ROCKET SCIENCE - Inside Axiom Space's mission to design a next-generation space station
WOMEN IN TRUCKING | EXCEPTIONAL COLLEAGUES | REBUILDING PHILADELPHIA’S I-95
ROCKET SCIENCE Inside Axiom Space’s mission to design a next-generation space station
SPRING 2024
In this issue: Meet an MMA colleague who balances work, family, and a passion for rescuing horses. PAGE 26
LETTER FROM OUR CEO
Paving the way... Exploring the unknown, pushing boundaries, testing the limits, and defying expectations. However you describe it, the human instinct to venture beyond convention is a common thread woven throughout this issue of LIMITLESS . I’m excited to share these client and colleague stories because they are important reminders to take the road less traveled, turn obstacles into opportunities, and experience discovery and growth. What exemplifies the human desire for exploration more than the final frontier? In this issue, we’ll introduce you to the company that is aiming for the stars, overcoming risks, and setting a new course for our future in space. You’ll meet two organizations that have gone the extra mile to improve the holistic well-being of their workforce. When off-the-shelf solutions couldn’t provide the desired results, they charted their own path forward and haven’t looked back. Innovation and bold determination intersect when two organizations team up to repair a freeway collapse in Philadelphia in record time. And there are several other inspiring stories we’re excited to share throughout this issue. As you read, I’m confident you’ll be motivated by the curiosity, vision, and drive that inspired eye-opening detours and memorable journeys.
@MARSH_MMA Leveling up through learning! Colleagues attend an Employee Health & Benefits Master Class in Dallas, TX.
Enjoy the ride.
@MARSH MCLENNAN AGENCY For World Social Justice Day, colleagues collect and package hygiene items for a local nonprofit supporting families facing adversity.
Dave Eslick Chief Executive Officer Marsh McLennan Agency
@LIFEATMMA Our colleagues are always going the distance, even at the Atlantic City Ironman 70.3 triathlon. #personalachievementunlocked
MAGAZ INE
MARSH MCLENNAN AGENCY NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DAVID ESLICK, Chairman and CEO BILL JEATRAN, President PAUL HERING , Vice Chairman CHRISTINA MOTT, Chief Operating Officer BEN NEWMAN , Chief Financial Officer SHARON WERNER , Chief Human Resources Officer KIRA KIMBALL , Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer TRINDL REEVES , Chief Sales Officer
WOMEN IN TRUCKING | EXCEPTIONAL COLLEAGUES | REBUILDING PHILADELPHIA’S I-95
ROCKET SCIENCE Inside Axiom Space’s mission to design a next-generation space station
SPRING 2024
STEVEN HANDMAKER , Chief Marketing Officer ALEXANDRA VON FERSTEL , General Counsel JIM MAZA , Chief Information Officer RICHARD DESANCTIS , Chief Compliance Officer DENISE PERLMAN , President, Business Insurance KATE MOHER , President, Employee Health & Benefits PETE WALTHER , President, Private Client Services CRAIG REID , President, Retirement & Wealth
ABOUT THE COVER A model of Axiom Space's module, which will be connected to the International Space Station.
1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA, 92101 619-230-9292 | sandiegomagazine.com
PUBLICATION TEAM ERIN QUIGLEY SVP, Brand and Corporate Communications HAILEY UMMEL Senior Manager, Corporate Communications RACHEL KATZ Art Director DEBBIE NEFF Senior Graphic Designer GWENDOLYN RICE Content Marketing Manager LEXIE O'CONNOR National Media Relations Manager SOFIA BERG Project Manager
TROY JOHNSON Publisher and Chief Content Officer CLAIRE JOHNSON Chief Executive Officer SARAH SAPEDA Custom Content Editor SAMANTHA LACY Art Director KELLY DAVIS Contributing Copy Editor IAN ANDERSON, JOSH BAXT, CAROL HOLLAND LIFSHITZ, JENNIFER MCENTEE, CHRISTINA ORLOVSKY, HOA SANCHEZ Contributing Writers ANALIA DRISCOLL Contributing Designer ANTHONY RATHBUN, JENNY SIEGWART, MELANIE SWITZER Contributing Photographers
This document is not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC shall have no obligation to update this publication and shall have no liability to you or any other party arising out of this publication or any matter contained herein. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting or legal matters are based solely on our experience as consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. Any modeling analytics or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty and the analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change. Copyright © 2024 Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency LLC. All rights reserved. CA Insurance Lic: 0H18131. MarshMMA.com
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
TO: Peter Krause, Darenda Huguley, Courtney Davies, Kirsten Hicks, Jennifer Hedrick, Sarah Goodwin, Diane Mumpower, Ethan Bailey, Gary Abernathy, Todd Reider, Samantha Davis, Trinija Martin, Angela Crawford, Nikky Reilly, Kathleen Kelly, Bruce Morton, Amanda Graff, Elizabeth Polheber, George Phillips, Patton Kline, George Motter, Sam Hartley, Cara Justus, Rob Buckley Jr., Durrell Garman, Archie Filshill, Sean Brogan, and our Marsh McLennan Agency colleagues in Missoula, Montana
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IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURES
