Emily Hardinge, CRC Group, was installed president of the Insurance Professionals of Shreveport-Bossier during ceremonies held June 10 at the Silver Star Smokehouse in Bossier.

Hardinge became president of IPSB in 2020, but there were no meetings in 2020 because of Covid-19 and no installation of officers, so she continues as president.

Hardinge succeeds Donna Rice, RISCOM, who remains on the IPSB board of directors and installed the officers.

Hardinge joined CRC’s Shreveport office in October 2020 where she is a transportation underwriter.

She entered the insurance business in 2005 as a mail clerk with her grandfather’s agency before becoming a customer service representative specializing in auto and homeowners insurance with Maynard, Clark and Teasley Inc. After gaining almost seven years of experience in that role, Hardinge transitioned to Specialty Risk Associates Inc. to assume the role of assistant underwriter. Over time, she advanced to the more challenging roles of underwriter 1 and renewal underwriter, before taking the role of transportation underwriter for new business.

Hardinge obtained her Louisiana property/casualty license in 2010, the CISR designation in 2014, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in risk management and insurance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2017. Hardinge is currently working toward a Transportation Risk and Insurance Professional designation.

Hardinge has been active with IPSB since 2015 and previously served as the local association’s vice president and a board member.

The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on IPSB by putting the association on the back burner with employers who were focused on the safety of their employees, Hardinge told the Reporter. As a result, among her goals for the 2021-22 term is for the association to be in a “positive light” with employers as IPSB returns to hosting events and serving the community.

Among the events IPSB is planning for the next year are a clay shoot, either a bingo or bunco game night, and the Safety Banquet in October which honors police and fire department personnel in Bossier City and Shreveport. In December, IPSB plans to hold its Industry Appreciation Banquet, usually held in May, in conjunction with the Industry Christmas function. The Industry Appreciation Banquet was not held in May 2020 or 2021 due to restrictions on events, and the Christmas social was skipped in 2020.

Other officers include Heather Cotsopoulos, Risk Services, who was installed secretary, as well as Tracy Price, M.J. Kelly, who is vice president, and Brandy Watts, Risk Services, who will serve in the treasurer position. Rose German, Sedgwick, chairs the Education Committee.

The officers assumed their positions July 1.