CRIS in the Press

"With 12 years of insurance experience and then 10 years out of the industry, I came back to work needing a refresher. I became an account manager for some very large developers and builders, and my boss suggested I look into the CRIS program. CRIS gave me the confidence to work with these large accounts and feel good about guiding them through the insurance waters."

Dorothy B. Piehl
Account Manager
Smith Insurance Services, Inc.

"Managing construction risk poses unique challenges for contractors, brokers, insurance agents, underwriters and claims professionals. At Harleysville Insurance, we recognize that special training and certification related to this line of business can greatly benefit our insured contractors and our organization. That's why every member of our construction litigation team has earned the CRIS certification. The program's course materials include a healthy balance of topics that are familiar to construction risk professionals, along with well-timed reminders of the concepts we don't address on a daily basis. The CRIS certification reflects our organization's dedication and commitment to the construction market, as well as our efforts to respond to the challenges and opportunities we face in managing construction risk."

Lee Wright
Construction Defect Litigation Manager
Harleysville Insurance

"This is the most comprehensive program that I have seen for construction professionals or for those that want to become knowledgeable in the field. The five parts are laid out very well and address the needs of the construction industry. It provides a valuable tool for the insurance buyer as well as agent/brokers who need to understand the various forms/coverage being offered today. I would also recommend it to any company underwriter who deals with construction as it provides a wealth of information to assist in a better understanding of the industry. I don't think there is anyone that could not benefit by taking the courses. Both IRMI and WebCE have done an excellent job in putting this one together. I applaud those responsible for the development of this needed educational tool."

Wafford E. Dilliard
Reeves, Coon & Funderburg

"As is always the case with an IRMI product, the CRIS materials were very well done and will be a useful reference source for my future use."

Robert Higgins
Vice President—Risk Services
Schiff, Kreidler-Shell

"I discovered the Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist (CRIS) program through the National Association of Insurance Women, International. This program is terrific; it not only provided me with expertise in the construction industry, but also gave me continuing education (CE) credits that I needed for my insurance agent’s license. The courses were offered online which provided me the flexibility of studying and taking the exams at my convenience. I would recommend this program to anyone in the insurance industry."

Joi Wilson
Senior Account Executive
Star Risk Services, Inc.

"The material has been very useful not just with our construction accounts, but as a source of reference with our contracting (and other) accounts as well. We all have a lot to keep up with in this business, and I’m looking forward to the courses that will appear for continuing ed credit as one way to meet this challenge."

L. Kevin O’Connor
Claims
Gencorp Insurance Group

"I got into risk management roughly 3 years ago, with a background in safety. The president of the company asked if I would be interested in heading up our Risk Management department and of course I said yes not really knowing what I was getting myself into. Once I got going, it was like I hit a brick wall, and I got really discouraged about my new position. I started doing some research and found IRMI through a Risk Manager in Chicago. After reviewing the IRMI website, I came across the CRIS program and thought, "Wow this is pretty cheap for training—how good can this be?" I spent the next several months reviewing each of the CRIS units and was amazed on how much detail each of the units provided. Ever since I received my CRIS certification, I have taken a few more courses and still can’t believe how well these self-study courses are put together. In addition to the CRIS program, I went to my first IRMI Construction Risk Conference and was amazed on the different types of classes. Speakers were wonderful; networking was amazing; and I have never seen classes so full and nobody leaving earlier. Well done!"

Mark D. Toepfer, Safety and Risk Manager
Riley Construction Company, Inc.
Kenosha, WI

"Our company was looking for some type of information that would help our Insurance Administrators understand why we ask our subcontractors for certain items to be shown on a certificate of insurance and additional insured endorsement(s). We found it through IRMI with the Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) program. One employee received the CRIS certification within the inaugural year, and many of us followed the year after. The material provided is a resource that is used often as we meet the ever changing challenges of the insurance world."

Cynthia L. Chamberlain, Insurance Administration Manager Risk Management
Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC
Dallas, TX

"The Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) provided me with the expertise to manage construction risk. This certification poses unique challenges for contractors, brokers, insurance agents, underwriters and claims professionals. I would recommend this program to anyone who is willing to learn how to manage risk in the insurance industry."

Jean Campoverde, Corporate HSSE Director
B&M Construction Co., Inc.
Deerfield Beach, FL

"I handle third-party claims for a large construction company. The CRIS material was well-written and easy to understand. It has proven very useful in helping guide me through many potential pitfalls and as a continuing reference source."

Robert W. Imholz, Senior Claim Specialist
CCMSI
St. Louis, MO

"I am a strong advocate of anything produced by IRMI, so I decided to explore the CRIS certification. The insurance world is constantly changing, so I really try hard to keep updated and have never found a more educational source than IRMI. I work in risk management for a construction company and although I am a licensed property and casualty agent, many of the agents/brokers I work with do not consider me a peer. I believe this certification from a leader in the construction arena provides credibility in dealing with these folks."

Scarlett Moore, Risk Management Specialist
Gray Construction
Lexington, KY

"The Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist program consisted of current topics that were relevant to everyday issues within the construction industry and provided me with a reference resource for many years to come. The courses were offered online, providing me with the flexibility I need to manage the demands of a construction career, continuing education requirements, and family obligations. My CRIS certification provided me with specialized knowledge and the advantage I was looking for to take my career as a Contract Administrator to the next level."

Christi Conner, Contract Administrator
Aristeo Construction
Detroit, MI

"It's difficult to find classes that focus on a specific industry, but IRMI has done that with their CRIS program. Great for construction risk management professionals."

Jacob Concannon
Gallagher Construction Services
San Francisco, CA

"I want to stress that the CRIS certification isn’t only valuable to those in the insurance industry; it is equally beneficial to construction professionals. In my current role, I am responsible for training our project management staff in the areas of contracts, insurance, and risk transfer. Obtaining my CRIS certification has not only allowed me to further develop myself professionally, but also to serve as a solid resource for others. I highly recommend this comprehensive, convenient program for anyone looking to become knowledgeable in the areas of construction insurance and risk management."

Maia Jordan, Director of Administration
Trinity Building and Construction Management Corp.
Woburn, MA