18 / INNOVATION Rocket Science
Axiom Space balances risk with reward in its quest to design a new space station 26 / COMPASSION From the Boardroom to the Barn A North Carolina colleague balances her career, family, and passion for rescuing horses 30 / COLLABORATION The Fast Lane to Rebuilding The unprecedented 12-day reopening of Philadelphia's I-95
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
IN THIS ISSUE
DEFINING SUCCESS
UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES
36 / DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Creating a Culture of Belonging An MMA vice president gives insight on best practices for business leaders 38 / LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP The Heart of a Healthy Community Community leaders in Wake County, NC inspire employees and residents to live well 42 / FINANCIAL WELLNESS Off the Beaten Path Powersports vehicle company Polaris charts new territory in employee benefits 46 / DESTIGMATIZING SUPPORT Building Bridges to Mental Health The Wisconsin Construction Wellness Community provides a lifeline for workers 48 / COLLEAGUE VOICES Community Spotlight: Missoula, Montana Area colleagues share their recommendations of what not to miss in Missoula
6 / MMA GIVES BACK Fundraising Reinvented MMA finds a creative way to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation 10 / EMPOWERING WOMEN Kicking Asphalt: Women in Trucking Inside the organization helping women find their stride in the transportation industry 14 / COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Defining Limitless: Meet the Unstoppable Ethan Bailey A California colleague with TAR syndrome traces his path to resilience
17 / COMING SOON Come Say “Hello” Upcoming events in the 180+ communities MMA colleagues serve
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MMA GIVES BACK
Fundraising Reinvented:
for a Cause
Cornhole may be best known as a backyard barbe- cue staple, but one Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) region of philanthropy-minded colleagues is using the game to help kids with cancer. For the better part of two decades, the Atlanta-based team of MMA's Southeast region had hosted a much-anticipated Charity Classic golf tournament. The annual fund- raiser rallied the local insurance industry and their community to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). However, coming back from the pandemic in 2021, MMA made an interesting and unexpected switch. Instead of inviting all of its sup- porters to play golf, the Southeast region would now invite them to play cornhole. The change allowed MMA to comply with the COVID protocols in place at the time and also reduce overhead costs so more of the donated funds would benefit PBTF. If there were ever any concerns about the wisdom of swapping the “game of kings” for a game of bean bag toss, there’s been no arguing the results. Since expanding the Charity Classic from a golf tourna- ment to hosting a virtual fundraising event and the Cocktails & Cornhole event, attendance and revenue have exponentially soared. “We had just over 400
MMA BRINGS THE ATLANTA-AREA INSURANCE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
MMA GIVES BACK
people in attendance at last year’s event, and we raised a half million dollars,” reports MMA regional President and CEO Peter Krause. Where does the money go? Specifically, the benefi - ciary of Cocktails & Cornhole is a PBTF program called The Butterfly Fund. For over 30 years, PBTF’s primary mis- sion has been to fund medical research toward eradicating brain cancer in children. But it also works all over the country to provide family support ser- vices, including educational resources and peer-to-peer mentoring. The Butterfly Fund was established to provide families much-needed finan - cial assistance while their chil- dren undergo treatment. “Caring for a child is all-consuming,” explains PBTF President and CEO Courtney Davies. “The financial implications for a family certainly can
be devastating. Two-income households often go down to one-income, because a parent needs to stay home. If you are a one-income household, you may need to go on disability.” On average, Davies says, more than half of all families facing a child’s
cancer diagnosis experience financial distress within 12 months after diagnosis, just at a time when stress- es—and expenses—are at their highest. “It isn’t just the mounting med- ical bills that have a financial impact,” explains Kirsten Hicks, who faced this chal- lenge firsthand. Her daughter Courtney, now 23, was treated for a brain tumor as a child. “It is all the little things that you don’t realize. It is the gas needed to go back and forth to
On average, more than half of all families facing a child’s cancer diagnosis experience financial distress within 12 months after diagnosis, just at a time when stresses—and expenses—are at their highest.
the hospital. It is the increased heating bill because the house needs to be warmer because your child is so cold due to the treatment. It is the increase in the
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MMA GIVES BACK
Between golf and cornhole, 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of a PBTF fundraising tournament.
