UP & COMER
An occasional CEO Update series about people who are making an impact while moving up the ranks in associations

Cadin

Marc Cadin went from teaching civics to seventh graders to learning lobbying on the job. Now he leads the government affairs program at the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, where he's helped train a formidable cadre of grassroots advocates.

"It was more challenging [at first] because I didn't know anybody on Capitol Hill," said Cadin, senior vice president of government affairs. But many of AALU's members had hometown connections, and so Cadin said he was welcomed into congressional offices. "It was not difficult to build relationships in light of the resources I had."

It was a relationship with AALU CEO David Stertzer that started Cadin on his career path. He was teaching and coaching sports at a Virginia school where Stertzer's children were enrolled. Stertzer hired Cadin for the summer break, then brought him on full time in June 2001.

Cadin, now 39, "had an affinity for the political process; he really had a desire and an ambition there," Stertzer said. "He's grown in the role and he's actually grown the role around him."

Stertzer said Cadin has been instrumental in sharing his vision and bringing the group to where it is today. With annual revenues of $3.5 million when Cadin started as the 12th employee, now AALU has revenue of $11.5 million and 27 staffers, including 12 in government affairs.

Key programs Cadin has helped grow and develop: The IMPACT political training program for members, primarily life insurance agents and distributors. In addition to a large fly-in each spring, AALU brings groups of 30 to 40 members to Washington six to eight times each year for intense grassroots training. Personal relationships with members of Congress are closely tracked and verified. And as part of the Issues Alliance program, he has raised considerable money from insurance carriers and related companies to finance these advocacy efforts.

"The whole goal for us is really about facilitating relationships between our members, and members of Congress," Cadin said.

UP CLOSE with Marc Cadin
First job: Playing and teaching lacrosse for a club in England
Pivotal career moment: Meeting David Stertzer, Association for Advanced Life Underwriting CEO
Proudest achievement: Building the GR team at AALU
Most public move: Running for Virginia House of Delegates in 2007 as a GOP candidate (He lost 47%-53% to the incumbent.)
Words of wisdom: Listen first, talk second.