Janet Ruiz knows that the "astronomical" cost of the past two years of California wildfires is unsustainable and must be addressed in order to protect insurance availability. Ruiz joined the Insurance Information Institute (III) in January 2015 as the organization’s California representative, bringing with her 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. She currently serves as the organizations strategic communications director. Ruiz worked in underwriting, management, public affairs for 16 years at State Farm Insurance and nine years with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, the 150-year-old insurance company that specialized in entertainment, commercial and high net worth homeowners insurance.

At Fireman’s Fund, Ruiz was responsible for external communications, including strategic communication planning and media relations. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey. She earned a chartered property and casualty underwriter designation (CPCU) and an associate’s designation in management from the Insurance Institute of America. Born and raised in Alameda, California, Ruiz returned to the state in 1989.