Keeping up with the RMIN alumni community

It’s no surprise that our tight-knit RMIN alumni community are doing some amazing things around the world. Read on to learn more about Erik, Charlene, Mike and Kevin.

Erik Johnson (BComm’02)

Erik Johnson is an avid volunteer and passionate advocate for all things Canadian, insurance, and inclusion and diversity. He was a founding Co-Chair of Link (LGBT Insurance Network), the Insurance Institute of London’s first Diversity Champion, and a founding Steering Committee member of iCAN (Insurance Cultural Awareness Network). And as if that isn’t enough to squeeze in, Erik’s day job is as the Deputy Active Underwriter for Victor Insurance’s Lloyd’s Syndicate 2288.

Erik’s previous life was as a professional ballet dancer, having trained with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Following an injury that cut short his career, Erik returned home to Calgary to study his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a joint major in Insurance, Risk Management & Finance. Erik obtained his MSc Insurance & Risk Management at Cass Business School and upon graduation, joined Deloitte’s Corporate Finance Insurance Practice.

 

Charlene Butler (BComm’96)

Charlene Butler is a born and raised Calgarian. After a brief foray into engineering at UCalgary, she graduated from SAIT with a Diploma in Chemical Technology. She spent the next 11 years working as a petroleum chemist. She eventually found her way back to the Haskayne School of Business and received a joint degree in Actuarial Science (BSc) and Risk Management and Insurance (BComm).

Charlene now focuses on various boards, angel investing, volunteer commitments and outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing. Most recently, she joined The51 which is a platform where investors and entrepreneurs come together for democratized access to women-led capital for women-led businesses. Charlene is also a committed volunteer mentor for entrepreneurs across the province. In 2017, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from UCalgary’s Women’s Resource Centre.

 

Mike Ilnycky (BComm’99)

Mike was born and raised in Calgary. He started his career as a claims adjuster with Federated Insurance immediately after his graduation from the Haskayne School of Business. Mike spent 12 years at Federated in various roles, including claims, operations and underwriting. In 2011 he moved to RSA to be the regional director of claims. In 2014, Mike became the Associate Vice President of claims for the western region at CNA.

He teaches RMIN 459 (Managing Commercial Property and Liability Risks) at Haskayne and developed the ever popular Underwriting Dragons competition, which continues to this day. Teaching has been a very rewarding experience. He takes great pride in seeing his former students enter the insurance and risk industry and enjoys watching their careers progress.

Mike chairs the Insurance and Risk Management Advisory Committee at Bow Valley College, and he was recently appointed to the board of the Alberta Insurance Council. Mike is an avid runner and enjoys golfing in his spare time.

 

Kevin Sigouin (BComm’00)

Kevin is the CEO of CU Agencies Alliance Ltd. In this role he is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of insurance and wealth for agencies owned by Credit Unions and The Co-operators across Canada. He is heavily involved in the business community. Kevin is President of the Credit Union Insurance Services Association, past co-chair of the Risk Management & Insurance Advisory Board at Haskayne and past chair of the International Business Committee at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

In 2011, Kevin received an inaugural award from the University of Calgary for his contribution to leadership and higher education in Risk Management and Insurance. In 2012 he was honoured to receive two further prestigious awards. The first from the British Columbia Insurance Salute Committee for the “Rising Star Award” and the second from the Insurance Institute of Canada for their “National Emerging Leader Award”.