WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSPer) -- The National Association of Health Underwriters issued the following news release:
Susan Rider, an Indianapolis-based insurance executive, was recently elected secretary of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Board of Trustees at its 91st Annual Convention.
"I could not be more excited to welcome Susan as the newest member of our Board of Trustees," said Janet Trautwein, CEO of NAHU. "Susan has an outstanding track record as a leader, and I look forward to working with her to support and advance the interests of NAHU's members."
Rider currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Sales for Preventia Group. Previously, she worked for Gregory & Appel Insurance, where she helped employers align their HR strategies with their total reward strategies for their future workforce. With over 15 years of experience in human resources and benefits consulting, Rider's knowledge of the industry landscape is deep and broad.
Rider has been a member of NAHU since 2004. For NAHU, she has served as professional development chair, media chair and young agent chair. For the Indiana chapter, she has served as legislative chair, president and young agent chair. For her local chapter, she has been president, president-elect, secretary and event chair, and served on the Sales Congress Committee.
In the community, Susan is an adjunct faculty of organizational leadership at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), on the CE Advisory Council of the Indiana Department of Insurance, a board member of the Domestic Violence Network and a guild member of Damar Services.
Mentoring has been a key part of my career. In a recent podcast, I discuss what successful mentoring relationships look like and why it is so important.
1. Podcast https://moneysavage.podbean.com/.../successful-mentor.../
2. Certified Mentor with Pass the Torch - https://passthetorchforwomen.org/.../advice-younger-self.../
3. Created an agency-wide mentoring program
4. Created the NAHU mentoring program while serving as the YAHU chair now known as Vanguard.
When others achieve their greatness that is the most fulfilling moment of serving as a mentor.
“Through each step, the most constant thing has been my NAHU family,” Rider says. “Anita Strauss was one of the first people to take a chance to put me on her [IndyAHU] board. She gave me assignments that stretched me and helped me see what I was capable of, because when I first started the Association in 2003 I didn’t have the self-confidence that would have gotten me on track.” She adds, “Jennifer Revell, David Berman, Dwight Hall, Nicole Fairbairn, and Jennifer Mitchen have been there with me since the beginning. We have laughed, cried, and shared many life moments with one another – they are part of my extended family.”
Sustainability is the name of the game when it comes to your benefits practice. Susan Rider, vice president of sales and operations at Preventia, walked through the steps of increasing practice sustainability by leveraging your practice’s human capital during a session held Monday at the National Association of Health Underwriters virtual convention.
Rider told participants that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some agencies adapted to changing businesses models more quickly than others. “Your main goal for you practice is to remain nimble. You want to be able to pivot, not just create a quick fix,” she said.
On this show, we talked about improving health outcomes through education and access to healthy food and prepared meals, the benefits of healthy employees to organizations, and how it all works with Susan Rider, Vice President with Preventia. Listen to learn what employers can do to promote healthy diets for their people!
https://moneysavage.podbean.com/e/delivering-healthy-options-with-susan-rider/
For me, my biggest struggle was growing up with learning disabilities and ADD. I was diagnosed late, and it impacted my trajectory until my 10th grade year. My teacher thought outside the box and pushed me to just “learn with a twist”.
I have always been an effective communicator verbally and in written form, but comprehension was a challenge for me. By simply moving my tests to verbal ones, I became an A student – changing my life course for the better.
When I began my career in healthcare as a CNA, an EMT and then trained to become a surgical tech, these did not require a degree. These were hands-on learning opportunities that allowed me to thrive. Unfortunately, shortly after marrying my best friend I was injured in the operating room – resulting in a spinal fusion.
That curve-ball forced me to go back to school as an adult. I went down the General Studies route with a focus in organizational leadership (HR certificate) and again, I had to go through a process of working with my teachers to find alternative ways to succeed with testing. I was a full-time employee serving as an account manager, a youth group advisor, serving on my local health underwriters board and going to school 6 hours a semester in the evenings. My support system made up of my husband, personal friends, and NAHU family, got me through this crazy time where there seemed to be no balance; just stress, exhaustion and tears.
But in 2015, I completed my master’s degree in Strategic Leadership. The timing was in line with an agency retirement so I was able to swoop in and take the Human Capital Strategies division to the next level. Upon graduating, both IUPUI and UIndy (where I received my 2 degrees) asked me if I was interested in joining their adjunct faculty. Of course, I said yes. Why wouldn’t I give back to the institutions that contributed to my career trajectory? Dedication, perseverance, and the desire to become something greater than where I was heading really made the journey even more rewarding. Now, the ability to mentor and teach the next generation of Human Resource professionals far exceeds my expectations.
I have had so many amazing mentors along the way – many who “took a chance” on me because they saw potential. Do not turn down opportunities. Network with people who authentically believe in you. Align yourself with organizations that you believe in, are passionate about, that help you become a better person, and where you can make a difference leveraging your strengths.
If you want something bad enough, go get it. Don't let anything stop your journey. You will always find a way to achieve your goals, they just might occur on a slightly different timeline or path than you originally thought.
I am still learning every day – whether through webinars related to my job function, leadership meetings or even from my students. Listen to others regarding your blind spots. Work with an executive coach. Do not stop reading. Do not stop networking. Disrupt the status quo. Those that believe in you will help you get you to your desired role.
Recently, I began a new career in a new industry. I have the good fortune of working for an organization aligns with my passion to help people with lifestyle, mental health and food insecurity issues get access to care when and where they need it.
Success does not come easy; it takes hard work. Everyone learns differently, I simply “learn with a twist.”
https://www.empowered-community.com/post/resilient-susan-rider