Tyler Pellom

Tennessee resident Tyler Pellom scoured the Internet for months looking for an insurance program that would both fit the needs of a working adult while also being hosted by a reputable, well-known university.

When he landed on Indiana State University’s program and dug deeper into the professors, course layout, and cost, it was a no-brainer to enroll in the Property and Casualty program in January 2021.

“After speaking with Professor Jin Park, the program head, it was clear this program would help advance my career goals,” Pellom said. “Specifically, I am interested in obtaining a Professional Risk Manager (PRM) designation and this program will lay a solid foundation for that goal.”

The fully online Property and Casualty Insurance Certificate offers students career-specific training to enter or advance careers in insurance, risk management, and similar fields. The certificate is obtained through four courses to understand insurance products and risk management. Classes may waive exams needed for the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in property-casualty insurance and risk management, administered by The Institutes.

Coursework helps individuals prepare for various professional designations, including several exams of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designation, a highly sought insurance designation. The program also prepares individuals for the Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation and the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation.

The ability to complete coursework from home also allows Pellom to focus on his non-profit, Roane Relief Project, which helps children whose lives have been negatively affected due to their parents’ drug or alcohol addiction.

“We are located in the footsteps of Appalachia here in Roane County, Tenn., and, unfortunately, we have been hit hard by the opioid epidemic,” he said. “When I was a child, both of my parents were affected by drug addiction, and there were plenty of nights spent without food, electricity or running water, and the security and assurance a kid needs to thrive. We hope to help lessen that burden for the current generation.”

Pellom has been in the insurance industry for six years and operates a branch of an established insurance agency/broker in East Tennessee, which he helped build from the ground up. Prior to this career move, he was an underwriter at a well-known national commercial insurance brokerage headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tenn. “I pursued the insurance industry because providing people peace of mind is important,” said Pellom, who plans to complete State’s program this fall. “I have always seen insurance as a major part of a person’s or a family’s personal finance.”