GlobalInsight

Clements Featured in Monday Developments

2010-02-22T15:34:00.001-05:00

Yan Bui, a commercial insurance account executive at Clements International, recently published an article in the January/February 2010 issue of Monday Developments, titled “Protection in High-Risk Areas.”

Monday Developments magazine is an international publication that provides in-depth news and commentary on global trends that affect relief, refugee and development work. It also keeps readers updated on legislative action in Congress that could impact U.S. foreign assistance to developing countries.

NGOs face inherent risks overseas. Many are often targeted by criminal and terrorist groups, either for financial or political gain. Last year proved to be deadly for NGOs, with increasing incidences of kidnapping and violence against the humanitarian community. Insurance is one way these organizations can help mitigate these risks.

Read the full article here.

A Reminder from Haiti

2010-02-17T16:50:00.016-05:00

On behalf of the Clements team, our thoughts are with those affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Not only have we received and processed numerous claims for our clients in Haiti, but several members of our staff also have family there, so we truly understand the personal and financial hardships caused by this natural disaster.

These are the times when insurance can come to the rescue and we’re honored to serve our clients in Haiti. This situation reinforces the importance of selecting an international insurance provider while you’re living and working abroad.

Two points to consider:

1) Your personal property coverage allows you to assign value to your belongings in the event that they are lost or damaged. It’s critical to periodically update your scheduled and unscheduled coverage as you make significant purchases to ensure you’re fully protected and receive the full value of your items should the unexpected occur.

2) There is a distinct advantage to having an insurance provider that is located outside of your host country. In the event of a natural disaster, political violence or other catastrophic event, your policy and the people administering it are at a safe distance. For this reason, Clements was able to process and settle claims quickly as opposed to local insurance providers whose businesses were likely suspended or nonoperational.

Clements salutes the individuals and organizations working in Haiti on the relief and rebuilding efforts. To our clients in Haiti and around the world, we’re here for you. You have our word.

Clements International Update

2010-02-12T12:26:00.006-05:00

Our office is now open. We promise to process all requests as timely as possible in the order they were received.

Due to severe weather conditions in Washington D.C., Clements International's headquarters and customer service center closed early on Friday, February 5th and remained closed until Thursday, February 11th.

Thank you for your patience during this time.

Clements International

For claims emergencies, please contact Yanick Maurice at ymaurice@clements.com.

Now Accepting Entries for the 2010 Expat Youth Scholarship

2010-01-28T10:56:00.002-05:00

Clements International is now accepting submissions for its 2nd annual scholarship program for expatriate students. Clements will award $10,000 in scholarships to six students who best answer the question, “Where would you go in your flying house?”

The scholarship contest offers expat students a chance to use their experiences living in a foreign country to imagine where their journey might take them next. Entries consist of an essay (500 – 750 words) and creative image or photograph that incorporates their own personalized flying house.

Students ages 12-18 of any nationality who have resided in a foreign country for at least two consecutive years are eligible to apply. The scholarship entry deadline is Thursday, May 13, 2010.

For more information about the scholarship and to submit entries, visit www.expatyouthscholarship.com.

Click here to read the official press release.

Clements Sponsors Award for Foreign Service Youth

2010-01-21T11:14:00.005-05:00

Every year, the Foreign Service Youth Foundation (FSYF) organizes a series of contests for Foreign Service youth. The contests offer U.S. Foreign Service kids and teens the opportunity to showcase their talents, accomplishments and unique perspectives on the world. Winners receive cash prizes and recognition at the annual youth awards ceremony at the Department of State in July.

Clements International sponsors the Community Service Award, which honors U.S. Foreign Service youth who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer efforts at home or abroad while facing the challenges of living an internationally mobile lifestyle.

Two winners will each receive a $1,500 U.S. savings bond.

Click here for complete contest rules and nomination forms.