water bill because of the extra laundry that needs to be done to keep the germs away. It is the extra safety equipment that needs to be installed so your child can live at home.” Davies notes there are over a hundred types of pediatric brain tumors. Though they
XWHGWR3%7)VXSSRUWHGIDPLOLHV across the country. Both of these annual and vir- tual events have continued on, even as tournament fundrais- ing resumed. But in three short years, Cocktails & Cornhole has clearly become the centerpiece RIWKH\HDUURXQGHಀRUWWRVXS -
count among the rarest of cancers, they altogether wreak a devastating impact on families across the 866KHVD\V7KH%XWWHUࡽ\)XQGSURFHVVHGDQGIXO - ࡼOOHGDSSOLFDWLRQVLQࡼVFDO\HDUXSIURP 664 the year prior. And with the help of fundrais- ers like Cocktails & Cornhole, the fund has been DEOHWRSURYLGHDQDYHUDJHRI LQVXSSRUW per family. ȉ$OO\RXKDYHWRGRLVVSHQGPLQXWHVZLWKWKHVH kids and the families, and you’ll feel the impact,” VD\V.UDXVHZKRFXUUHQWO\VLWVRQWKH3%7)ERDUG .UDXVHKDVZRUNHGLQDOHDGHUVKLSUROHVLQFH joining MMA when his agency J. Smith Lanier & Co. ZDVDFTXLUHGLQ7KDWDFTXLVLWLRQH[SDQGHG MMA’s presence into the Southeast region, which includes Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, DQG)ORULGD.UDXVHVD\VWKHUHZHUHVRPHLQLWLDO concerns that the MMA acquisition might impact WKHORQJVWDQGLQJUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK3%7)EXWWKH community-focused company quickly put those ZRUULHVWRUHVWb “Since joining MMA, we’ve actually developed a stronger relationship and greater opportunity WRVXSSRUW3%7)LQDPRUHPHDQLQJIXOZD\Ȋb he says. When the pandemic forced MMA to cancel the JROIWRXUQDPHQWWKHILUPHVWDEOLVKHGD virtual auction. Items that people throughout the Southeast and nationwide could bid on were donated so the brokerage would not miss a year VXSSRUWLQJ7KH%XWWHUࡽ\)XQG00$DOVREHJDQ VXSSRUWLQJ3%7)ȆV*R*UD\LQ0D\DZDUHQHVVFDP - SDLJQODXQFKLQJDGRQDWLRQGULYHLQHDFKRILWV RࡺFHVWKDWFROOHFWVJLIWFDUGVIRUJDVPHDOVGXU - LQJWUDYHODQGJURFHULHV,QWKLVFDPSDLJQ \LHOGHGLQJLIWFDUGVZKLFKZHUHGLVWULE -
SRUWWKH3%7)$QGLWȆVDQHಀRUWWKDWWUDQVFHQGV rivalries. In fact, Krause credits an insurance competitor in Nashville, TN for telling him how powerful a switch to cornhole could be. “And he’s an avid golfer,” Krause says, “but he convinced me to give cornhole a shot.” Why? “Because it’s approachable, well-attended, and raises money, and at the end of the day, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
It’s not that golf wasn’t a success, per se: each Charity Classic routinely DWWUDFWHGSHRSOHDQGUDLVHG DURXQG7KHSUREOHP became how much it cost to get that kind of turnout. “It was an incred- ible event,” acknowledges Krause, “but it was also very expensive to execute.” Overhead included the cost to rent three golf courses in the suburban Atlanta area. Added to that were golf cart fees, and the cost of supplying food and bever- age for the event’s closing recep- tion. “When we were running that
golf tourna- PHQW of what we took in went to cover the cost of the event, lessen- ing our give- EDFNWR3%7)Ȋ he says.
PETER KRAUSE AND THE MMA SOUTHEAST
TEAM SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
MMA GIVES BACK
The Cocktails & Cornhole tour- nament, by con- trast, requires a sma l l er
most teams hail from MMA’s network of insur- ance carriers and clients, who join the tourna- ment with sponsorships ranging from $1,500 to $12,500 per team. Even factoring live music performances and cornhole boards spaced the regulation 27 feet apart, there’s plenty of space left over for hun- dreds of spectators to socialize, and for vendors WRVXSSO\WKHFRFNWDLOVSRUWLRQRIWKHSURJUDPb And that’s one more area where the cost of running the tournament comes down. Rather
outlay, and a much smaller footprint. MMA Southeast has been hosting the October event at The Green at Cra- bapple Market, a grassy, three-quar- ter acre venue with an open-air stage. For
than MMA having to pro- cure food and drink, the reduced scale of the event has attracted a new level of sponsors: vendors who provide refreshments free-of-charge. “We were able to get all the food and drinks donated,” says Huguley. Atlanta-area res- taurants provide guests with small plates ranging IURPWDFRVWRVXVKLb Huguley points out that many of the 400-plus in attendance don’t even play cornhole. They
the tournament itself, they hired a dedicated corn- hole vendor to organize and manage the event, one that is known in the community for league play for thousands of players in the Atlanta area. “They come and set up the boards and run the entire tournament,” says Darenda Huguley, who helps organize the event in her role as 00$ȆVUHJLRQDOSXEOLFUHODWLRQVGLUHFWRUb Out of deference to several avid golfers who look forward to competing in the Charity Classic each year, MMA contin- ues to put together a scaled-down edi- tion of the golf match. But both Huguley and Krause acknowledge that Cocktails &RUQKROHGULYHVDVLJQLࡼFDQWO\KLJKHU turnout because cornhole’s a much more LQFOXVLYHJDPHb
Learn more about MMA's Charity Classic from regional leaders Peter Krause and Amanda Vail
just want to be a part of the day and enjoy the food and drinks, entertainment, and beautiful fall weather. Between golf and cornhole, 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of a PBTF fundraising tourna- ment. The team at MMA plans to make October’s event a memorable one, and show their continued support for the PBTF and the invaluable assistance it provides for the families of children battling brain cancer.
“Not everybody can play golf, but corn- hole, most people can do,” says Huguley. In 2023, 84 teams joined the tournament. Some were made up of kids and young adults in various stages of the brain cancer journey. But Cheers to 20
years!
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wom en in 10 | YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™ KICKING ASPHALT: PUTTING GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
EMPOWERING WOMEN
The road to success is paved with opportunities and obstacles. What you achieve and what you overcome often depends on the choices you make and the paths you take. One nonprofit organi - zation has set out to empower women to take the road often less traveled—a career in the trucking industry. Since 2007, the Women in Trucking Association (WIT) has worked to fulfill its mission “to encourage the employment of women in the trucking indus - try, promote their accomplish- ments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.” Founded by Ellen Voie, who handed over the wheel to current President and CEO Jennifer Hedrick in Janu- ary 2023, WIT has spent the past 17 years striving to fill a gender gap in an industry heavily dom - inated by men.
