Crop Insurance Emerging Leaders Announced

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau issued the following news release:

Today, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) named 10 industry professionals to its 2018-2019 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) class. The program increases participants' knowledge of key policy issues and prepares them with the skills they need to be effective advocates for the crop insurance industry. All participants are employees of CIRB's growing membership, which includes both crop insurance and reinsurance companies.

"The Emerging Leaders Program is an established curriculum that provides a great experience for professionals to learn how to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing federal crop insurance," said Ron Rutledge, Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Chairman. "CIRB has been leading the way with its advocacy and communications efforts in Washington, D.C. and it is essential to educate our rising leaders on best practices for the future."

Now in its fourth year, a total of 24 industry professionals have graduated from the ELP program. Alumni have remained engaged in CIRB and some have even moved on to serve on the organization's Executive Committee. The program consists of monthly activities that include webinars, industry networking and meetings with USDA's Risk Management Agency in Kansas City. Over the course of the program, participants also attend CIRB Executive Committee meetings and receive advocacy training during two Washington, D.C. fly-ins.

The 2018-2019 CIRB Emerging Leaders Program class includes:

Chelsea Abrahamson, Farm Bureau Financial Services

Bryce Benson, American Farm Bureau Insurance Services

Kevin Boeckenstedt, Crop Risk Services

RJ Brinkmeyer, Farmers Mutual Hail

John Haldy, Guy Carpenter

Bret Keeler, ARMtech

Tracy Klever, Farmers Mutual Hail

Ryan Kramer, Farmers Mutual Hail

Cole Patrick, COUNTRY Financial

Amy Zeik, Rural Community Insurance Services

The program officially kicks off in September and will conclude in April 2019 with a graduation ceremony in Washington, D.C. You can learn more about this year's class at: cropinsurance.org/leaders/. Please contact Kerry Lynch with any questions about the program.

About CIRB:

Founded in 1964 and headquartered on Capitol Hill, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) is proud to provide unparalleled advocacy, support, and membership services to the crop insurance and reinsurance community. Today, CIRB members provide a vital component of the farm safety net, writing policies in every state and providing billions of dollars in crop protection. Learn more about us at www.cropinsurance.org.