ALISON J.

MC CLAREN
1900 Chestnut Ave., #406, Glenview, IL 60025
Cell: (708) 738-7933 Home: (847) 729-7828
Email: am86913a@westpost.net
CAREER SUMMARY
Well-organized and conscientious administrative professional with over 25 years
experience in customer service, contracts, meeting planning, financial tracking,
and insurance case management. Detail-oriented specialist in creative problem s
olving. Recognized for excellent ability to recognize and satisfy the business n
eed, learn new skills quickly, and communicate processes across organizations. H
eavy background in operations, independent projects, and process improvement.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
GUARDIAN LIFE INSURANCE HUNKEN AGENCY, Glenview, IL 2006 to 2010
Case Manager
Managed disability, life, and long term care new business. Scrubbed applications
, submitted to home office, coordinated medical and financial requirements. Work
ed with home office underwriters to obtain best possible decisions on cases. Cou
nseled agents on insurance products and options, communicated changes on new pro
ducts, ran premium illustrations, billed/collected on new business, etc.
Told by agency owners best case manager they had ever known
Sole underwriter for agencys leading disability producer (per agents request)
Sole trainer for top U.S. Guardian/Berkshire disability producers staff
In three months, caught up busy desk vacated due to employee long term disabili
ty, and mastered insurance-specific software programs within one month, ensuring
closing out and paying of cases by year-end that had lingered for months
Served as disability income and general underwriting expert in new business dep
artment
Self-taught proposal systems for disability and long term care illustrations (o
nly case manager in office capable of running premium illustrations)

FINANCIAL INTEGRITY GROUP, Chicago, IL 2005 to 2006

Administrative Assistant
Supported five insurance agents/investment brokers, processed life, disability,
annuity, and investment applications, billed on new business, created and updat
ed quarterly summaries for clients portfolios, assisted with daily operations of
small office.
Managed major SEC compliance-required investment accounts update, completing pr
oject several weeks prior to company deadline
Mastered accounts update computer program, implemented use for tracking carrier
s forms and applications
Converted client portfolios to user-friendly Excel program; by automating calcu
lations, eliminated need for manual calculations
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FINANCIAL NETWORK, Skokie, IL 2003 to 2004
Associate Financial Representative
Managed daily operations of Financial Representatives business (key customer se
rvice representative for policyholders, facilitated collections for late payment
s, scheduled appointments, participated in companys marketing program reserved f
or select representatives, submitted new business applications and policy change
requests).
 Mastered companys client database software within two months, and subsequently
eliminated case notes and underwriting backlog
Passed Illinois Life & Health Insurance exams within first three months
Awarded Associate Agent Contract awarded within first five months
Secured silent auction items (15% of company total) for companys annual charity
golf outing
Alison J. McClaren Page Two

PFIZER (Formerly G.D. Searle and Pharmacia Corporation), Skokie, IL 1994 to 200
3
Operations Analyst, Global Toxicology (1999 to 2003)
Managed external contracts program and monthly contract/temporary labor databas
e. Chaired Incident Review Committee, reported to site leadership council. Manag
ed operational aspects of Capital Review Committee. Security and Site Safety com
mittees member.
Created and introduced new contracts process for department, eliminating backlo
g and improving efficiencies/project turnaround times
By creating tools to track headcount activity and variances for management, con
tributed to 75% reduction in departments temporary labor workforce
Communicated Chicago-area incidents and safety issues to Chicago region personn
el, resulting in increased awareness and reduced illness/injury incidents
Safety communication presentation to OSHA contributed to Voluntary Protection P
rogram (VPP) Star Site re-certification
Reduced annual capital accruals from several million dollars to under $50K in 3
years
Streamlined global justification, approval, and ordering process for capital eq
uipment purchases
Senior Clinical Research Assistant, Clinical Research (1996 to 1999)
Planned and managed local and out-of-town off-site meetings, (varying from 6 to
500 attendees), including hotel contract negotiations. Managed financial aspect
s of clinical trials (quarterly budgets and forecasts, variance reports) and new
-hire moves. Contracts liaison between internal and external clients, legal depa
rtment, and management. Assumed office managers role during absences and critica
l timelines.
Earned ACE (Awards for Contributions That Are Exceptional) award first year in
position (monetary award usually reserved for scientists)
Sought out as meeting planner resource due to established track record of last-
minute meeting planning and positive business relationships with hotels and meet
ing planners
Coordinated production/distribution of Celebrex Briefing Document (sole documen
t provided to FDA Advisory Committee), contributing to FDA granting company expe
dited review
Safety Assurance Sr. Coordinator, Worldwide Safety & Labeling (1994 to 1996)
Entered adverse drug reaction reports data; managed correspondence with externa
l physicians, nurses, and patients. Worked with Healthcare Information, Quality
Assurance, Legal, Customer Service, and patients as needed for additional inform
ation and/or clarification. Performance Management Team member.
Applied analytical skills to database searches, resulting in increased efficien
cy and decreased duplicate adverse event entries
Built positive working relationships with internal and external customers
Participated on Performance Management committee and helped develop and impleme
nt new company reward and recognition programs

EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
B. A., English, History Minor.
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
State of Illinois Life, Accident and Health License (2004)
Dale Carnegie (Certificate, 2003)
American Management Association Basic Budgeting for Non-Financial Managers (Cert
ificate, 2001)
PERI R & D Finance (Certificate, 2001)

Alison J. McClaren Page Three

TECHNICAL SKILLS, PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Proficient in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Microsoft Excel, SAP (accounting soft
ware program), Outlook, Lotus Notes, AgencyWorks, SalesLogix, SalesForce, miscel
laneous company-specific software programs, familiar with PowerPoint, fluent in
French.
Participated in annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraisers (1998
to 2007)
(co-chaired 2003 Pharmacia team).
Member of City of Hopes PACT (Professionals for the Advancement of Cancer Treatm
ent)
for Pediatrics Council (2001). Secured Title Sponsorship for first fundraiser.