“When Ellen founded WIT in 2007, she felt there was a need for a trade association that championed women in the transportation industry,” Hedrick explains. “When we talk about transportation and trucking, we don’t just mean drivers. We are talking about anyone pursuing a career in the industry, running the gamut from the driver to the C-suite.” Now 8,000 members strong, WIT supports a broad range of trucking professionals, from owner-operators to senior vice presidents to warehouse man- agers to service technicians. “We could name 50 different roles, and they are all repre- sented within WIT,” Hedrick continues. “Many of them aren’t even specific to transporta- tion, like human resources and accounting. In fact, a lot of people start out their early careers in these roles and then find themselves really having a passion for transportation.”
That passion is shared by Sarah Goodwin, senior vice president, business insurance at Marsh McLennan Agency, who has been a member of WIT since 2020.
Whether it’s behind a desk or behind the wheel,
“I am proud to be one of the Women in Trucking,” Good - win says. “We continue to see more women in the field—this includes drivers, mechanics, vendors, and executives—and it’s encouraging to see the advancement of women in both trucking and insurance. Whether it’s behind a desk or behind the wheel, women con- tinue to make significant con - tributions that pave the road for others.” continue to make significant contributions that pave the road for others.
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EMPOWERING WOMEN
GENDER DIVERSITY FROM THE GROUND UP
cessful career: stability, a lucra- tive income, and many avenues to grow professionally,” she says. As the association has evolved, grown its membership, and gained momentum, raising awareness of career opportu- nities has remained a key com- ponent. But other critical goals have also come into focus.
safety and protection of drivers at truck stops, and things that are unique to women in a male- dominated industry, like pro- viding clothing and uniforms tailored to women and appropri- ate restroom access on the road. “Although the trucking industry has been working to reduce the gender gap, there are areas that still require attention,” says Goodwin. “I hope to see more consideration given to women- friendly restroom/bath facilities, ergonomic cab design, and safer truck stops and parking lots.” DRIVING FUTURE SUCCESS As Hedrick moves into the second year of her tenure as association president and CEO, she is excited to take the orga- nization farther down the road to diversity. “There is still a lot of work to be done in educating women about all that’s available to them in trucking, as well as educating our member companies on how they can recruit, interview, and hire women in a variety of roles.
While gender diversity has been a trending topic in recent years, it has always been at the core of what WIT is all about. Prominently displayed on the WIT website is the powerful statement that: “Gender diver- sity brings new perspectives, fuels greater idea generation,
The growth potential in transportation is when you recognize the key part that women play in keeping the wheels in motion every day. ƺNť ƨ QŰX
Goodwin says she has seen progress, and that the industry is rethinking its recruitment strategies to be more inclusive of women. However, additional work needs to be done. “These companies recognize the unique skill set that women offer,” she says. “One power- ful strategy is the rebranding of recruiting materials. Do the images show female driv- ers? Benefit options that can be explored include childcare EHQHࡼWVPDWHUQLW\OHDYHVLFN OHDYHࡽH[LEOHZRUNVFKHGXOHV and guaranteed equal pay.” One of the key pieces of WIT’s mission is to ensure the barriers for women in trucking are elimi- nated. This includes the
problem solving and innova- tion, increasing business per- formance and overall revenue generation.” As a trade association, WIT has the ability to lobby for causes that matter to the majority of its membership. Further, while WIT is—as its name suggests— primarily women, membership is open to people of all genders. Hedrick explains that this spirit of representation is the basis upon which WIT was founded. “When Ellen founded WIT, she saw the gender gap and oppor- tunities that women didn’t even know existed. Yes, trucking is a stereotypically male profession, EXWLWDOVRRಀHUVPDQ\EHQHࡼWV women are looking for in a suc-
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EMPOWERING WOMEN
We do this by providing tools for companies—both large multi- national corporations and small, rural businesses alike—as they seek to grow and increase gender diversity in their organizations as well,” she says. Goodwin echoes the sentiment. “There are numerous opportuni- ties for women other than driving, and companies need to continue to recruit women for those roles by creating an accepting workplace environment. Gaining acceptance and respect are challenges that many women face in a histori- cally male-dominated industry,” she adds. Finally, when asked what the word “limitless” means in the world of women in trucking, Hedrick had one simple answer: Synergy. “There truly are limitless opportu- nities for women in trucking,” she says. “No matter what stage of your career you’re in—whether you’re trying to decide what you want to do with your future, you’re a new graduate trying to find your niche, or you’re in mid-life and looking
for a change or more stability in your
career—you can find it all within the trucking space. And these are the things we strive to provide within WIT. There are limitless possibili- ties not only for women in the industry, but also for our organization, and we strive to achieve them every day.” For Goodwin, the word “limitless” signifies fulfillment. “People want their work to be a source of pride and to believe that their abilities and talents are being used optimally. The growth potential in
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WOMAN IN TRUCKING
Diane Mumpower has seen big changes in the 18 years she’s driven for Continental Express Inc. and also has high hopes for the future. “I started my career in 1996. Obviously, I am more seasoned now, but I would say one of the biggest challenges for me was balancing a family with my job. I have three children (all grown now), but when they were young, it was certainly tough juggling everything—
transportation is limitless when you recognize the key part that women play in keeping the wheels in motion every day,” she says.
that’s a top concern for all female drivers who have families today as well,” Mumpower says.
The transportation industry has evolved and has taken meaningful steps toward gender equity, thanks in part to WIT and other groups that support female drivers and bolster recruitment, but still more can be done. “The industry often gets a bad rap, but it has so many good things about it,” she says. “I hope in the next one, five, or 10 years the industry continues to see more women join,” she says.
