Ahern Spotlight: Susan Kilano

Q: How did you get started in the insurance industry?? I started out handling commercial claims and then moved over to the Legal Malpractice Claims side.?I really enjoyed handling Legal?Malpractice Claims as each claim that came in was unique and different as well as intellectually challenging.?I really enjoyed developing litigation strategy with our insureds and defense counsel as well as attending mediations and trials.?Having handled Legal Malpractice claims, it has given me a better understanding of how to assist clients when they have a claim and the best way to guide them through?a difficult situation.?

Q: What do you like most about the work we do at Ahern??I like that it’s a fast paced environment that allows us to learn new things as well as solve difficult problems.?I really appreciate Ahern allowing us to participate and sponsor multiple Association of Legal Administrators throughout California as well as supporting my activities in the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and the ABA Conference on Legal Malpractice.?I like that Ahern has allowed us to actively participate in various facets of the legal community and it has definitely been the key to our success.

Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far?? I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to transition very smoothly from Claims to Brokering.?During my career, many had said that Claims people do not make the best Sales people, however I am very proud of the fact I have proven these folks wrong. I am very proud of my success and contributions to this industry and it has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey.?I love the personal connection to clients and helping them solve difficult problems as well as offering risk management guidance on a number of topics.

Q: What's one thing people don't know about you that they would be surprised to find out? I grew up in Michigan and relocated to California to attend UCSD.?I came out to California on a family vacation as a teenager and it took only one visit to California to realize how much I would love to attend school here and as they say, the rest is history.?While I have fond memories of growing up in Michigan, I feel very lucky to call California my home and feel like a native. There is so much to do here from the beaches to skiing to the wine country.?We have everything in our backyard.

Q: If you are taking a client out for a fun activity, where would you go???I would take the client to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert.?I think it’s great venue to see a concert.?I would also take a client to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach.?The event is known for its?tableaux vivants?or "living pictures" in which classical and contemporary works of art are recreated by real people who are made to look nearly identical to the originals through the clever application of costumes, makeup, headdresses, lighting, props, and backdrops.

?Q: What is the greatest adventure you have ever done? Getting married in Florence, Italy and spending a month long honeymoon traveling throughout Europe. We got to visit so many great cities such as Florence, Naples, Venice, Rome Bologna, Positano, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Paris and London.? It was truly the vacation of a lifetime and we took an overnight train from Italy to Switzerland which was a lot of fun.?? ???