April 2026 Newsletter 
President's Report
Dear CPCU Atlanta Members & Friends,
It is wonderful to live in Atlanta during the month of April—the flowers are blooming, the leaves are coming in, and it is such a delight to be outdoors and enjoy the sunshine before the heat of summer arrives. As we make the most of this beautiful weather, I hope you will join us for our annual Golf Tournament & Clinic on May 4 at Olde Atlanta. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or would like to learn, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members.
Spring also means that the end of the school year is drawing near. Next week I will be joining several of our board members to present on the CPCU Designation to the Gamma Iota Sigma Chapter at Georgia State University. We will be sharing about our own insurance careers and the benefits that the CPCU designation has provided each of us.
As I prepare for that presentation, I’ve been reflecting on my own path to the CPCU designation. I embarked on it because I wanted to learn as much about the insurance industry as quickly as I could. But earning the designation was just the starting point—being involved in the Atlanta Chapter has made all the difference. While I love our learning events like the Lunch & Learns and I-Day, I have learned as much, if not more, from interacting with members and hearing about the work that they are doing. The insurance industry is incredibly broad—the more I learn, the more I realize how much I still have to learn. And we all know how rapidly things are changing with the increasing use of AI!
Speaking of learning both with and from others, be sure to check out our Calendar of Events below to find out more about our April Open Mic Networking Event, co-sponsored by AAIP HYPE, and our May Lunch & Learn. We hope to see you there!
Calendar of Events
Check out our upcoming events!
- April 22: Open Mic Networking Event
- May 4: Golf Tournament & Clinic
- May 14: Lunch & Learn: Mold and Water Intrusion Claims
- September 17: Atlanta Risk Focus 2026
Annual Golf Tournament
Don't miss out on our annual Golf Tournament & Clinic - May 4 at Olde Atlanta.
We would also like to thank National Indemnity Company & Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Company for sposoring two holes and the Longest Drive contest! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, more information is available at the link below. Proceeds will go towards our scholarship program for Risk Management and Insurance students. Last year we were able to award four scholarships to students from Georgia State and the University of Georgia.
Member Profile
Meet Director Penny Gildersleeve
• How did you get started in the insurance industry?
After graduating from college, I was looking for a meaningful career opportunity and found my way into the insurance industry. It proved to be a rewarding path that combined challenge and growth.
• What is your current role? What does your work entail?
I serve as an Auto Claim Section Manager, where I lead a team dedicated to ensuring claim handling complies with all relevant state and federal regulations, as well as company policies. My role is to guide and support my team while maintaining high standards of accuracy and integrity.
• Why did you decide to pursue your CPCU designation?
Early in my career, a mentor advised me that deepening my knowledge of the industry through the CPCU designation would be invaluable. Taking that advice, I pursued and earned the designation to enhance my expertise and professional credibility.
• How have you been involved with the CPCU Society and the Atlanta chapter?
Since obtaining my CPCU, I have remained actively engaged—participating in lunch and learns, webinars, and social events. In 2022, I had the privilege of presenting at the CPCU Leadership Summit, and this year, I was honored to be sworn in as a Director of the Atlanta Chapter.
• What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy exploring new cuisines, traveling to new destinations, and immersing myself in good books.
Recent Gatherings
Taco Table Talks: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas in Insurance.
Some of the best conversations happen over good food, and this month's Taco Table Talk was no exception. The Taco Table Talk format was designed to be equal parts social event and learning opportunity. We gathered in the Hub Cap Room at Chuy's - Perimeter for a tasty taco bar and loads of their delicious chips and salsa. After some time for socialization and catching up with friends old and new, we dove into the topic of the evening: Exploring Ethical dilemmas in Insurance.
The session was facilitated by our President, Elizabeth Gieseking, and our Programming Chair and Director, Keline Bornelus. We started with discussing the difference between moral temptations in which there is clearly a right and wrong response, and ethical dilemmas in which there are multiple right answers from which to choose. This framework come from Rushworth Kidder's book How Good People Make Tough Choices, in which he writes:
"When good people encounter tough choices, it is rarely because they’re facing a moral temptation. If you’ve already defined one side as a flat-out, unmitigated “wrong,” you don’t usually consider it seriously. Faced with the alternatives of arguing it out with your boss or gunning him down in the parking lot, you don’t see the latter as an option."
Kidder breaks the common types of ethical dilemmas into four broad categories:
- Truth vs. Loyalty
- Individual vs. Community
- Short-term vs. Long-term
- Justice vs. Mercy
We then had two rounds of table discussions, with each group tackling one of three ethical dilemmas per round. These cases included decisions around claim handling, underwriting, and the responsibilities of agents towards colleagues, clients, and the insurers they represent.
- How should you handle a hurricane claim with an inconclusive engineering report and an agent who had failed to disclose coverage limitations?
- What factors should be taken into account when underwriting a small business that has had prior claims?
- What do you do when rules just aren't fair?
The discussions were spirited and the viewpoints diverse, giving every participant plenty to think about when it comes to the dilemmas they may face in their own careers. After all, ethical challenges are rarely theoretical in this industry. We left with full stomachs, sharper instincts, and a lot to think about.
Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight
April is a month rich with opportunities to recognize and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and awareness across many communities and cultures.
- Autism Acceptance Month was established in the U.S. to raise awareness and foster acceptance of developmental disabilities that impact how individuals experience the world around them.
- Celebrate Diversity Month in the U.S. invites us all to honor the wide-ranging diversity that strengthens our communities and workplaces.
- Deaf History Month marks key events in the history of the Deaf community in the U.S., highlighting contributions and ongoing advocacy.
- Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation, and Prevention Month in Canada honors survivors and victims of genocide, emphasizing resilience and the vital importance of prevention.
- National Arab American Heritage Month recognizes and pays tribute to the rich heritage and valuable contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.
- Sikh Heritage Month in Canada celebrates Sikh arts, culture, and heritage, honoring a vibrant community with a profound history.
April also features many significant cultural, religious, and historical observances around the world:
- From Passover (April 1–9), commemorating the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery, to Easter Monday (April 6) and Orthodox Easter (April 12), this month is rich with faith-based observances that bring communities together.
- The Qingming Festival (April 5) in China honors ancestors during springtime, while Vaishaki (Baisakhi) (April 14) celebrates the founding of the Sikh Khalsa community.
- Important remembrance days like the Day of Valor in the Philippines (April 9), Yom Ha’atzmaut in Israel (April 21–22), and ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand (April 25) mark historic sacrifices and national pride.
- April also highlights social justice and equality with The Day of Silence (April 12), a day to protest the silencing of LGBTQ+ voices due to bias and harassment.
- Environmental sustainability is recognized on International Mother Earth Day (April 22), encouraging global commitment to protecting our planet.
- Other notable observances include Freedom Day in Portugal (April 25), Liberation Day in Italy (April 25), and World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28), emphasizing peace, justice, and wellbeing.
We encourage everyone to engage with these observances—learning, reflecting, and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, and experiences that shape our world.
