Aug 12, 2026
Rena Strohmeier is the Underwriting Manager at Wawanesa Insurance and a San Diego State University faculty lecturer, teaching insurance and risk management classes. She is a member of the Executive and Leadership Council of the CPCU Society, and holds CPCU, AIC, and AINS designations. Here, she joins Chris Hampshire on In The Know for a conversation about working for a California-only insurer, global insurance interests, and insurance careers for women and offerings for underserved communities.
Key Takeaways
● Rena’s career path started in auto theft.
● Underwriting or claims? CPCU helped determine Rena’s decision.
● Insights into personal lines.
● Why insurance? Rena shares her personal answer.
● Women In Leadership offerings.
● Rena’s involvement with the CPCU Society.
● Rena’s role as guest lecturer at San Diego State University.
● The current state of the California insurance industry.
● A five-year look to the future of the industry.
● Rena’s advice to her early career self.
In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.
To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership, and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.
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LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society
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Quotes
● “The partnership between underwriting and claims is a very good one that we should think about more in the industry.”
● “Women — there is a space for you in this industry.”
● “If you know what you’re passionate about, reach out, and someone can help connect that to insurance.”
● “The possibilities and probabilities of success and building generational wealth and creating a legacy, I’d say, are greater in insurance than any other industry out there.”