Marsh McLennan Agency is a proud supporter of WIT. Learn more about our
transportation and trucking expertise.
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COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
DEFINING LIMITLESS:
Meet
the Unstoppable Ethan Bailey
Ethan Bailey sits by his laptop, composing docu- ments that hopefully secure new business for his employer, Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). He’s known around MMA for being a talented writer who always gets the job done. Bailey is an exceptional colleague and part of what makes him remarkable is that he succeeds while having Thrombocytopenia- Absent Radius (TAR) syndrome. TAR syndrome is a rare disorder with which he was born. It caused his arms to be severely trun - cated, with hands close to his shoulders. Although he did have legs at birth, their growth was stunted, resulting in amputation, temporary prosthetics, and his current need for a wheelchair. Though his condition presents challenges, Bailey is far from a
defeatist. He accepts this as his norm. “It’s all I’ve ever known. It is what it is,” he says. In many ways, Bailey is more independent and active than some who are not disabled. He drives. He swims. He goes out with his friends. He chron- icles his life through vlogging. In the past year alone, he’s visited Arizona, attended concerts and shows in Los Angeles, celebrated his birthday in Las Vegas and attended a Raiders game. He lives alone in his downtown San Diego condo, only occa- sionally having to ask friends or neighbors for help. His beloved furry friend, a 13-year-old poodle-chi- huahua mix named Swiffer, is a pet—not a service animal. He stresses that he takes care of her and walks her regularly.
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COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
them and keep being yourself.” Today, his perspective is generous; he says: “Every kid has a hard time growing up and it was no different for me.” Adults have been crass, too. A former employer called the wheelchair-using Bailey “Hot Rod,” so wildly inappropriate yet unfightable because he needed the job, he says. He’s faced other obstacles as well. Looking for a home to live on his own, he discovered many had steps or narrow doorways. Ultimately,
His journey to resilience began at a young age. As a child, he realized he had no choice but to move on and be adaptable, despite hardship. He was not held back. His loving parents provided a strong support system, and his father especially encouraged him to go to public school and live as “normal” as possible. “I was born with this condition,” he says. “It was in the cards I was dealt, so the only way was forward.” As a child, he “drove” himself by wheelchair to school a few blocks
I WAS BORN WITH THIS CONDITION.
IT WAS IN THE CARDS I WAS DEALT, SO THE ONLY WAY WAS FORWARD.
from home. As a teenager, if he wanted to go out with his friends, he had to figure out how to do so. His father helped him build adaptive equipment to fur- ther foster independence. They invented a multi-use tool that Bailey still uses to get dressed: a PVC pipe with attached planter hooks. Bailey has also taken up quite the novel hobby: par- ticipating yearly in “Wasteland Weekend.” Based on the Mad Max films, the immersive camping expe -
finding a workable residence and moving in were monumental accomplishments. Today, he focuses on his window’s sunny view and beams: “I can’t complain too much here!” One professional challenge was not so different from that faced by many, though possibly a bit more complex: how to monetize an education. He’d studied journalism at San Diego State University and wanted to become a TV reporter, but carrying
rience incorporates post-apocalyptic cos- tumes and comradery. He’s been trekking out to the Mojave Desert for the past decade for this five-day festival. His only concession was the use of a trailer for sleeping. Despite his positive outlook, he has en- countered cruelty over the years because of his condition. When confronted by mean children as a kid, he took his parents’ advice: “It’s not a reflection on you; it reflects the bullies; just ignore
a camera around and setting up shots wasn’t feasible. Then, he happily stumbled into proposal writing. Since March 2022, he’s worked as a full- time senior proposal writer for MMA’s West Region, which includes California, Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada. He and a fellow colleague write proposals to help the sales team win new clients. The job is fully remote, a way of operating that became much more prevalent after COVID-19 reared its ugly head.
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COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
Bailey views MMA’s leadership team as having been totally accommodating to him; he’s grateful for their flexibility. “All that mattered to them was whether or not I could do the job.” He’s clearly demonstrated that he can. His laptop, mouse, motor -
producers and salespeople stay strong. I’ll keep refining the good work that my partner and I do.” This includes the creation of executive summaries that accompany new business proposals. They outline who MMA is, and what prospective cli -
ized/adjustable standing desk, and intelligent, creative mind are his only tools. He’s learned many lessons at MMA. The first is that work - ing at an insurance brokerage can be very rewarding, not something he’d expected based on public perceptions of the industry. Secondly, he discovered the relationship between sales, marketing, communications, and his department, and how much teamwork it takes to accom- plish things. When asked about his pro- fessional goals, Ethan hopes to “keep improving the pro - cess I’ve helped implement at MMA, and make sure rela - tionships I’ve developed with
ents can expect. They require him to research their cultural and value commonalities. These extra tasks are not something all counterparts do. Another goal to cement his career choice: getting Proposal Management certification by year’s end. He’s studying for the exam, being paid for by MMA. What motivates him the most these days is his desire to con- tinue to live independently. Hard work, being adaptable, and having a job that allows him to live on his own are key. “I’ve created a nice life for myself and that’s really the ultimate moti- vator.” He’s also concentrating on time outside of the office. “And going to Padres games! I have season tickets that I’ll split with an MMA pal.”
PROFESSIONAL GOALS: KEEP IMPROVING THE PROCESS
I’VE HELPED IMPLEMENT AT MMA, AND MAKE SURE
RELATIONSHIPS I’VE DEVELOPED WITH PRODUCERS AND SALESPEOPLE STAY STRONG.
