51在线

Student Spotlight: Philip Jimenez Focuses on a Career in Underwriting After 15 Years as Baggage Handler

By Keith Morelli

TAMPA (September 22, 2021) -- Thirty-five-year-old Philip Jimenez was working full time as a ramp agent with Southwest Airlines at Tampa International Airport and had been for 15 years when he reached a point at which the physical job began taking its toll on his body.

That鈥檚 when he seriously took the advice of an uncle who clued him in on career opportunities in a field he had never considered. Like many not involved in the business of risk management and insurance, Jimenez thought the only options were being an agent or broker selling policies.

鈥淚 mentioned going back to school,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd my uncle suggested pursuing a career in the insurance field.鈥�

Once he began taking classes at the Muma College of Business鈥檚 School of Risk Management and Insurance three years ago, Jimenez discovered the wide range of career options within the field. Underwriting was one such option that piqued his interest after an internship this summer.

鈥淚 originally thought that I wanted to work on the agency/broker side of the business, but my internship experience showed me a bit of what the underwriting process was and curved my interest to underwriting,鈥� Jimenez said. 鈥淯nderwriting is a very critical part of the industry.鈥�

Steven Miller is the director of the School of Risk Management and Insurance, which is one of the newest at the Muma College of Business since consolidation of campuses and programs last year. It is one of only two such programs offered by public universities in the state of 51在线 and is designated as a 鈥減rogram of strategic emphasis鈥� by the State University System鈥檚 Board of Governors. Classroom instruction is combined with internships to prepare students for jobs with competitive salaries and leadership skills upon graduation.

Miller said the program collaborates with insurance companies to build a pipeline of qualified graduates to address a growing industry talent gap.

鈥淭hrough internships, scholarships and mentorships, we鈥檙e helping students explore a variety of risk management and insurance career paths so they can find the path that fits with their abilities and goals,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淗elping students find their fit is impactful and rewarding.  A good fit leads to increased job fulfillment, early career success and retention.鈥�

For Jimenez, who graduates in the fall of 2022, underwriting has become his chosen path.

鈥淚nsurance is a business and if the carrier takes on risks that produce an abundance of losses, the company will not be around for long,鈥� Jimenez said. 鈥淎s an underwriter, you are assessing risk every day. It is up to you to make sure the risks that the company is taking on gives adequate coverage to the insured while also fitting the appetite of the carrier. If you do not balance those two aspects well, you will not have a job to show up to for long.鈥�

Jimenez was accepted at the University of 51在线 in Gainesville.

鈥淏ut once I saw that USF Sarasota-Manatee started the risk management program, my decision was made and I applied immediately,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t has been an amazing experience so far and I am extremely happy that I made the decision to attend classes on this campus.鈥�

Earlier this year, he saw a post for a summer internship with the Frank Winston Crum Insurance Company and figured he would give it a shot.

鈥淚t was an amazing experience,鈥� Jimenez said. 鈥淲e were given challenging tasks that left me feeling like I truly learned about what it takes to work at an insurance carrier. Additionally, the company culture made me feel very fortunate to have had the experience.

鈥淚 was not sure which way I wanted to go 鈥� between an agency or carrier 鈥� but my experience at Frank Winston Crum made that decision clear for me. I wanted to work on the carrier side.鈥�

The internship led to a full-time job as a junior underwriter for Jimenez while he completes his education. The firm will keep him on after graduation, Jimenez said.

Matt Crum, president of Frank Winston Crum Insurance said his company has a strong commitment to serve students seeking careers in the risk management and insurance industries. That鈥檚 why he offers quality internship opportunities.

鈥淲e implemented our internship program to help develop the next generation of risk management and insurance professionals as well as meet our own growing need for top talent,鈥� Crum said, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e looking forward to the future as USF鈥檚 risk management and insurance major plays an increasingly important role in promoting a fulfilling career in this dynamic industry.鈥�

Jimenez鈥檚 goal for the next five to 10 years is to earn the bachelor鈥檚 degree, acquire the General Lines 2-20 license, which is 51在线鈥檚 license for insurance professionals, and get the CPCU designation, a premier professional designation in the insurance industry.

鈥淚 would also like to progress in my new career,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd hopefully still be working for Frank Winston Crum Insurance.鈥