Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society

Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society Thank you for visiting the Buffalo Chapter page! Our chapter leaders would love to hear from you with feedback and questions about the chapter!

The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU society would like to thank Merchants Insurance Group for being a 2026 Platinum Sponsor....
09/07/2026

The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU society would like to thank Merchants Insurance Group for being a 2026 Platinum Sponsor.

Founded in 1918

On March 5, 1918, Merchants Mutual Liability Company opened for business. It was founded by Urban F. Jehle, owner and operator of a grocery store on Buffalo’s West Side. He returned from a grocers’ convention with the idea of banding merchants together for the mutual protection of their delivery vehicles. J.R. Young, a local insurance man, Owen B. Augspurger, a Buffalo lawyer, and C.W. Brown, a civil engineer, joined with him. They envisioned a company that would write automobile insurance through local independent agents. Mr. Jehle served as president of the company until 1923.
Throughout the years, we’ve grown and changed, bringing technology and quality products and services to our agents, our policyholders and our communities.

Feel free to view the Merchants Insurance Group Website at https://www.merchantsgroup.com/

⭐ Thank You to Our 2026 Platinum Sponsor! ⭐The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society would like to extend our sincere than...
09/03/2026

⭐ Thank You to Our 2026 Platinum Sponsor! ⭐

The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society would like to extend our sincere thanks to one of our 2026 Platinum Sponsors, Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance Company, for their generous support of our chapter.

Because of your continued support, the Buffalo Chapter is able to support upcoming CPCU candidates, offer continuing education (CE) courses, and provide valuable networking opportunities throughout Western New York.

We greatly appreciate Genesee Patrons’ commitment to the insurance community and to the continued growth and development of insurance professionals in our region.

Thank you, Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance Company, for being a valued partner of the Buffalo CPCU Chapter!

Learn more about Genesee Patrons: www.gpins.net

National CPCU Live WebinarBeyond the Pitch: How Top Producers Win BusinessPresenters: Bryan Tedford, CPCU, ARM, Jack Gro...
09/02/2026

National CPCU Live Webinar

Beyond the Pitch: How Top Producers Win Business

Presenters: Bryan Tedford, CPCU, ARM, Jack Grovenstein, Olga Spinelli, CPCU, ARM, AMIM, and Dawn Phelps, CPCU, PMP (Moderator)

Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. ET
In an industry driven by expertise, products, and pricing, the most successful insurance professionals know that relationships remain the ultimate differentiator. This engaging webinar explores three foundational soft skills that transcend every sales model: building trust, discovering needs through genuine curiosity, and influencing decisions without a traditional sales pitch. Whether you're an agent, broker, carrier representative, or direct writer, you'll walk away with practical strategies for strengthening client relationships, improving conversations, and becoming a more trusted advisor. Join us for an interactive discussion on the human skills that drive long-term success in insurance.

Key takeaways include:

Build trust to gain a lasting competitive advantage over price and product alone
Ask better questions to uncover what clients actually need
Influence buying decisions without relying on a traditional sales pitch


Member Registration below:

https://www.cpcusociety.org/Public/Education/Webinar/BTP92226.aspx

CPCU Society webinars are live, one-hour sessions designed to educate and empower you on a wide variety of topics. Learn from insurance and risk management professionals who are experts on a wide variety of topics, ask questions, interact with other participants, all without leaving your office.

Non-member individual registration is $49.
Non-member group rate registration is $99.

Can’t make the date of the webinar or interested in more content? The Society’s Learning Library provides hundreds of on-demand educational materials including recorded webinars and more.

In an industry driven by expertise, products, and pricing, the most successful insurance professionals know that relationships remain the ultimate differentiator. This engaging webinar explores three foundational soft skills that transcend every sales model: building trust, discovering needs through...

National CPCU Live WebinarWhy Investing in Claims Talent Pays OffPresenters: Chantal Roberts, CPCU, AIC, RPA, ITP, Frede...
09/02/2026

National CPCU Live Webinar

Why Investing in Claims Talent Pays Off

Presenters: Chantal Roberts, CPCU, AIC, RPA, ITP, Frederick Fisher, J.D., CCP, and Heather Blevins, CPCU, MEd (Moderator)

Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. ET
Claims organizations face increasing pressure to reduce expenses, streamline operations, and adopt new technologies. But how do staffing, training, and supervision decisions affect claim outcomes, litigation, and total claim costs?

In this panel discussion, Chantal Roberts and Frederick Fisher examine the relationship between claims resources, employee experience, turnover, automation, and financial performance. Moderator Heather Blevins will guide the conversation through historical case studies, regulatory developments, and recent litigation involving claims practices, connecting these developments to recurring operational risks in claims management today.

Attendees will gain practical insights into the hidden costs, and potential return on investment, of properly staffing, educating, and supporting claims professionals.

Key Takeaways:

Evaluate how staffing levels, experience, education, supervision, and turnover influence indemnity payments, litigation, customer outcomes, and total claim costs.

Identify costs that traditional performance metrics may overlook, including impacts on claim quality, cycle times, reopenings, litigation, and loss adjustment expense.

Apply a practical framework for assessing staffing, education, supervision, and technology as strategic investments rather than isolated operating expenses.

Member Registration below:

https://www.cpcusociety.org/Public/Education/Webinar/HCUCT926.aspx

CPCU Society webinars are live, one-hour sessions designed to educate and empower you on a wide variety of topics. Learn from insurance and risk management professionals who are experts on a wide variety of topics, ask questions, interact with other participants, all without leaving your office.

Non-member individual registration is $49.
Non-member group rate registration is $99.