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
COMING SOON
UPCOMING EVENTS: Come Say “ ” Marsh McLennan Agency is always out and about in the 180+ communities we serve. Stop by and say hi at these events this summer. he ll o
MAY
JUNE
AUGUST
MAY 16-17 ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference Washington, D.C. MAY 17 Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, Mover of Mountains Gala Tigard, OR
JUNE 3-9 The Memorial Tournament Dublin, OH
AUG. 5-8 Disability Management
Employer Coalition Annual Conference Nashville, TN AUG. 7-8 The Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues Houston, TX AUG. 22 Barney & Barney Foundation Golf Classic Orange County, CA
JUNE 6 Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Annual Conference Philadelphia, PA JUNE 12 MMA Live at Dominion JUNE 17-19 Wisconsin School Bus Association Annual Convention La Crosse, WI JUNE 27 Habitat for Humanity: Operation Playhouse Energy Center Richmond, VA
MAY 21-22 New Hampshire Safety & Health Conference Manchester, NH MAY 23 Hauppauge Industrial
SEPTEMBER
Association – Long Island Trade Show & Conference Brentwood, NY
SEPT. 12-15 Newport International Boat Show Newport, RI SEPT. 17 Barney & Barney Foundation Golf Classic Danville, CA SEPT. 25-27 LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance 2024 Conference Las Vegas, NV
Build-A-Thon Worcester, MA
Are virtual events more your style? We do those too. JUNE 6 Learn to thrive with resilient HR and benefits strategies JUNE 26
JULY
JULY 8 KeystoneCare
Annual Charity Classic Plymouth Meeting, PA JULY 11-12 Sunbelt Builders Show Fort Worth, TX
The Future of Business Insurance: Striving for stability in the face of unpredictability SEPTEMBER 26 Virtual Fundraiser: Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation View the latest virtual offerings at MarshMMA.com/events.
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INNOVATION
AXIOM SPACE IS DESIGNING A NEXT-GENERATION SPACE STATION, PROVIDING A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ASTRONAUTS TO LIVE AND WORK IN ORBIT
Cape Canaveral’s Launch- pad 39A has a storied history. Built in 1969, it has served as the launch site from the Apollo to Space Shuttle eras and has now been re-tasked for commercial space mis- sions. On January 18, 2024, 39A launched Axiom Space’s Ax-3 crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). When the rocket went up, the mission control team cheered. Even now, decades later, spaceflight still evokes a sense of childlike wonder. “I remember when I was a kid, staying home from school ‘sick’ to watch space launches,” says George Mot - ter, senior vice president at Axiom Space. “That’s what got me interested—the engi - neering, the exploration. As humans, our need to explore is always constant and never quite fulfilled.” Motter is chief engineer for Axiom Station, which will be the first commercial space laboratory. He and his
BY JOSH BAXT
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INNOVATION
INNOVATION
colleagues have big dreams for the structure, which will enable new innovations in physics, biology, and other sciences that thrive in microgravity. They want this next-generation orbital platform to be useful and com- fortable—one step closer to our science fiction dreams. Axiom Station is the greatest engineering challenge of Mot- ter’s career. Gravity never takes a day off, and space is unforgiv- ing. A million things have to go right—every single day—and one bad event can spell disas- ter. The station will be home to
astronauts performing exten- sive research missions. It has to be both safe and sustainable. To get there, Axiom Space needs a host of innovations and trusted partners to miti- gate risk. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) and its parent company, Marsh, specifically the Aerospace team, have pro- vided a safety net to help Axiom Space and its colleagues man- age the risks associated with launches, landings, business operations, and the vastness of space. Marsh and MMA’s ability to support the space industry,
and navigate its many complex- ities, has given Axiom Space extra room to innovate. “Axiom is a business of ‘firsts,’” says George Phillips, a senior vice president at MMA’s Rich- mond, Virginia office. “We are consistently thinking outside of the box as we design coverage to protect their balance sheet. Axiom Space is truly an inno- vative and groundbreaking company. We’ve been pleased to partner with them to develop new insurance solutions for all of their missions and services.”
THE INTERIOR OF A MODEL MODULE
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INNOVATION
We want space travel to serve commerce and enable new science and do all the things we can’t do on Earth because gravity limits us.
