I’m excited to announce my appointment to the California Department of Insurance as the first member of the Insurance Diversity Task Force representing Persons with Disabilities Enterprise Business (PDBE)!

This prestigious position was conferred by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara as part of the California Department of Insurance’s ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive and innovative insurance market through its’ Insurance Diversity Initiative (IDI).

My role as a member of this task force will be to:

• Advise the Department of Insurance with member area(s) of expertise on Department initiatives to increase procurement with diverse suppliers and diversity on governing boards;
• Identify and promote insurance companies that are actively engaged in diversity issues;
• Explore the status of diverse representation on insurance company governing boards; and
• Provide recommendations to increase supplier or governing board diversity, which may include suggested changes to existing law.

We will accomplish our goals through the transparency and analysis of the recently created Insurance Diversity Index, The California Insurance Diversity Survey (CAIDS) and bringing our professional expertise to bear on all of that data.

This role is a significant step towards ensuring that the voices and perspectives of people with disabilities are represented in the insurance industry. I’m committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Representation matters, and I’m eager to contribute to creating a more inclusive industry for all.