UP CLOSE: Mary Jane Pickens
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CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA-BASED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management
PREVIOUS POSITION: Charleston, West Virginia-based counsel with Spilman Thomas & Battle P.L.L.C.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: I really enjoyed my prior public service (as general counsel for the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner), and I am looking forward to returning to that environment ... It's an opportunity to help improve the lives of people. It's rewarding.
CHALLENGES FACING INDUSTRY: There are always challenges around the legal environment. We've struggled with that for a number of years. We are reaching a point where there will be real debate about how that environment can be improved. Insurance is becoming more complex. You have to change to address the needs that are brought about by that complexity.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: I am generally positive. I think there is an opportunity to look at things a little bit differently from a litigation perspective.
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: As counsel at the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. Before that, I was in private practice, and I didn't do insurance work.
WHAT SURPRISED ME: The general lack of understanding of (insurance). It's a hard product to explain to people. It's challenging to explain it to policymakers and legislatures and the general public. It's critically important to a business environment.
ADVICE: Your credibility is critically important. To be successful ... you have to have credibility, and you have to be willing to share facts and stand behind what you say and to consistently be forthcoming.
HOBBIES: I love to read, and I tap dance, which is tons of fun. Spending time with my kids, too.
CAN'T-MISS TELEVISION SHOW: I really like the “Masterpiece Mysteries” on PBS.
FAVORITE BOOK: I have lots of them. What comes to mind is “The Education of Little Tree” by Asa Earl Carter. It is a really wonderful book.
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