|
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our September meeting at Berkley! It was great connecting with CPCU colleagues, and I enjoyed learning more about the exciting work underway at BrokerTech Ventures.
As we move into October and the busy fall season, CPCU chapter activities are in full swing. With cooler weather, colorful leaves, and plenty of opportunities to learn and network, it's the perfect time to get involved. I hope you'll join us for one (or all!) of our upcoming events. Better yet, bring a coworker or fellow CPCU and help us continue growing our chapter. In addition to the events listed below, the Iowa CPCU Chapter is sponsoring the Drake Risk & Opportunity Forum on October 22nd. I had the opportunity to attend last year and found it extremely valuable. The event brought together many influential leaders from across the insurance industry, creating excellent opportunities for networking and education. I came away with new connections, fresh ideas, and valuable insights on the future state of the insurance industry. It’s also free to attend!
As we head into the final quarter of the year, I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to connect, learn, and invest in your professional growth. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Best regards,
Mary Calmer
Iowa CPCU Society Chapter President
| | Upcoming Chapter Meetings & Events | | |
October 2026 Chapter Meeting
Date: October 15, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)
Location: IMT Insurance, 7825 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. 50266
Join us for a delicious lunch (or via Zoom) at IMT to hear from fellow CPCU, Umakant Narkhede, Founder and CEO of Perpendo AI!
Artificial intelligence is evolving beyond chatbots and content generation into intelligent software agents capable of reasoning, planning, and completing complex insurance workflows with human oversight. This session gives insurance professionals a practical understanding of Agentic AI, how it differs from previous generations of AI, and where it is already creating value across underwriting, claims, policy servicing, and enterprise operations.
Attendees will also explore the importance of governance, human accountability, and the skills needed to succeed as AI becomes an integral part of the insurance workplace.
*If you have paid your 2026 CPCU Society dues, your registration is complimentary. If you have not paid your dues, it is $25 to attend.
Register here
| | |
November Good Works Event
Date: November 5, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CST)
Location: WesleyLife Hydroponic Farm (WesleyLife Meals on Wheels Campus), 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA. 50311
Join fellow Iowa CPCUs during the afternoon on Thursday, November 5 as we volunteer at WesleyLife Hydroponic Farm!
Space is limited to 15 volunteers from our organization - sign up by October 27 if you'd like to join!
Volunteer activities may include:
- Seeding plants
- Transplanting seedlings
- Harvesting and packing produce
- Cleaning and maintenance tasks
- Preparing growing systems for new crops
Register here
| |
I-Day 2026
Date: November 19, 2026
Time: 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)
Location: Farm Bureau Financial Services, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA. 50266
Please register by November 12 if possible to ensure Farm Bureau Security can get visitors registered. If you have paid your 2026 CPCU Society dues, your registration is complimentary. If you have not paid your dues, it is $40 to attend. Sales end Monday, November 16th, at 11:59 PM.
Register here
| | |
December 2026 Chapter Meeting
Date: December 9, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM (CST)
Location: Wakonda Club, 3915 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA. 50321
Registration is live-details to come!
*If you have paid your 2026 CPCU Society dues, your registration is complimentary. If you have not paid your dues, it is $25 to attend.
Register here
| |
Award Nominations Now Open
Burkhalter Award: The Iowa CPCU Chapter is seeking nominees for the Burkhalter Award, to be presented at I-Day in November. If you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to our profession, we encourage you to submit a nomination form here.
The Iowa Chapter Excellence Award: presented to an individual or business that exemplifies CPCU excellence through dedication to insurance education and professionalism, and through continuous support and contributions to the members of the Iowa CPCU Society. Nominations can be made at any time by emailing iowacpcusociety@gmail.com
| |
2026 Member Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete our annual member survey. Your feedback helps us continue improving and planning meaningful programs and events for the coming year. As an added bonus, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing for a gift card. Don’t delay, the survey closes October 4th!
| 2026 CPCU New Designee Celebration and Fall Social | We had a great time celebrating our 2026 CPCU New Designees at Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio on September 30! Welcome to the Iowa Chapter! | | |
2026 New Designees
Garrett Aukes
Enkhtuul Bayarsaikhan
Lane Danielsen
Heather Day
Hannah Fehr
Erik Gramenz
Kari Gosselink
Nathan Hansen
Hadassah Holl
Jacob Kirpes
Julie Lee
Shelby Lee
Angela Lowery
Juan Matamoros
Ryan Michalek
Bailey Pease
Grant Peterson
Andy Reed
Jessica Smith
Daniel Syata
Caleb Vander Molen
Austin Warmbier
Matthew Williams
| | | Congratulations to our 2026 Scholarship Recipients! | | Justin Gleason is a Management Information Systems student at Iowa State University and a member of the track & field team. He currently works as a software engineer intern at Wellabe in Des Moines, where he helps develop customer-facing applications and works on other technology projects. After graduating in May 2027, he hopes to build a career in technology where he can use his technical and business background to solve problems and continue learning. His experience at Wellabe has also given him the opportunity to learn more about the insurance industry and the role technology plays within it. Justin thanked the chapter for the scholarship and for supporting students interested in the insurance industry. | |  | Logan Sibenaller is a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Financial Counseling & Planning and Business. Along with school, he works a Rial Financial Team, where he helps with financial planning, client service and day-to-day operations that help clients and support the financial planning process. After graduation, he plans to continue working in the financial services industry and keep building his knowledge and experience so he can help individuals and families make informed financial decisions and plan for their future. Logan is thankful to the Iowa CPCU Society for the scholarship and their support as he finishes his senior year. | | |
- Erin Wonsmos was promoted to VP- Marketing & Sales at IMT Insurance
- Jessica Krogman was promoted to Director, Staff Operations- Farm at Nationwide
- Abby-Jaye Larson is now a Surety Wholesaler at Direct X Group
| If you have any recent accomplishments to promote for yourself or others, please submit those to mskalland@imtins.com | | | | |
