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2019 Women to Watch: Chris Chang Dumortier

Posted On: Dec. 2, 2019 12:00 AM CST

Chris Chang Dumortier

Chris Chang Dumortier
Executive vice president
Alliant Insurance Services Inc.
Los Angeles
Age: 45

When Chris Chang Dumortier entered the insurance industry almost 18 years ago, she began looking for a niche where she could specialize and offer unique services.

Ms. Dumortier, who worked as an agent before selling her book of business, Dumortier Risk Management Inc., to Alliant Insurance Services Inc. in 2018, put her desire to help people, her knowledge of the industry and even her heritage to good use.

She now specializes in risk management for the hospitality and real estate industries, drawing on her Taiwanese background to help guide international clients through the complexities of regulatory compliance and insurance negotiations.

Joseph Fan, chief executive officer and founder of Newport Beach, California-based hotel management firm Brighton Management LLC, has benefited from her skills. Mr. Fan, who deals with hundreds of different policies a year, said working with Ms. Dumortier has helped to streamline the claims process for Brighton, saving him countless hours.

“We used to piecemeal these out to different companies,” he said. “But we have moved more and more business to Chris.”

Mr. Fan added, “I don’t have to worry if something falls through the cracks or if there is an issue with a claim; she’s on top of it. It’s an additional layer of protection.”

A career in the insurance industry was not Ms. Dumortier’s original intention. “After college I worked as a news anchor in Chinese and Taiwanese languages (in the U.S.),” she said. She enjoyed her job and had planned to continue in that capacity. “But guess what? I avoided a #MeToo situation and I got fired.”

Needing a job, she started at DP Insurance Agency Inc., a California-based insurance consulting firm. “I learned about insurance and I’m still in insurance,” she said.

This experience gave her empathy for other women struggling in their careers, especially those with children. Out of her team of 10, “seven are women, and six of us are moms,” she said. “I see a lot of women who lack confidence, and many have a family to take care of. I like to share my story and give them the power to move forward.”

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