Get Prepared

Plan, Prepare, Produce

Prep Training Group is a certified insurance education provider since 1989. We have helped thousands prepare for licensing exams and continuing education renewal with courses that meet state requirements. Our clients include all of the major insurance companies and agencies in Illinois, and many nationally as well. Prep instructors are full-time teaching professionals who respect you and care about your future!

Pass, Guaranteed

Prep is fully certified by the Illinois Department of Insurance and offers all required pre-licensing courses, which must be completed before taking the exam. Our Unconditional Guarantee invites any student who fails an exam to retake that course within 6 months, tuition free. Additionally, all students have the instructor's email address and are encouraged to contact the instructor with any questions or concerns before taking an exam.

Expert, Caring Instruction

Insurance and securities classes are conducted in a professional learning environment by carefully trained, personable instructors who have plenty of field experience, but are also expert teachers. They understand how to engage students, make learning interesting and enjoyable, and explain difficult concepts. Prep instructors care about students and often maintain a professional and personal relationship with them long after the course is complete.

Through the use of visual aids, role playing, practical examples and in-class quizzes, students are fully prepared for state and federal examinations, and learn the basics of insurance and securities that will be an invaluable foundation in their professional career.

Cindy DiTusa Director/Owner My career in the financial services industry goes back to the mid 1980's. My experience includes working with a well known investment firm as a liaison between fund managers and institutional clients. I've also worked in the Outbrokerage office for a very large life insurer, and as a marketing manager of Medicare plans for a Chicago based HMO. As director and part owner of Prep Training Group, my duties include primary instructor and course development of our securities training classes, Life & Health and CE instructor, author and/or editor of various training manuals, and manager of the daily operations of our business. I'm married to my business partner (see below) and have two incredible kids, Claire and Elliott. My background before the financial services industry was music and music education. My favorite interests include traveling with my favorite travel partner, music, yoga and playing casual but competitive scrabble.

Russ DiTusa Director/Owner My insurance career began in the mid 1980's with a Property & Casualty insurer. My duties included sales, training and management. Since then, I've provided sales and product training, management and agency support for a number of different insurance companies, agencies, fraternals and a district office for a major insurer. I've also co-authored several insurance training manuals. My chief duties with Prep Training Group include primary instructor and course development for our Property & Casualty class, CE instructor and marketing manager. I've been happily married to a lovely woman (see above) for half of my life. I'm also the father to those two wonderful kids. My background before I got a real job was music performance. When I'm not thinking about insurance, my passions include music (of course), traveling, sports and photography.

Lori Budimir Instructor I've spent all of my adult life in the insurance industry. I started working as a teenager in my father's agency, and continued to work over 20 years, managing his multi-line agency. I also have some claims experience, and have worked in an insurance company's district office. Currently, I manage a Chicago branch office for a broker/dealer. I'm a former Prep Training Group student, and now the primary Life & Health instructor for Prep since 2005. I also teach a variety of our continuing education classes. I have two children, David and Michelle. My hobbies include dance, travel and working on my bi-lingual skills.

Bob Perkins Instructor My experience in the insurance industry goes back to the early 1970`s. I've worked as both a Regional Sales Manager and VP of Marketing for two of the leading insurance educational publishers. I've acted as an insurance educational consultant to over 100 major insurance companies, and trained over 10,000 agents. For the past 20 years, I've been the owner of Designed Learning Group www.designedlearninggroup.com an Indiana prelicensing and continuing education school based in Indianapolis. I'm the primary Property & Casualty and Life & Health instructor as well as director of the school. Russ, Cindy and I have been personal friends and business associates since 1985. Our training partnership includes prelicensing and continuing education. When I'm not working, you can find me in my boat on the Geist Reservoir in Indianapolis or playing with my grandkids.

Jan Sowa Administrative Assistant and Customer Service Rep My background is primarily in the Law Enforcement field where I've held a number of investigative and supervisory positions. I have a Masters degree from Lewis University in Leadership Studies. Since 2006, I've worked for Prep Training Group. My duties include customer and administrative services, and electronic reporting to the Department of Insurance. I'm married with a lovely daughter, Cayce. My hobbies include Brownie leader, softball coach and I'm very active as a school volunteer. If I have some spare time, I try to get in 9 holes of golf.

Meagan Hecht Marketing and Customer Service Rep My previous work experience was for a major insurance company's district office. My duties included marketing and administrative support for the district's agents. I am currently licensed with Property & Casualty and Life & Health. I have known Russ & Cindy since 2003, and have been working with Prep Training Group since 2009. My duties include customer service and marketing of our electronic newsletters. Whether it's getting you started with prelicensing classes or helping with continuing education, I look forward to working with you. In 2006, I married my high school sweetheart, Scott. I'm the proud new mother to our baby girl, Adalyn.