Commercializing Space For kids large and small, space has been a tantalizing dream for decades. It seems so close, and it actually is. The ISS is approximately 250 miles from the Earth’s surface—about the same distance as Washington, D.C. from New York City. But those are long miles. The technical details associated with launching a multi-ton rocket into space are daunting. The vehicle must rapidly accelerate to approx- imately 17,800 miles per hour just to escape gravity. And then, once in orbit, it must sustain life auto- matically, with minimal outside support. These challenges have made space flight difficult and expensive, with only a precious few humans even having the opportunity. Axiom Space wants to change that. “The idea is to provide the means of exploration, to live and work in space,” says Motter. “We want to provide opportunities, not just for government agencies but for everyone, everywhere. We want space travel to serve commerce and enable new science and do all the things we can’t do on Earth because gravity limits us.” Axiom Space is innovating, but they’re not reinventing the wheel. NASA’s Skylab was launched in 1973, and the basic principles remain the same. The issue now is refinement. Taking existing technologies and mak-
ing them more reliable, efficient, lighter, and cost-effective. “We want to bring the costs down,” says Motter, “so space flight becomes routine, like air travel.” The Next Level Motter’s primary focus is mak- ing Axiom Station as useful, cost-effective, and safe as pos - sible. The platform is being designed as a closed loop, in which most consumables will be regenerated—air, water, fuel, and eventually food. Much of this technology already exists in some form, but Axiom Space engineers want to notch it up to the next level. These are not minor refine- ments. The more sustainable Axiom Station can become, the fewer resupply missions will be needed, which means less fight - ing with gravity and less risk. Axiom Station’s first piece, Habitat One (Hab One), will be attached to the ISS to take advan- tage of the station’s existing life
support and other infrastruc- ture, easing the transition as the older station is decommissioned. “Researchers and scientists who have experiments in the ISS will have the ability to move those over to Axiom Station,” says Mot- ter. “When the ISS is retired, and we depart, we’ll be able to save the science, support the research, and continue the mission.” Still, Hab One is not a one-off project but rather a template. Axiom Space looks forward to Hab Two, Three, Four, etc. Instead of building expensive, bespoke modules, the company will continuously refine the ini - tial blueprint. “We are going to add habitat modules, payload modules, power-producing modules,” says Motter. “We’ll just keep adding and adding to the station as those needs arise to support more crew, larger payloads, and more research. We want to con- tinuously build—not just Axiom Station but, in a sense, a city in space.”
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INNOVATION
Balancing Innovation With Risk For the engineering team, building Axiom Station, or any other space-going hardware, means identifying and mitigat- ing thousands of potential risks, both obvious and obscure. What happens if micro-meteorites
can’t break, but then we’re prob- ably making something that’s complex, heavy, and expensive. We can duplicate parts, creating redundancies, or we can care- fully consider where to place the part so it’s at less risk.” Sometimes, the team combines strategies, such as placing dupli-
expense. The more efficient strategy is to make the com- puters more resilient, so that if something goes wrong, they can be quickly rebooted, just like any consumer model. The engineers mix and match shielding, redundancy, and placement to create the most cost-effective and safe systems. The process requires continuous testing and iteration, looking at how each part responds to vac- uum, vibration, radiation, and temperature extremes. “We’ll take it colder or hotter than it’ll ever see in practice,” says Motter. “Sometimes, we test how hot it will go before failing. By understanding those bounds, we can assure ourselves the parts will survive and keep running.” Robust insurance coverage helps make emerging innova- tion possible. Complex missions and equipment can be challeng- ing to insure, but the market has always been willing to under- write all types of companies and risks, says Patton Kline, Aviation & Space, managing director at Marsh, New York. “Insurance is a key enabler for the space industry and overall space economy. Space policies are designed to cover the techni- cal risk from launch through the satellite lifetime,” Kline says.
For the engineering team, building Axiom Station, or any other space-going hardware, means identifying and mitigating thousands of potential risks, both obvious and obscure.
cate parts in different parts of the station. One area might face greater risk of encountering micrometeorites or solar radia- tion. The latter can play havoc on computer systems, turning them into expensive bricks. One approach is to simply shield the station’s computers so noth- ing harmful can get through. But again, this adds weight and
hit the station, radiation zaps a computer, or the platform loses power? What constitutes a manageable vs. catastrophic risk, and what measures must the team take to mitigate the first and eliminate the second? “There are several ways we can control risk,” says Motter. “We can make a part so robust it just
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The Space Flight Ecosystem
Fifty years ago, there were two main players in space: NASA and its Soviet counterpart. Now, the ecosystem includes Axiom Space and several other private companies. There’s a lot of cross-pollination within this ecosystem. NASA contin- ues to provide insights and leadership, but commercial partners are always evolving new approaches. Axiom Space has built a melt- ing pot of expertise. Before his current position, Motter spent more than a decade at Space X. Many of his colleagues today have joined from similar corporate startups and gov- ernment agencies. “One thing that brought me to Axiom Space is the way we are merging traditional and con- temporary aerospace,” says Motter. “Traditional efforts tend to move more deliberately and focus on intensive design. Now, we’re trying to think more agilely and quickly, iter- atively testing as we advance these systems. We’re merging that quick and agile with older processes to come up with the best of both worlds.” Fast and agile are critically important because the Axiom Station has a clear deadline: The ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2030.
AXIOM SPACE IS OVER- HAULING SPACESUIT DESIGN
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INNOVATION
The ISS and past stations have been geared more toward functionality, and we wanted to nudge the needle a bit more toward comfort.
able,” says Motter. “It won’t be quite like a hotel, but the crew will be able to have more opportunities to enjoy their off time. The ISS and past stations have been geared more toward functionality, and we wanted to nudge the needle a bit more toward comfort.” A New and Improved Space Suit While Axiom Station will be the home base, there will be times when crewmembers will per- form extravehicular activities to conduct maintenance and per- haps other tasks. Current space suits were mostly designed in the 1980s and have been need- ing improvement. Axiom Space has been working closely with NASA to develop the Axiom Extravehicular Mobil- ity Unit, the next-generation spacesuit Axiom Station crew- members and NASA Artemis moon mission astronauts will all wear. The spacesuit will be a safer, more usable, and stylish upgrade. It will be more streamlined and easily customizable for all users. From a work standpoint, the suits will be more flexible, sup - porting more diverse scientific applications, better mobility, and greater precision. The new suits will also have numer- ous additional components to enhance safety.
