Q:
Please give us a quick summary of your job at Fireman's Fund.

A: I oversee meetings and events for Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. I'm part of a shared service organization that serves Allianz Life and Fireman's Fund, so I do meetings for Allianz of America in addition to Fireman's Fund.

What inspired you to join the board of FICP?

I didn't want to be one of those public radio listeners who never pledges. It felt like it was time to give back and I wanted to put my board experience in other organizations to work within FICP. I take volunteer leadership roles seriously because I know we are representing our organization and industry and because I get more out of it than I put in. So, it's worth the investment of time.

You have earned both the CMP and the less-common CMM credentials. How have these benefited your career?

Both credentials have meaning and gain you recognition within our industry. When I got my CMP in 1990, it was huge for me. I felt like I was a bona fide meeting planner. At the time, a good friend bought me a nameplate with CMP after my name and I treasured it. The CMM was completely different. It was a wonderful experience to be in college for a week with a group of my peers. That experience and the project I worked on taught me to think more strategically and to think about my work as a part of the whole company.

What do you hope to accomplish in your first year as FICP's VP, communications?

Job No. 1 is facilitating some redesign work on the Web site. We've listened to member and hospitality partner feedback about navigation issues and search capabilities. We hope to add a resource library and make some changes with the profiles. In general, we're looking for ways to make all FICP communication vehicles more effective, and to develop relationships in a mindful way. I have a great committee, and we're also very open to feedback.

Do you encourage members to contribute to industry magazine articles?

Absolutely. Write articles and participate in stories. The exposure helps you in your professional career and in your company. My cover story in the March/April issue of Financial & Insurance Meetings was posted on our company bulletin board for months.

What are hot topics for financial and insurance planners right now — and in the near future?

FINRA rules and regulations are huge. I am not the expert, but in this new political environment, we all have to ask what is now and what will be allowable in terms of incentive programs and agent recognition. What we book, how we book, and how we track our spend is top of mind.

In a different vein, but also about doing the right thing, is climate change. I think that dealing with climate change is one of the next big learning curves for meeting planners. Part of our job in the near future is likely to be reporting on our meeting's carbon footprint. I look at this as being part of something very important, something our top execs are paying attention to.

In what ways does involvement with industry associations such as FICP, help planners within their own companies?

Getting involved with industry associations and becoming a volunteer leader gives you free leadership and public speaking training and teaches you collaboration skills and best practices. The best thing of all about FICP is that you build partnerships with members and hospitality partners that help you do your job. It's a terrific network, one that I lean on every day to help get my work done.

FICP Profile

Jan Hennessey, CMP, CMM, senior director, meetings & event management, Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., is in her first year as vice president, communications, on the FICP board of directors. She spoke with us recently from her offices in Novato, Calif., near San Francisco.