Can’t make the date of the webinar or interested in more content? The Society’s Learning Library provides hundreds of on-demand educational materials including recorded webinars and more.

National CPCU live WebinarAsk the Expert: The Cyber Risk Landscape with Matt ChmelPresenters: Matt Chmel, and Gina Ciorc...
09/02/2026

National CPCU live Webinar

Ask the Expert: The Cyber Risk Landscape with Matt Chmel

Presenters: Matt Chmel, and Gina Ciorciari, CPCU, AINS, ASLI (Moderator)

Sept. 10, from 2 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Join us for a rapid-fire, live Q&A on one of the most pressing topics in risk management today: cyber risk. In this half-hour session, Matt Chmel, Head of Cyber Solutions for North America at Aon, will answer your questions with moderator Gina Ciorciari, Sales Operations Analyst at Aon.

Cyber risk continues to evolve at a pace that outstrips traditional coverage models, from shifting market conditions and risk transfer strategies to the growing complexities of silent cyber and AI exposures, plus a patchwork of state and sector-specific data privacy laws reshaping how policies are written and applied. Whether you're placing coverage, advising clients, or just trying to keep pace with the market, these are the issues shaping conversations across the industry right now.

Bring your biggest questions and get answers straight from one of the industry's leading experts.

Member Registration below:

https://www.cpcusociety.org/Public/Education/Webinar/ATECR926.aspx

CPCU Society webinars are live, one-hour sessions designed to educate and empower you on a wide variety of topics. Learn from insurance and risk management professionals who are experts on a wide variety of topics, ask questions, interact with other participants, all without leaving your office.

Non-member individual registration is $49.

Non-member group rate registration is $99.

Can’t make the date of the webinar or interested in more content? The Society’s Learning Library provides hundreds of on-demand educational materials including recorded webinars and more.

09/01/2026

📚 Free. Open to all. Available whenever you’re ready.

There’s challenging material in CPCU 540 and then there are the topics that seem to make everyone stop and grab the calculator.

We brought in three experienced CPCU 540 facilitators to help.

In this free on-demand session, Rita Williams-Bogar, MBA, CPCU, ChFC, David Peters, CPA, CPCU, CFP, and Sandra Meyers, CPA, CPCU, ARM-E, unpack six critical areas and share the guidance they’ve developed from working directly with CPCU students.

Consider it an extra set of expert study partners, available whenever you need them.
View on-demand: https://www.cpcusociety.org/Public/ResourceLibrary/RL/Preview_Resources.aspx?Ordinal=475

Last weekend, Merchants Insurance Group hosted its first annual golf tournament, and the Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Soc...
08/31/2026

Last weekend, Merchants Insurance Group hosted its first annual golf tournament, and the Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society was proud to participate as a Bronze Sponsor.

We are also grateful to Merchants Insurance Group for its continued support as a Platinum Sponsor of the Buffalo Chapter.

Thank you, Merchants, for allowing the Buffalo CPCU Society to be part of this wonderful event. We appreciate your partnership and continued support of our chapter!

08/14/2026
2026 Local Conferment & Officer Installation Holiday PartyJoin the Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society as we celebrate t...
07/27/2026

2026 Local Conferment & Officer Installation Holiday Party

Join the Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society as we celebrate the accomplishments of our 2026 CPCU Designees during our annual Local Conferment & Holiday Party at Bobby J's Italian Grille.

Enjoy an evening of networking, cocktails, dinner, and a special Local Conferment Ceremony as we recognize our newest CPCU designees for their dedication and achievement.

We are honored to have Past Chapter President Matthew Paluch, CPCU, preside over the ceremony and present the official CPCU pins to our new designees.

The evening will also include the installation of the 2027 Buffalo Chapter Officer Team and recognition of our outgoing Chapter President, Harmony Johnson, CPCU, for his outstanding leadership and service to the chapter.

🎉 Congratulations to Our 2026 CPCU Designees
Kyle Gilckert, CPCU
Joseph Butler, CPCU
Rachel Holdsworth, CPCU
🎖️ 2027 Buffalo Chapter Officers

President: Robert Christ

Vice President: Matthew Whittemore

Treasurer: Shannon Van Doorn

Secretary: To Be Announced

Immediate Past President: Harmony Johnson, CPCU

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026

Location:
Bobby J's Italian Grille
204 Como Park Boulevard
Cheektowaga, NY 14227

5:30 PM – Cocktail Hour

6:30 PM – Dinner & Local Conferment Ceremony

Attire: Business Professional or Holiday Cocktail Attire

Your Registration Includes
Italian dinner buffet
Two-hour open bar
Local Conferment Ceremony
Officer Installation Ceremony
Holiday celebration with fellow CPCUs, candidates, and industry professionals

Registration will open soon!

Please note: Event date and time are subject to change.

The CPCU Pledge

As a CPCU:

I shall strive at all times to live by the highest standards of professional conduct;

I shall strive to understand the needs of others and place their interests above my own;

I shall strive to uphold a standard of honor and integrity that reflects credit on my profession and the CPCU designation.

We look forward to celebrating this special evening with you as we recognize our newest CPCUs, install our incoming chapter leadership, and celebrate another successful year for the Buffalo Chapter.

Thank You to Our 2026 Chapter Sponsors

The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our 2026 sponsors. Your partnership helps make our educational programs, networking opportunities, scholarship initiatives, and special events possible.

Genesee Patrons Insurance -www.gpins.net
USI Insurance Services -https://www.usi.com/
Lawley Insurance -https://www.lawleyinsurance.com/
Insurance Women of Buffalo -https://insurancewomenbuffalo.com/
Merchants Insurance Group -https://www.merchantsgroup.com/

Address

Cheektowaga, NY

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