Hot Off the Presses: Clements Published in Leading industry Magazines

2009-12-15T12:27:00.009-05:00

Clements International was recently published in two leading industry magazines, Canadian Underwriter and Insurance Journal. Click below to read the articles and let us know what you think!

"Underwriting Freedom" - Canadian Underwriter, August 2009

"Handle with Care: How to Help Clients Protect International Cargo" - Insurance Journal, October 2009

Clements International Announces London Office Opening in 2010

2009-12-02T09:42:00.002-05:00

Washington, D.C.-based Clements International will open an office in London in 2010 to better serve and communicate with its European clientele, in addition to expanding its broker network. This will be the company’s first European office, signifying an important step in fulfilling its mission to be a truly global insurance provider.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Clements and a milestone in this company’s history,” said President Chris Beck. “We already have a significant presence in Europe, so it’s a natural progression to open in London where we can interact more closely with our customers and partners. We also look forward to introducing ourselves to new markets and delivering the same promise of integrity, experience and service we’ve kept since 1947.”

Specific details about the office and important dates have not yet been announced due to pending regulatory approval. More information will be made available in early 2010.

Click here to view the official press release.

Clements International Included In the 2009 Big “I” Best Practices Study

2009-09-24T10:36:00.000-04:00

For the second year, Washington, D.C.-based Clements International continues to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) “Best Practices” Study Group.

Only 195 independent agencies throughout the U.S. qualify for inclusion in the annual Best Practices Study. A Big “I” affiliated state association or an insurance company must first nominate the agency which then must qualify based on operational excellence including outstanding customer services, growth, stability and financial management. More than 800 firms were nominated for the current study cycle.

Click here to read the official press release.

Clements VPs Turned Grill Masters

2009-09-22T16:07:00.006-04:00

On Sunday, September 20, 2009, Vice Presidents Tom Lentz and Dan Tuman served as grill masters at the Foreign Service Youth Foundation’s (FSYF) Annual Welcome Back Picnic. The event gathered recently returned U.S. Foreign Service families for a fun afternoon in Vienna, Virginia.

“The picnic was a great opportunity for Foreign Service families to get together and share their experiences,” said Lentz. “Clements working the grills allowed the FYSF members more quality time to enjoy the picnic.”

Clements is a proud supporter of FSYF and its continuing contribution to the expat community.

Announcing the 2009 Expat Youth Scholarship Award Winners!

2009-09-16T09:52:00.007-04:00

Clements Awards $10,000 in Scholarships to Expat Students

We are pleased to announce the winners of Clements International’s 2009 Expat Youth Scholarship! We received 578 entries and awarded a total of $10,000 to six outstanding students.

The scholarship contest asked expat students to share their experiences of living in a foreign country through an essay (500 words or more) and creative media (photographs, illustrations, paintings, or video). Three winners in each of two age categories (12-15 and 16-18) were selected by a panel of judges from the expatriate community.

Scholarship Winners:

Age 12-15

First Place ($3,000):
Julia Goldsby, 12, American Expat in Germany

Second Place ($1,500):
Kate Telma, 14, American Expat in Kazakhstan

Third Place ($500):
Athena Pierquet, 15, American Expat in France

Age 16-18

First Place ($3,000):
Yichen Zhang, 18, Chinese Expat in the U.S.

Second Place ($1,500):
Bethany Turley, 17, American Expat in Belgium

Third Place ($500):
Natalia Aponte, 18, Peruvian Expat in the U.S.

Click here to read the official press release.

To view the winning entries and honorable mentions, along with other information about the scholarship, visit www.expatyouthscholarship.com!

Recent Promotions

2009-09-10T13:04:00.003-04:00

Clements is proud to announce two employee promotions:

Dan Tuman, former vice president of commercial insurance, is now vice president of insurance sales.

Smita Malik, former commercial insurance account executive, is now director of commercial sales.

Both Dan and Smita have been instrumental in the company’s growth and success, and the Clements team looks forward to supporting them in their new roles.

Congratulations!

