2023

Released on: Jul 24, 2023, 08:00 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – July 20, 2023

Michael Gould has been having conversations with insurance companies for years. He aims to help them grow in the state as the manager of business development and insurance development for the Iowa Economic Development Authority. 

During those conversations, Gould began to hear a theme: Insurance companies love being in Iowa but struggle to find people to fill career roles. 

Enter the Insure Your Future early-stage internship program aimed at introducing college sophomores, and some freshmen, to careers in insurance.

The initiative saw its first summer group in 2023 with 60 students from across Iowa interning with several insurance companies in the state, including three at UFG who rotated between claims, underwriting and internal audit.

The program comes at a welcome time, as Iowa ranks first in the United States for insurance industry output as a percent of gross domestic product according to Iowa Economic Development.

“The Insure Your Future internship program offers an innovative opportunity to break down assumptions about an insurance career by experiencing its potential firsthand,” explains UFG Insurance Community Relations Coordinator Katie Jensen. “Insurance is a true adventure with career avenues for all kinds of aspirations — from claims to underwriting to careers like mine in community relations — the industry has so much to offer. This college internship gives students a chance to gain an exciting new perspective and see themselves in an industry that’s booming in Iowa.”

UFG hosted an inspiring panel conversation with interns and emerging leaders from the insurance industry on June 20, giving the students an opportunity to learn and ask questions about individual backgrounds and journeys into the insurance profession.

“I appreciated being part of the Insure Your Future panel conversation,” Jensen continues, “because I don’t think the extent to which the industry gives back to communities is widely understood. Here at UFG it’s so strongly stitched into our cultural fabric that it’s actually part of our mission.”

“Insurance is way different than I anticipated it would be,” states Insure Your Future Intern Laura Bostwick. “A lot more exciting than I thought it was going to be.”

Watch this video to hear more about the bourgeoning Insure Your Future internship opportunity and why UFG was proud to be part of its first year.