Monday, April 5, 2010

Are You a Fan Yet?

Become a fan of the Expat Youth Scholarship on Facebook to be entered into a special "Fans Only" contest! Plus, you'll get exclusive updates and information about the scholarship, as well as the opportunity to interact with other expats around the world.

Click here to become a fan today!

P.S. - While you're there, become a fan of Clements International, too! Click here.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Clements International Announces Multiple Promotions

Clements International announced multiple promotions in several key positions today. They include:


Vice President of Insurance Sales - Dan Tuman


Assistant Vice President of Operations - Lisa Kennedy-Mitchel


Assistant Vice President of Marketing - Michael Crossett


Director of Commercial Insurance - Smita Malik



Manager of Personal Insurance - David Brumbach


Manager of Commercial Insurance Account Services - Porche Sidbury


Manager of Operations - Diahann Ricks


Commercial Insurance Account Manager - Blade Smith


Commercial Insurance Account Manager - Mary Venable-Payne


Commercial Insurance Account Manager II - Sherman Kornmann-Blow



Clements congratulates these individuals and looks forward to their continued leadership.


Click here to read the official press release.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Clements International Announces Judges Panel for 2010 Expat Youth Scholarship

A diverse panel of expatriates will judge the 2010 Expat Youth Scholarship and help award a total of $10,000 to six students. Sponsored by Clements International, this scholarship program is designed specifically for expat students who acquire unique life experiences growing up abroad.

2010 Judges Panel

Kimberly Van Cleave Michaels,
Executive Director - Families in Global Transition (FIGT)

Jo Parfitt
Journalist, Teacher, Editor, Publisher & Mentor – Joparfitt.com

Alyson Rose-Wood,
2009-2011 Presidential Management Fellow with the National Institutes of Health, Foreign Service Youth Foundation Board of Directors, Former expat youth

Rosemary Whitcraft,
AFS Intercultural Programs Thailand, Writer & Teacher


Click here to read the official press release and learn more about our judges!

Reminder: The scholarship entry deadline is Thursday, May 13, 2010.

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Clements Published in 3 Industry Magazines in February

Clements appeared in three industry magazines last month, showcasing the company’s expertise in high risk insurance and its unique office culture. Please take a moment to view these articles and leave your feedback!

· Piracy/Kidnap/Ransom Threat Grows – Rough Notes

Rough Notes is a monthly magazine providing information for property-casualty agents and brokers about successful sales and management procedures, in addition to commentary on projected industry trends.

· Protection in High-Risk Areas - Monday Developments

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.

· A Happy Niche - Independent Agent

Independent Agent is a monthly magazine for independent insurance agents and brokers who sell property-casualty, life and health insurance products. Regular issue features include agency management and automation, insurance and financial services products, markets, marketing, legislative issues and analysis of industry trends.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Clements Featured in Monday Developments

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.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A Reminder from Haiti

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.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Now Accepting Entries for the 2010 Expat Youth Scholarship

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.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Clements VPs Turned Grill Masters



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.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Recent Promotions

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!

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Clements International Names New President

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.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Clements Applauds FSYF Award Winners

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!

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Congratulations from Clements!

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.

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Clements in the Community: Best Buddies

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.”

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Clements Featured on AgentandBroker.com

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.

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Friday, May 1, 2009

Clements VP Featured in Medical Travel Today


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.

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Specialized Solutions Help Companies Meet New Challenges


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.

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Clements Meets Global HR Leaders in Canada


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/.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Clements International Presents at 2009 FAWCO Conference in Lithuania

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.

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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Learning to Lead

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.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Clements International!

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.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Proper Insurance Equals Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind comes in many forms: a seatbelt you fasten before driving a vehicle, a reliable staff to keep your organization running smoothly, and proper insurance to protect your assets. While the first two ideas are easily implemented, finding the insurance coverage you need for your international relief and development organization can be a confusing task. Insurance is an important addition to any successful organization.

We recently published an article, "Proper Insurance Equals Peace of Mind" in the latest issue of Monday Developments, published by Interaction.

A pdf version of the article is avaible here.
/MondayDevelopments_Clements.pdf

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Now Accepting Online Applications for the Expat Youth Scholarship



Clements International is now accepting submissions for its first expatriate youth scholarship competition. Clements will award $10,000 in scholarships to six students who use words and creative media to illustrate life as an expatriate.

The theme of the 2009 Clements International Expat Youth Scholarship is “Life in a Flying House,” inspired by the idea that students who spend their childhoods moving between different countries and cultures acquire unique life experiences.

