Resume

CRAIG HITCHCOCK

860-560-6305 | linkedin.com/in/craigahitchcock | craighitchcock.com

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT | BUSINESS STRATEGY | AGILE METHODOLOGY

Product Manager operating at the intersection of insurance, technology, and the client experience. Offers 15+ years of experience within insurance, from direct sales and account management to compliance and regional leadership, complemented by a recently completed intensive Product Management Certification program.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE & SKILLS

CERTIFICATION

Product Management Certification | CareerFoundry

Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) | The American College

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

SYNC Video Conferencing | CareerFoundry

April 2024 – July 2024

Facilitated workshops with key stakeholders (CEO, CTO, Design, UX Research) to understand company vision, product goals, and user needs.
Developed product principles that aligned with business objectives and user experience.
Conducted market research and competitor analysis to define the competitive landscape and inform the product roadmap.
Prioritized features, established timelines and budgets, and ensured alignment with client expectations.
Conducted user research (surveys, interviews) and analyzed data to identify user pain points, champion user-centered design, and inform product development.
Defined MVP scope and functionalities via user-centered research and collaboration with engineering teams.
Managed the product development lifecycle from prototyping and testing to iterative design based on user feedback, collaborating with engineers to define technical feasibility and develop MVPs and PoCs.
Analyzed product metrics post-launch to measure user engagement and identify improvement areas.
Led post-launch activities, including a data-driven retrospective, to maximize platform success and adoption.

MakeYourMaps Application | CareerFoundry

March 2024 – April 2024

Increased user engagement and high-quality content creation crucial for the success of the application.
Conducted user research (interviews, surveys) to understand contributor motivations and frustrations.
Analyzed data to identify key themes and created user personas; leveraged the MoSCoW method to prioritize “Must Have” user stories focusing on user recognition and appreciation program to incentivize contributions.
Designed and presented a product improvement plan with wireframes showcasing a user tutorial for the new recognition features; defined OKRs & KPIs to measure the effectiveness on engagement and quality.
Presented a compelling case to stakeholders, showcasing that the proposed program has the potential to significantly boost user engagement, content quality, and ultimately the success of the MakeYourMaps app.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Life Insurance Consultant/Specialist | AAA Club Alliance

June 2022 – Present

Increased life insurance sales by more than 100% year-over-year: Identified a gap in cross-selling life insurance by multiline agents. Designed a referral program incentivizing agents to connect customers with life insurance specialists during annual reviews and new policy sales. This win-win solution is benefiting customers, agents, life specialists, and the company through increased sales, improved customer service, and higher retention rates.
Developed data-driven strategies for life insurance growth, analyzing customer needs and market trends to develop strategies for expanding AAA's life insurance business.
Provided recommendations to leadership, contributing to a data-driven approach for goal achievement.
Collaborated cross functionally to partner effectively with sales teams and internal departments to develop and implement new life insurance initiatives, fostering strong relationships to ensure alignment.
Ranked second among life specialists in the company’s 13 state region.
Leveraged in-depth insurance knowledge to conduct personalized member life insurance consultations. Ensured customers receive the right coverage to meet their specific needs and financial goals.

Insurance Agency Owner/President | Hitchcock Insurance and Financial Services

April 2019 – June 2022

Developed and executed a strategic growth plan to increase agency value by 500%.
Negotiated and completed a lucrative 5X profitable sale within three years of acquiring the agency.
Provided comprehensive financial planning services to clients in the education and public service sectors, helping them navigate complex insurance products (life, auto, home) and retirement planning options to build a secure financial future.
Analyzed individual client needs and financial goals to develop personalized insurance packages that offered optimal coverage and value, ensuring they received the right protection for their assets and families.
Cultivated strong client relationships by building trust and rapport with educators and public servants, establishing Hitchcock Insurance and Financial Services as a reliable partner for their financial needs.
Contributed to the agency's overall growth and profitability through intense focus on client satisfaction.
Recognized with the Pacesetter Award for new agency production.

Executive Development Program | Horace Mann

October 2011 – April 2019

One of two employees selected for unique executive development program, rotating through diverse leadership roles (Product Management, Underwriting, Product Marketing, Sales Development, District Leadership, Regional Compliance) to hone business acumen and leadership capabilities.
Achieved 100% of target production goals and propelled district ranking from 37th to 10th nationally during 18 Month stint as District Sales Leader.
Received Employee of the Month award for successfully accelerating transition between the diverse leadership roles that together made-up Horace Mann’s Executive Development Program.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration - MBA | Indiana Wesleyan University

Bachelor of Science - BS | Northern Illinois University