Vermont Captive is featuring a series throughout the year highlighting companies and people that service the captive insurance industry. This post features Alicia Huskes, who discusses her journey so far in the captive industry.

How did you become involved in the captive industry?

My journey began unexpectedly. I started my career in high school, working for Batchelder Associates in Barre, which sparked my interest in accounting. During my senior year at Champlain College, David Guerino, who worked for Willis at the time, visited to speak about the industry. His enthusiasm and the potential opportunities caught my attention, steering me towards a career in captive insurance. Initially, I worked in the Hawaii office while continuing taking college courses but shortly returned to the Vermont office.

What is your role at KeyState?

At KeyState, I am the primarily point of contact and relationship manager for a large book of our captive clients and provide financial and regulatory guidance to our accounting team. My role encompasses a variety of tasks, ensuring no two days are the same. I enjoy the diversity of my responsibilities, which range from handling client accounts to strategic planning. Working in a smaller, family-run business like KeyState, with around 40 employees, allows me to have a significant impact and work closely with our clients.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love that every day brings something new. The variety in my job keeps me engaged and motivated. Captives have created connections across the globe, each client is unique, and the challenges they present require innovative solutions. There are always new risks that crop up, currently including the evolving landscape of cyber risks, cryptocurrency, and cannabis-related issues.

Additionally, the flexibility my job offers is invaluable, especially as a mother. I can arrange my schedule to balance professional commitments and family life effectively.

What challenges do you see for the captive insurance industry in the future?

Like in many industries, the immediate challenge is attracting and retaining talent. We need to raise awareness among college students about the opportunities in the captive insurance industry and improve our recruitment efforts to bring in fresh perspectives and skills. This challenge and how I was introduced to the industry is what interested me in joining the Vermont Captive Insurance Emerging Leaders (VCIEL) as its mission is to engage students, interns and rising professionals about opportunities in the captive industry.

What does Vermont bring to the table as a domicile for captives?

Vermont excels as a domicile due to its experienced and accessible regulators, who provide a predictable and supportive environment for captives. The state also boasts a strong network of service providers, from managers to investment professionals, accountants, and attorneys. This ecosystem creates a robust support system for captives, ensuring they receive the best possible guidance, services and longevity as one of the oldest US domiciles.

What do you enjoy doing for fun in Vermont?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time doing anything active outside with my family and friends. My two kids, ages 8 and 5, are involved in every sport. We enjoy downhill skiing in the winter and spending time at the lake in the summer.

To learn more about working in the Vermont captive industry check out our careers page at vermontcaptive.com/careers/.