2019 Break Out Awards, Northeast: Eliza Lopez
Posted On: Jun. 1, 2019 12:00 AM CST
ELIZA LOPEZ
Operations vice president, account engineering group manager
FM Global
Parsippany, New Jersey
Age: 33
Eliza Lopez joined FM Global in 2009 directly out of the New Jersey Institute of Technology as a consultant engineer and has been with the insurer her entire career. Ms. Lopez rose steadily through the ranks from New York operations manager of office engineering and training to her current role as operations vice president and account engineering group manager.
What surprised you about the insurance industry?
Like many engineers, I was not even aware that a career in insurance was an option, and I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I pursued a degree in chemical engineering because of the many different career possibilities that I could pursue. I could go into food, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, design, research. Going into the insurance industry, I was surprised to find that same variety.
How do you see your job changing over the next 10 years?
I see the role of property loss engineering evolving to keep up with developing hazards, including increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters such as climate change and increased precipitation, as well as cyber risks.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I recently became a certified scuba diver.
What is your favorite app or gadget?
Definitely the robot vacuum. I have a cat, a dog and a toddler, so we make very good use of that. The cat can’t be bothered (by the vacuum). The dog and toddler find it fascinating to watch — from a distance.
What would you/do you binge watch?
In preparation for the final season of “Game of Thrones,” I did watch season one over again in the course of a weekend.
What is your favorite meal?
Tacos. You can go a lot of ways with tacos. My preference is tacos al pastor.