“My job is to build an awesome station within a reasonable budget and within time,” says Motter. “We’ve got to launch before the end of the ISS. But at the same time, we need to reduce the risks as much as possible. We’re not rushing, but we’re not resting either.”
offering a panoramic view of the home planet and surrounding space and providing crewmem- bers a place for observation and reflection. The observatory is one of many features being incorporated into Axiom Station. The idea is to create an environment that offers something approaching true work-life balance. On the ISS, crewmembers rest in tiny, closet-sized rooms. Their sleep- ing bags are tethered to the walls, so people don’t randomly float around the station—a disorient- ing experience to wake up to. The Axiom Station quarters are being designed with a little more area, offering private places where off-duty crew can read, call family, and get some good sleep. The goal is to create a place where station residents can relax at the end of their long workdays. “Our goal is to make space both more functional and more enjoy-
A New Generation of Space Station
Axiom Station will be the next step in the long progression from the spartan living arrangements on the ISS and its predecessors to the officers’ quarters in the Star - ship Enterprise. Don’t expect to book a luxury suite in space any- time soon, but comfort will be far more than an afterthought. One unique component will be the Axiom Earth Observatory, a conical section nestled on the module’s Earth-side (top and bot- tom have no meaning in space),
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INNOVATION
GEORGE MOTTER, CHIEF ENGINEER FOR AXIOM STATION
Small, Regular Wins Motter and his team have been having a lot of fun lately as they complete designs and con- duct reviews. The fast, iterative approach requires designing, testing, learning from their mis- takes, redesigning, and retesting. In other words, they’re not wait- ing for a part to reach flight quality before testing it. They send each component’s specs to the machine shop, then put it through its paces on a vibration table, or other apparatus to see what will happen. “Sometimes things fly off the table and break, but that’s okay,” says Motter. “We’re going to
“The crew’s health, safety, and welfare are our responsibil- ity,” says Motter. “We’re not just building cool space hardware, this is going to be their home. We take this process extremely seriously because their lives are in our hands, and we are going to build them the best house they’ve ever lived in. It’ll keep them safe and give them the ability to take that next step for humanity, learning to live, grow, function, and thrive in space.”
learn a lot, and we’re going to iterate, and by the time we’re done, that box is going to be the best it could ever be.” Axiom Space engineers are cur- rently testing thrusters and life support systems, finding better ways to move, remove humidity, and detect smoke. This process is amazing for the team as they watch their designs come to life. Each little win brings them one step closer to a safe launch.
MMA Senior Vice President George Phillips talks about working with Axiom Space
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COMPASSION
A compassionate colleague balances career, family, and her passion for rescuing horses Boardroom FROM THE TO THE A compassionate colleague balances career, family, and her passion for rescuing horses
BY SARAH SAPEDA
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YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS.™
COMPASSION
CARA JUSTUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A “HORSE GIRL.” The associate director of cli- ent service at Compass Financial Partners, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA) company, recalls her equestrian aspirations starting at a young age. “I was the little girl who loved horses. You either do or you don’t, and if you do, it’s just in your blood,” she says. Cara had been working remotely since before the pandemic began, but says home- schooling her children—Jonah, 15, Caroline, 9, and Tinleigh, 4—in its early days made her and her husband of 17 years, Isaac, real- ize they weren’t as attached to the local school system as they’d thought. That, in turn, propelled them to expand their search radius when looking for a new home. It paid Rಀ,Q$SULOWKH-XVWXVȆPRYHGWRDQ LG\OOLFDFUHIDUPLQ2OLQ1RUWK&DUROLQD about an hour north of Charlotte, and Cara
ZDVDEOHWRPDNHKHUKRUVHࡼOOHGGUHDPV a reality. As the family settled into farm life, the horses started coming. But Cara didn’t let her career move to the back burner. She spends her days in meetings, reviewing investments, and prepping for clients, and her free time on family activities and the farm. She’s thankful for Compass Financial Partners and MMA and says it wouldn’t be possible without their support. “Most of our team members are animal lov- ers. They’re invested in what we’re doing and are always very supportive,” she says. &DUDSXUFKDVHGKHUࡼUVWKRUVH7XFNHULQ -XQH6KRUWO\DIWHUZDUGWKH\EURXJKW home CC, short for Cookies and Cream. Unbeknownst to the Justus family, CC was SUHJQDQWDQGJDYHELUWKWRDVXUSULVHࡼOO\RQ (DVWHURI7KH\QDPHGKHU(DVWHU6XQGD\
CARA WORKS FROM HER HOME OFFICE IN HER FAMILY'S FARMHOUSE. IN HER ROLE AS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICE AT COMPASS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, AN MMA COMPANY, CARA PREPARES MATERIALS FOR CLIENT MEETINGS, REVIEWS RETIREMENT PLANS AND INVESTMENTS, FACILITATES CHANGES, AND SUPPORTS FINANCIAL ADVISORS.
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COMPASSION
CARA, HER HUSBAND ISAAC, AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN SPEND THEIR FREE TIME TENDING TO THEIR ASSORTMENT OF PURCHASED AND RESCUED HORSES. CARA AND ISAAC DO THE MAJORITY OF THE CARE WHILE THE KIDS HELP OUT IN MORE AGE-APPROPRIATE WAYS. CARA IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE A CAREER THAT SHE LOVES AND THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS TO FOLLOW HER DREAMS.
Cara says she’s happy she can have #27)"'8/Ϝ//*1( career and the 23325781*7< to follow her 3"66*2162876*%& 2'7)&2ϗ$&Ԇ
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