EDWARD COONEY | Age: 35 Partner, senior account executive, underwriting manager public entity practice

Conner Strong & Buckelew

Parsippany, New Jersey

Edward Cooney looked to insurance after earning his undergraduate degree in finance and business administration as the finance sector recovered from the crises of the late 2000s. A 2009 summer internship at Conner Strong & Buckelew led to his joining the broker in January 2010. Among his other responsibilities, he co-chairs the broker’s cyber practice.

 

What’s a lasting effect of the pandemic on the way you work?

I think it would be all surrounding communications. Our business, it’s a very face-to-face, interpersonal communications business. It’s all about relationships. At the beginning of the pandemic, we set up weekly video calls not only to discuss business, but just to remain in contact and feel like we were getting together. Ultimately, I think it made us better communicators.

 

What’s your advice on navigating the current insurance market?

Always making sure we’re tapping out every possible solution and being as creative as possible. We’re having discussions with clients on quota share programs, and parametric insurance is a big part of property insurance these days.

 

What should the industry do to attract more young people to work in it?

We should do more about bringing to light the possibilities in the industry, beginning early, in schools and colleges. The people we hire are from all different backgrounds. Our company is starting to run programs in Camden for local high school students who are graduating.

 

Favorite hobby or pastime?

Music. I participated in everything musically in school — band programs, marching band, and played outside of school, and today still teach high school bands.

 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A chef for a while, but then I decided I wanted to have my holidays and weekends.

 

 

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