Everywhere you go in the captive community, you hear about it. You hear about it at conferences, whether as a specific topic on the schedule or during off hours networking; you hear about it in Board meetings, during our VCIA Mixers, and from the captive media. The workforce challenge is a serious issue throughout the captive industry, with a large portion of captive professionals retiring in the near future, while fewer people choose the captive space for their careers. The threat is not going away anytime soon, and neither are we, which is why this week VCIA announced a formal partnership with The Vermont Captive Insurance Emerging Leaders (VCIEL), a group created to address head-on the workforce crisis as well as grow and cultivate the talent base that is already working within captives.

What will VCIEL do? Read the mission statement in full because it was painstakingly crafted. VCIEL will “reach new audiences that may have interest in the captive industry as a career; engage students, interns, and rising professionals about opportunities in the captive industry; retain talented new and rising professionals already within the industry; and create a platform for captive emerging professionals to develop as leaders not only in their companies, but in the greater captive community.” Additionally, I encourage you to go to the new VCIEL webpage on the VCIA website to find more details and background of the group.

An important thing to note: VCIEL is not lip service and it’s not for optics. VCIA’s own Director of Communications Francis McGill belongs to the group and he reports back how, diligent and focused, this burgeoning group stays on track and will offer concrete strategies to bring more new professionals into the captive fold. It starts by building relationships, and VCIEL has already established strong ones with local colleges like UVM, Champlain College and Saint Michael’s College. The group plans to employ benchmarking goals to remain accountable in how it goes out and engages with potential captive professionals. It plans to hold networking events to foster solidarity and build cohesion among the next generation of captive leaders. There are already many bright rising captive professionals who are ready to step up for the industry and VCIEL intends to champion them and find them opportunities on the captive conference circuit, including #VCIA2023.

And so, join us for this incredibly necessary initiative. All are invited to be a VCIEL member and participate in its every-other-month meeting–for that contact VCIA Director of Communications Francis McGill. And please know there is no age limit! We want anyone who supports working hard to create a sustainable next generation of captive workers! Furthermore, we want you at VCIEL’s launch party. Click on the picture below to RSVP!

As the largest trade association for captives, VCIA felt compelled and responsible to invest time, energy, and finances into an endeavor that will find ways for a healthy captive future. We are joining the likes of CICA’s NEXTGen who are providing concerted efforts to shape the working landscape of the captive industry. If this doesn’t get you fired up, then I don’t know what will! It’s my sincerest hope then that you will join us on this journey, and of course at the pizza launch party in celebrating this crucial project. It’s only just the beginning.