Clements International Names New President

2009-07-22T15:52:00.004-04:00

Clements International, the leading provider of global insurance solutions, has named J. Christopher Beck as president. Beck was previously senior vice president of the company.

“This is an exciting time of growth for Clements,” said Jon Clements, chairman and chief executive officer. “Chris’ dedication and expertise have been proven time and time again, making him the ideal candidate to lead the company moving forward.”

Beck has led the sales divisions of Clements International since 2000. With over 20 years of insurance experience, he was responsible for the design of key insurance programs tailored to the unique needs of international organizations and the expatriate community. He has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Maryland.

Clements Applauds FSYF Award Winners

2009-07-21T11:06:00.004-04:00

As part of Clements International’s ongoing community involvement, the company sponsored the Foreign Service Youth Foundation’s Community Service Awards once again this year. The awards honor outstanding U.S. Foreign Service youth who have served their community either at home or abroad while tackling the challenges of growing up all over the world.

The contest was open to all U.S. Foreign Service youth and teens, and the winners were honored on Friday, July 17 at an awards ceremony at the U.S. Department of State, hosted by the Foreign Liaison Office. Two first place winners each received a $1,500 savings bond. Vice President Tom Lentz attended the ceremony to honor this year’s recipients:

Cristin Middaug, age 16, was selected for her support of the Pichincha School of Morochos, Ecuador. Cristin’s parents are currently posted in Quito. She recently completed the 11th grade at the Academia Cotopaxi. Her project began in December 2007, when she chose to sponsor the Pichincha School instead of receiving Christmas presents. One year later, support for the school had increased dramatically, due in part to many Embassy community members. Cristin also serves as president of the National Honor Society, plays soccer and volleyball, and participates in the Model United Nations.

Sean Titus, age 13, was selected for his water well-building project in the village of Santa Emilia, El Salvador. Sean’s parents are currently posted to San Salvador. He recently completed the 8th grade at the Academia Británica Cuscatleca. His project began as a Tikkun Olam (Hebrew for “repairing the world”) as part of his Bar Mitzvah and culminated with the inauguration of a well on March 26, 2009. Sean is also an Honor Roll student, an active member of the Boy Scouts, and plays basketball, tennis and cricket.

Maryam Ahson, age 14, was awarded an honorable mention for her “Fabric NOT Plastic” campaign in Beijing, China. Maryam’s parents are currently posted to Cairo, Egypt. She recently completed the 8th grade at Cairo American College. Maryam also swims, plays team volleyball and loves dolphins. In addition to this recognition, she won a speechwriting competition sponsored by the Wyland Foundation.

Clements congratulates these outstanding expat youth!

Congratulations from Clements!

2009-06-23T16:54:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Juliana (Lily) Hightower of the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, the 2009 recipient of the M. Juanita Guess Award. The M. Juanita Guess Award is conferred on a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, initiative or imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving at an overseas post.

Hightower is credited with significant improvement in post morale due to her responsiveness, dedication and commitment. She helped foster greater social consciousness among Embassy members about the challenges in Ethiopia by arranging tours to many of the country’s cultural and historic sites, in addition to organizing volunteer and study programs. Hightower also worked closely with the medical unit on important health issues and provided medical assistance to embassy members.

“She is the most important focal point in the mission, indispensable… touching so many lives and helping so many people handle so many difficulties and cope with the extreme rigors of living in Ethiopia,” said the U.S. Ambassador who nominated her for the award.

This award was established in memory of M. Juanita Guess, former President of Clements International, and is one of several presented annually by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). The runners-up were Michelle Destito, U.S. Embassy Ankara, and Mary Knight, U.S. Embassy Beirut.

Clements in the Community: Best Buddies

2009-06-10T14:03:00.023-04:00

The Clements team volunteered at the WVSA School for Arts in Learning (SAIL) by serving as math and reading buddies to students from March through May 2009. SAIL is a public charter school (K-6) located in Washington, D.C. that teaches academics through the arts to children with variety of learning differences.

