on Professional Development and ‘owning’ your career helped drive success?
“I believe it is so important to take the initiative in one’s own career. I try to take as many opportunities as I can to expand my knowledge base and make connections. This past year I attended ‘Claims College,’ where I further developed my skills and understanding of commercial property claims. I look forward to future avenues of self-growth including an active membership to NAAIA, online conferences, classes with other claims pros learning industry standards, trends, and more.”
How has C&F allowed you to develop your career path?
I started at Seneca in 2018 as summer intern with the Claims Department. During my internship, I was engaged and I focused on getting a well-rounded understanding of the processes of the insurance industry. I was then offered a full-time position in the Property Claims department, where I’ve been since. The managers I worked with offered good support and sage advice during the months I interned. This led to a seamless transition to my current position.