Schultheis Awarded Scholarship
12/19/2024
It is only fitting to share that during this special season of giving and gratitude, one of our very own has accepted a special scholarship. Through the Ohio Insurance Agents Association, Allie Schultheis has been awarded the George Haenszel Scholarship by the Foundation for the Advancement of Insurance Professionals by the Board of Directors. The $2,100 reimbursement scholarship will be used so that Schultheis can obtain her Certified Insurance Counselor Designation in 2025.
The CIC Designation is one of the most prestegious designations an insurance agent can hold, dating back to 1969. With fewer than 32,000 CICs in the United States, it is a designation that is only held by approximateley 4% of active property and casualty agents. This designation is offered by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research and focuses on enhancing expertise in various lines of personal and commercial insurance, agency management, and other critical areas. Candidates must complete five individual and comprehensive courses totaling 100 study hours and pass rigorous exams with each course to earn the CIC credential. This certification signifies a deep understanding of insurance policies, risk management, and client advisement providing the best practical and real world education making designees experts within the field.
The OIA is a collaborative partner and trusted advisor for independent insurance agents in Ohio. They represent the interests of agencies of every size and provide leadership, advocacy, training, and data-backed insights for their members. Schultheis Insurance has been a proud member of the OIA for more than 40 years. The Foundation Scholarship is set up to provide financial support for agents to become a future/better leader in the independenet agency system or a future/better agency owner or partner.
There are seven course topics within the CIC Course Materials and agents must choose to study five. Schultheis has chosen to focus her efforts on Agency Management, Commercial Casualty, Commercial Property, Personal Lines, and Insurance Company Operations. She believes that this combination of courses will give her the best opportunity to serve her clients and community most effectively. Participants are given five calendar years to successfully complete the five courses and pass the corresponding exams to obtain their designations but the Foundation Scholarship expires on 12/11/2025.
After attending the OIA Annual Conference in October, Allie knew that working towards her CIC designation was what she wanted to do next in her career. Ms. Schultheis sees this as a challenging opportunity, but one that she is very much up for. She hopes her desire to continue her education in the field and be the best client advocate she can be will serve her community and small business for years to come. Allie is excited to begin her course materials at the beginning of 2025 and is deeply appreciative to the Foundation Board of Directors for this opportunity.
We all wish her luck on her journey to becoming the best agent and small business leader she can be!