Account Executive Janness Pooran-Thomas tutored Imani, bright, energetic fifth-grader, on basic math problems once a week. Along with nine other Clements employees, she donated 30 minutes of her time each week, which the company matched with a monetary contribution to the school.

“It was a very rewarding experience for me,” said Janness. “I’m proud that Clements is involved in the local community and offered its employees this special volunteer opportunity. I looked forward to spending time with my buddy every week and felt like I was doing my part to give back.”

Clements Featured on AgentandBroker.com

2009-05-12T14:53:00.016-04:00

An article written by Chris Beck, senior vice president of insurance sales, titled “Piracy trends highlight need for K&R protection,” was recently published on AgentandBroker.com.

Due to recent events highlighted in the national media, the issue of Kidnap and Ransom insurance has garnered international attention as organizations strive to protect their employees and investments in the face of heightened risks.

Read the full article here.

Clements VP Featured in Medical Travel Today

2009-05-01T10:55:00.005-04:00

Medical Travel Today, the authoritative newsletter for medical tourism, recently interviewed Vice President of Commercial Sales Dan Tuman to discuss products and solutions that specifically address the unique liability issues faced by this industry.

Medical tourism is the growing practice of traveling abroad for a medical procedure. What once seemed unusual and unsafe has now become common and practical, as millions worldwide travel outside their home countries to partake in medical tourism. However, as with any procedure, comes the risk of complications, which could jeopardize a company’s reputation and assets. Clements International is one of the first to develop insurance products tailored to the needs of medical travel providers, including Professional Liability and Personal Accident insurance.

Read Dan’s entire interview here.

Specialized Solutions Help Companies Meet New Challenges

2009-04-28T10:16:00.004-04:00

Energy independence has been an important issue in American politics, largely due to the growing demand for oil and the country’s growing dependence on foreign suppliers. This demand is leading the industry to expand into new, often hazardous areas of the world. In order to protect their investments, employees and equipment, companies need medical and safety solutions when working in remote, high-risk locations.

Clements International isn’t alone in its mission to provide services to individuals and organizations working in hazardous areas around the world. Exploration Logistics is also in the business of minimizing risk for customers operating in challenging environments. They offer specialized services to clients in the oil and gas, mining, construction, governmental and humanitarian sectors, including driver training, safety and medical services, and mine clearance. With extensive international reach and 22 years of experience, Exploration Logistics is a valued and proven partner to its clients.

Clements Meets Global HR Leaders in Canada

2009-04-02T12:33:00.007-04:00

Clements International’s tradition of service to human resources professionals who send employees overseas continued with a visit to the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Global Conference in Toronto, Ontario. The annual conference, which took place March 30 – April 1, gathers international human resource managers from all over the world to offer education, training and networking opportunities.

Laura Schauble, a commercial insurance account executive at Clements, hosted a roundtable discussion during the conference to discuss international insurance and risk management issues relevant to today's global HR professional.

The event also featured an exposition for organizations to showcase their products and services to attendees. Exhibitors included 65 companies providing global compensation and benefit packages, relocation, worldwide banking, language training, corporate culture audits, medical and emergency support services, and transportation. Clements participated in the exposition to provide information on its commercial and personal insurance products for expatriates, as well as promote the Expat Youth Scholarship to SHRM members.

For more information on SHRM and the Global Conference, visit http://www.shrm.org/.

Clements International Presents at 2009 FAWCO Conference in Lithuania

2009-03-26T16:52:00.004-04:00

Representatives from Clements International recently attended the 39th Biennial Conference for the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) in Vilnius, Lithuania. The five-day conference, titled "Open Doors to New Horizons," was held March 18-22, 2009 and covered topics of interest to American women abroad with a focus on education, the natural and human environment, multicultural understanding and international goodwill.

