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Alliance Faculty Spotlight: Richard Dunnam on Teaching Insurance with Empathy

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This content was created with assistance from The Risk & Insurance Education Alliance’s AI Knowledge Bot, AlliBotAll content has been reviewed, edited, and published by humans to ensure accuracy, quality, and integrity.

Richard Lee Dunnam-Méndez, CPCU, MBA-RM, AAI, AMIM, AINS, AIS currently teaches CISR and Dynamics of Selling Programs. Richard’s CISR webinars are taught in Spanish, expanding access to professional education across cultures and languages. His journey into the insurance and risk management industry began more than forty years ago, almost by chance. Yet it quickly became clear that he was exactly where he needed to be

Over the years, Richard worked as a producer, adjuster, underwriter, and appraiser, roles that revealed the human stories behind every policy. His teaching often includes stories of families rebuilding after loss, businesses recovering from setbacks, and individuals trying to make sense of unexpected challenges. These experiences shaped his perspective and instilled in him a deep commitment to teaching. For Richard, education is not just about technical expertise; it is about helping others serve with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.

One of his most memorable teaching moments occurred during a Dynamics of Selling course with a group of young producers from a corporate client. The discussion centered on how empathy and technical knowledge work together in the sales process. Suddenly, a participant paused and said, “This is the first time anyone has explained insurance to me in a way that feels human.” Richard said at that moment, you could feel the shift, from selling to truly serving.

For Richard, it was a powerful confirmation of why teaching matters: when someone realize they are not just learning insurance but learning how to connect with people at their most vulnerable moments. It is these transformations that fuel Richard’s passion for teaching.

His favorite part of the process is witnessing the exact moment when a concept clicks, not just intellectually, but emotionally. In insurance education, that moment often comes when participants realize they are not learning “sales tactics,” but discovering how to guide, support, and protect people. 

For Richard, those breakthroughs are exhilarating, and they reaffirm his belief that teaching is about more than sharing knowledge, it is about shaping professionals who serve with heart.

Connect. Learn. Own Your Potential.

Click below to dive deeper with Richard and other Alliance Faculty!

Richard Dunnam is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and a licensed Public Adjuster in Puerto Rico. He is a frequently sought insurance instructor, as well as an expert court witness in Puerto Rico for property and casualty insurance claims lawsuits. Richard is owner and manager for Risk Services of PR, LLC; Puerto Rico Drone Services, LLC; and Risk & Insurance Educational Services, LLC. These represent Richard’s services that provide the full scope and breadth of his knowledge, skills, and expertise to treat loss exposures and manage claims scenarios. Fluent in Spanish and English, Richard’s educational and professional development background includes a BA in Business Administration, and an MBA in Risk Management. He also holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, the Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation, the Associate in Marine Insurance Management (AMIM) designation, the Associate in Insurance Services (AINS) designation, and the California Earthquake Authority Adjuster Certificate (CEAAC) designation as well as other professional designations he has held throughout his career. Richard serves as a Risk Management and Insurance Educational Consultant for Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Since 1996, he has served The National Alliance (now known as the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance) CISR, CIC, Ruble, Dynamics of Selling, Dynamics of Service, and Producer School programs. Richard also coaches and prepares new producer and adjuster candidates for their Puerto Rico insurance license, and continuing education. Richard is also part of the Federal Aviation Agency as a safety risk manager for its FAA Safety Team, an FAA private aircraft pilot and commercial remote pilot instructor.

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