Tell us about yourself as a professional. Do you have a special interest or area of expertise,
unusual background or experience, or a topic or skill you’re working to get better at?
Long before my career as an insurance professional I was a construction laborer. I was not part of a union and there was no formal apprenticeship. I had minimal safety training and even less oversight. When I first started working, my assignment was to dig holes for five years. Eventually I accepted a job as a roofing mechanic, which presented a whole new set of challenges. For the next three years I spent the majority of my workday navigating hazardous jobsites located on flat and steep-pitched rooftops, often 10+ stories high. During my tenure as a tradesman, I was provided a raw, unfiltered look into the life of a construction worker, and gained valuable insight into the challenges and who was most affected by them. I also saw firsthand how external pressure, such as schedule demands, financial implications, and politics can impact a jobsite climate and influence a worker’s decision-making. In the summer of 2014, I sustained a work-related injury, and my supervisor strongly encouraged me to avoid any mention of work at the hospital. I complied. At the time, I was unaware of the resources available to me as an injured worker, and as a result, I did not file a worker’s compensation claim. After several weeks of rehabilitation, I returned to work with the same employer in a new position assisting with sales and estimates. However, shortly after my accident, I began searching for a different role altogether and applied to several insurance companies. I accepted a job as a licensed worker’s compensation claims adjuster. Over the course of my insurance career, I have worked as an adjuster and investigator, an underwriting specialist, and most recently, as a risk control consultant in the construction division.
Why are you passionate about working in insurance and/or risk management?
In my current role, although I service policyholders through the lens of an insurance professional, I still consider myself an advocate for worker’s safety and wellbeing. I use my experiences to gain the trust of trade workers, market partners, and executive members alike. The knowledge and experiences of my past career serve as constant sources of motivation and allow me to connect with a community of workers that I still identify with, in an industry that continues to fascinate me. I am fortunate to have completed my CPCU courses. With each designation I pursue, in conjunction with real life experience, I am granted a different perspective on insurance, risk, and policyholder impact. I use my different vantage points, including my current and prior roles, to improve my position and overall effectiveness during my client focused service work.
Tell us about something you enjoy outside of work, a cause you support, a hobby, family activity,
or anything else that is important to you.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my fiancée. We love to travel, cook, ride bicycles, and watch professional boxing together. I am grateful for my life experiences and my health, both physical and spiritual. I am also a proud New Yorker and believe that there is no place in the world like New York City.
In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being a CPCU Society member?
I think the best thing about the CPCU Society is the excitement. I recently joined the Society in June 2022 and will be attending In2Risk in San Francisco. I am eager to network with other CPCUs and attend the educational sessions. Continuous improvement is a lifestyle!
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elias-goldblatt-aic-ains-ais-chst-cpcu-cris-csfsm-4a9b8a65/
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