As a long-standing sponsor of FAWCO, Clements has served as a resource and partner to its worldwide membership on the topic of international insurance. During the conference, Director of Marketing Michael Crossett delivered a presentation to attendees called, “Insurance for Individuals Living Abroad.” Click here to view a PDF version.

For more information about FAWCO and the 2009 Conference, visit www.fawco.org.

Learning to Lead

2009-03-19T15:50:00.032-04:00

Robert E. “Dusty” Staub II, author and Chairman/CEO of Staub Leadership Consultants, will visit Clements International’s office in Washington, D.C. next week to conduct an annual leadership development seminar. Each year, Staub visits Clements to share his expertise, and help improve company performance and culture.

Staub’s philosophy is featured in his books, The 7 Acts of Courage: Bold Leadership for a Wholehearted Life and The Heart of Leadership: Twelve Practices of Courageous Leaders. He explains that we all need courage to make changes and lead better, more fulfilling lives. With over 25 years of experience working with executives, families and community groups, as well as with private and public companies, Staub educates individuals to be leaders in all areas of their lives.

For more information about Staub, his books or Staub Leadership Consultants, visit http://www.staubleadership.com.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Clements International!

2009-03-17T09:04:00.007-04:00

You might think St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that’s only celebrated in Ireland and your local Irish pub, but it’s actually a worldwide celebration. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most recognized holidays on the global calendar, with parties in China, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Argentina and Australia, just to name a few.

Have you ever wondered exactly why the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day? The holiday is named for Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is said to have converted the country to Christianity and banned all snakes from the land. Patrick’s real name was Maewyn and he was born in Wales, but was sold into slavery in Ireland at age 16 and later adopted the Christian name Patricius (“Patrick” in English). He also made the shamrock famous, using the three-leaved version to illustrate the Holy Trinity. Today, the rare four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck. Patrick died on March 17, 461 A.D., which now marks the annual celebration of his life and place in world history.

Clements Joins 4,000 Humanitarians at DIHAD 2009

2009-03-13T10:05:00.004-04:00

Clements representatives will attend the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD) in Dubai, UAE on April 7 – 9, 2009. The company will showcase its international insurance products specifically tailored to meet the needs of relief, aid and development organizations at Booth #55.

DIHAD began in 2004 as the Middle East’s first humanitarian aid and development event with the purpose of creating an open exchange of ideas and values between the east and west. Over time, DIHAD has become one of the world’s largest, most prestigious humanitarian events, gathering decision-makers from leading NGOs, UN Agencies, governments, charities, relief suppliers, donors and fundraising agencies.

For more information about DIHAD, visit www.dihad.org.

Clements in the Community

2009-03-10T10:32:00.002-04:00

The Clements team will be donating time to the local community by serving as math and reading buddies to students at the WVSA School for Arts in Learning (SAIL). SAIL is a public charter school (K-6) located in Washington, D.C. that teaches academics through the arts to children with a variety of learning differences. Ten Clements employees will volunteer for 30 minutes each week starting in March until the end of May. As an added donation, Clements will match the time employees spend at S.A.I.L. with a monetary contribution.

SAIL is one of several programs managed by WVSA ARTs connection, a community-based, non-profit that develops, implements and supports arts-infused education and employment programs for youth with special needs. For more information about WVSA and its programs, visit http://www.wvsarts.org.

Rewarding Expat Youth for Making a Difference Abroad

2009-03-05T16:50:00.002-05:00

Clements is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation’s Community Service Awards. The awards honor outstanding U.S. Foreign Service youth who have served their community either at home or abroad while tackling the challenges of growing up all over the world.

The contest is open to all U.S. Foreign Service youth and teens, and the winners will be honored at an awards ceremony hosted by the Foreign Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. in July 2009. Two first place winners will each receive a $1,500 savings bond. The deadline for entries is April 24, 2009.

For more information about the FSYF Community Service Awards or to download application materials, click here: http://www.fsyf.org/pdfs/Community_Service_Award.pdf