INTERVIEW
Lauren Kohr and
Jack Sonnenschein:
Obtaining a ‘world-class’
certification
Lauren Kohr
A
CAMS Today had the opportunity to sit down with two graduates of the
Advanced Certification program, which aims to provide financial crime profes-
sionals with the tools and knowledge to elevate their careers and skillset to a
top-tier level. The program consists of a three-day live program of lectures, discussions
and group exercises, and the contribution of a white paper on an approved topic.
ACAMS Today spoke with Lauren Kohr, CAMS-FCI, risk officer at Old Dominion
National Bank, and Jack Sonnenschein, CAMS-Audit, founder and principal of Com-
pliance Navigation LLC, about their experiences with the Advanced Certification pro-
gram and how it helps their careers.
ACAMS Today: What prompted you to pursue your Advanced
Certification?
Lauren Kohr: My passion resides in combating financial crimes. CAMS-FCI provides
a framework to develop the skills and expertise to identify and unveil complex finan-
cial crimes. Having my passion intersect with an opportunity to advance my knowl-
edge prompted me to pursue the opportunity. The result was an elite certification that
aligned with my professional interests and goals.
Jack Sonnenschein: There’s a saying, “If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling
behind!” AML is dynamic and constantly changing. Getting an Advanced Certifica-
tion demonstrated my desire to keep moving forward.
AT: Has the Advanced Certification helped you advance in your career
and/or in your day-to-day tasks? If so, how?
LK: The ACAMS Advanced Certification is seen as a world-class certification in the
industry. It has provided me increased credibility with regulators and industry profes-
sionals. Several opportunities that have complimented by career continue to transpire
based on the white paper I authored and professional relationships that were fostered
during the live program. From a day-to-day perspective, the knowledge and skills
obtained from the certification led me to enhance our AML program through new
typologies geared toward complex financial crimes, increased investigation standards
and effective suspicious activity reporting. The enhanced program has been praised
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