M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Thriving Under Forty — August 2026 — 9
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T hriving U nder F orty “Invest in relationships, make networking a priority, learn to listen & never stop asking questions.” NFP assistant VP Alex Schum helps clients navigate environmental risk
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Additionally, my mentor, Chris Alviggi, has played a sig - nificant role in my professional development by providing nu - merous opportunities to work on complex transactions and demonstrating how to navigate them effectively to achieve the best outcomes for clients. What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time? I enjoy fishing and golf - ing, both of which provide an opportunity to get outside, slow down and spend meaningful time with others. What inspiring word of continued on page 38
hat is your most notable project, deal or transac-
needed to overcome to be- come as successful as you are today? One of the biggest challenges was establishing credibility early in my career. Many of the most valuable learning experiences come from working on complex and challenging transactions, but opportunities can be limited for younger professionals. Fortunately, my role has exposed me to a wide variety of deals and industries, acceler - ating my learning and helping me develop expertise across a broad range of environmental risk scenarios.
Alex Schum Assistant Vice President NFP, an Aon Company Years with company/firm: 2 Years in field/Industry: 8 Years in real estate industry: 4 Real estate organizations / affiliations: ICSC
tion? Placement of a complex, multiyear environmental in - surance program for a large warehouse portfolio with vari - ous transactional and envi - ronmental risk requirements. As the client has continued to expand through acquisi - tions, the program has grown alongside, providing tailored risk transfer solutions that support ongoing transactions and portfolio development. How do you contribute to your company and/or the industry? I help buyers, sellers and investors navigate environmental risks that can impact transactions, identify - ing solutions that keep deals moving forward. By leveraging pollution liability insurance and other specialized risk manage - ment strategies, I also work closely with professionals across our Real Estate, Private Equity, M&A, Energy and Sports prac - tices to address environmental challenges and create success - ful outcomes for clients. Who or what has been the strongest influence in your career? My father. He taught me the value of hard work, pa - tience and how to connect with people from all backgrounds and perspectives. Those lessons continue to shape how I build relationships and approach challenges today. Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current posi- tion and why you choose the field/profession you are in today? I began my career in P&C insurance to build a strong foundation across traditional coverage lines, later working in personal lines where I saw firsthand how insurance decisions impact individuals and families. As my career progressed, I sought to develop expertise in a specialized area and ultimately found my niche in environmen - tal insurance. Today, I help clients manage environmental risks through insurance solu - tions that support transac - tions, protect investments and drive business growth. What were some of your early goals and did any- thing happen to change them? Early in my career, my goal was to learn as much as I could on all insurance lines, but specifically to
combine technical expertise with problem-solving on complex transactions. What challenges and/or obstacles do you feel you
become an expert in a spe - cialized area of insurance. I ultimately found my niche in environmental insurance, where I have been able to
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