Each scholarship entry must include an essay of 500 words or more describing how his or her life has been affected by living as an expatriate, accompanied by some form of creative media that supports the essay topic, such as photographs, illustrations, paintings or video. Students between the ages of 12-18 of any nationality who have spent at least two years living outside their home countries are encouraged to apply. All entries are due by May 15 and the winners will be announced in mid-September.

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

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Personal Property Insurance: Transit & Destination


In 2006 the transport carrier Cougar Ace lost stability from a believed mechanical failure on calm seas. The outcome was damage and ultimately the destruction of 4,703 new Mazdas said to be valued at $117 million.

Chances are, your personal belongings being transported to your new home will be valued somewhat less than $100 million, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be financially protected with transit and destination coverage for your personal property.

Learn more about Personal Property Insurance for expatriates and get a quote on our website.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Clements brings international expertise to Virtual University

As a contributor to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) Virtual University, Clements has posted an article on international liability policies.

Authored by Clements’ senior vice president of insurance sales, Chris Beck, the article details considerations businesses need to make when working in international markets.

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Kidnapping: A real threat for some

As any organization develops operations overseas, it is important to become familiar with the unique risks associated with living and working abroad. One of those risks, which is easily overlooked, is the chance that a staff member could be kidnapped during the course of normal operations. It is estimated that over the past 6 years, kidnappings around the world have increased by 100%.

While these events can occur to anyone, organizations involved in relief and development projects may have increased risks due to the nature and location of their work. We have recently compiled a report that documents events that are far too real.

View and download a copy of our 2008 NGO Kidnapping Statistics Report.

For more information on Kidnap and Ransom insurance or other high-risk policies, please visit our website.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Clements Partner in the News

Kjaer Group, who has partnered with Clements International to provide vehicle solutions in developing countries, has been nominated in the World's Top Ten of Corporations in Global Development by the members of InterAction. InterAction has more than 165 members working in every developing country.This is an amazing achievement where we are in very prominent company with corporations like Coca Cola, Google and Citibank just to mention a few.

The article is featured in the November/December 2008 edition of Monday Development issued by InterAction. You may read the full article by clicking here.

Congratulations Kjaer Group!

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Monday, November 24, 2008

Clements in the News: The Global Stability Industry

Clements International was mentioned today in and article written by David Isenberg for the Middle East Times. The article discusses the diversity of companies and organizations that offer support within the private military contracting industry.

We offer a wide range of insurance policies to support and protect the investments of organizations involved in peace-keeping operations around the world, including Defense Base Act or DBA Insurance.

Follow this link to read the story.

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Thursday, November 6, 2008

WebAward for clements.com



We are proud to announce that clements.com has been presented an Insurance Standard of Excellence Award by the Web Marketing Association.

Over the past year we have concentrated on designing the site and improving usability for our clients. Over the next year we plan to continue to build content for the expatriate community and streamline information about our products and services.

Let us know what you think and help us continue to develop our site by sending us feedback.

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Perfect Day for a Picnic with FSYF

VP of Marketing Lloyd Yavener and I enjoyed the beautiful weather, and welcomed back over 100 Foreign Service families yesterday at the yearly Foreign Service Youth Foundation Potluck Picnic. Lloyd manned the grill, cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers (and of course, Boca burgers for the veggie fans). Guest speaker Norma McCaig, founder of Global Nomads International, spoke on "Resilience and the Foreign Serivce Child," and what parents can expect in the re-entry process.

Clements International is a proud sponsor of The Foreign Service Youth Foundation, a group which serves the children of Foreign Service personnel by offering insight, events, contests, and more.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is the increasingly common practice of individuals traveling outside their home country to obtain medical treatment. Medical tourism offers cost savings to the patient as well as the possibility to schedule the procedure sooner. This makes medical tourism an attractive option for Americans as well as those in Canada and the UK who come across long wait times for surgery and crowded hospitals.

Medical tourism companies help the patient find accredited hospitals and arrange their trip so they can get the care they need and return home safely. As the medical tourism industry continues to grow so does the risk of being sued by a customer should something not go to plan.

This year, Clements, has worked closely with medical tourism operators in Asia and India to create insurance products to meet the needs of the industry. These include a professional liability policy to protect the company should a lawsuit be filed, a personal accident policy for the clients should they be injured during the trip and a trip cancellation policy to reimburse nonrefundable expenses due to an emergency.

For more information visit our medical tourism site.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2008

AM Best Video Interview

Vice President of Marketing, Lloyd Yavener was featured on a recent installment of AM Best's Conversations video interview series. Lloyd discusses Clements International's niche market focus on Americans living abroad. The full interview is available on the AM Best website as a video, podcast or audio file.

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