June 2026 - Supporting the Next Chapter of IMUA

At our Annual Meeting in San Antonio, I spoke about a few initiatives that I believe will play an important role in IMUA's future. Among them were the IMUA Advanced Builders Risk Forum and the Foundations of Inland Marine certification.

Neither of those efforts is a one-time project. Both are part of a broader commitment to providing our members with more opportunities to learn, connect, and grow professionally throughout their careers.

Since April, work on both initiatives has continued to move forward. Planning for the inaugural IMUA Advanced Builders Risk Forum is well underway, and our volunteer leaders and subject matter experts are making tremendous progress on the Foundations of Inland Marine (FIM) certification. At the same time, our committees continue to produce webinars, regional events, and educational content across a wide range of Inland Marine topics. If that wasn’t enough, in a matter of weeks, we'll begin planning for the 2027 Annual Meeting!

In other words, there is a lot happening at IMUA. That's a good problem to have.

The growth in our programs and activities reflects the engagement and enthusiasm of you, our amazing members. It also means we need the people and resources necessary to support that growth and continue delivering the level of experience our members expect.

With that in mind, I'm pleased to introduce Kayla Cook, who recently joined IMUA as our new Events & Operations Manager. Before joining IMUA, I spent a number of years leading the EdTech company Kodeco. During that time, Kayla joined our company, and I had the opportunity to see firsthand her ability to manage complex projects, support leaders, and keep a lot of moving pieces moving in the same direction. 

Kayla's work will touch many areas of the association. She will help support our committees administratively, coordinate our regional and national events, oversee the development of our certification program, and help ensure that members continue to receive responsive, high-quality service and support.

Many of you will likely have the opportunity to work with Kayla in the months and years ahead. Whether that's through a committee, an event, a webinar, or an educational initiative, I hope you'll join me in welcoming her to the IMUA community.

The Advanced Builders Risk Forum, the Foundations of Inland Marine certification, and the many other activities taking place across IMUA all share one thing: they are being built to serve our members and strengthen the Inland Marine community.

I'm excited about where those efforts are headed, and grateful for the support, expertise, and engagement that our members continue to bring to IMUA every day.

Matt