Elise Farnham, CPCU, AIM, ARM, CPIW President Illumine Consulting Grantville, Ga.

Elise Farnham has over 35 years experience in the risk management and insurance industry. She is President of Illumine Consulting, a firm dedicated to sharing knowledge with the risk management and insurance communities through continuing education and claims management consulting. Ms. Farnham’s company provides continuing education programs, professional and personal development programs, and business ethics programs.

Elise began her career in the insurance industry in 1973 with Crawford and Company. She became a multi-line adjuster and in 1978 was promoted as the first female claims branch manager for the company. She has worked in Texas, New York and Georgia in senior management positions. She has held senior level positions with The Harmonie Group, CSB Group, and GAB Robins, NA.

Ms. Farnham is a member of the CPCU Society. She has previously served the Society as S. E. Regional Governor, Executive Committee member, president of the Atlanta Chapter of CPCU, and on numerous task forces, including the Ethics Certification Task Force, the CPCU Claims Section Committee, and chaired the Media Advertising Task Force. She is a member of the education and professional development faculty for the Society with courses on ethics as well as technical insurance and risk management topics. The Atlanta Chapter recognized her as the 2011 Instructor of the Year for her dedication to providing quality education.

Elise is a member of the ARM, AIC, and CPCU Advisory Boards, which assist the American Institute for CPCU in reviewing and planning ARM, AIC, and CPCU course material. She served on the Board of Ethical Inquiry for the American Institute for CPCU from 2000-2008.

Elise is Past President of the National Association of Insurance Women (International) (1998/1999) having served on the Board of Directors for 5 years. She was Regional Vice President of Region 1 (Northeast). Prior to that, she served two terms as President of NAIW-New York City. Currently, she is a member of the Insurance Professionals of Atlanta. In 2004, she received the AAMGA Achievement Award from the Georgia State Council of NAIW for her contributions to the association and was recognized at the Most Influential Member in 2011.. In 2002, 2004, and 2009, she was named Insurance Woman of Atlanta, and in 1993, she was chosen National Claims Professional of the Year.

Elise is an associate member of The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) and a member of their professional development faculty and Professional Development Advisory Committee and teaches 4 Rims Fellow programs. Ms. Farnham also serves on the Board of Directors for the Registered Professional Adjusters Society (RPA.)

Ms. Farnham is an international speaker and her articles have been published in Business Insurance, The Claims Advisor, Claims Magazine, CPCU Claims Section Quarterly, National Underwriter, Risk Management Quarterly, Today’s Insurance Professional, Canadian Insurance Magazine (published in Canada) and Insurance International (published in the UK). Ms. Farnham provides expert commentary on personal lines issues for the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI.)

She holds industry designations including: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Management, and Certified Professional Insurance Woman.