33 minute read
93 With Over 40 Years Experience
Thank you to all who contributed to this feature. When we first started this project, we were unsure if we would be able to meet our goal of 40 professionals with more than 40 years of experience. However, we were overwhelmed with more than 90 responses, and I think you will enjoy reading the memories and stories as much as we did. As we spoke to agents, we were reminded of how business was done 40 years ago. Computers were not on the horizon. You told us about Pro Rate Cancellation factor wheels, Rapid Rater books and Sanborn fire maps. But one thing remains clear, everyone loves this industry and helping their clients understand insurance and playing a major role in their community. Things are quite a bit different and are ever-changing. Who knows what the business will look like in 40 more years…
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Favorite Memory: Having my two sons take over the operation and continuation of numerous civic awards my agency has received.
Best Part of being an
Many opportunities to help others throughout my 60 years in insurance.
the agency.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I pride myself on providing the best customer service to all of our clients.
Chris Houk Houk Insurance Agency 65 years
Favorite Memory: The people I have met and still know from my years in the insurance business.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Having been in business in a small
Robert W. Shipp North Hardin Insurance 60 years
Favorite Memory: The
Insurance Professional: town and having the support of my many friends over the years.
Jean Salyer French Cline Insurance 59 years
Favorite Memory: My first trip with my father to a client’s home to take pictures and write insurance. We enjoyed visiting, drinking coffee and discussing insurance.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: Having the opportunity to work with people and find the perfect insurance plan to suit their needs. James “Tom” Smith Smith-Manus 58 years
Favorite Memory:
When Jack Manus and I started Smith-Manus. The first client who paid us a premium gave us more confidence in our ability to succeed in insurance.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: Working for myself and having control over my agency. Michael D. Hepp Charles M. Moore 56 years
Favorite Memory:
Numerous favorite memories of my career, which all deal with Association Service.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: Helping clients, developing relationships with members over the 56 years I have worked in insurance and Association networking with other agencies.
Robert “Bobby” Clarkson RH Clarkson Insurance 56 years
Favorite Memory: I started my career selling individual health insurance policies at the Kentucky State Fair.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I have always enjoyed meeting people, especially learning and sharing with business people. My entire business has been built on my attitude, effort and persistence. We must give our clients our best, every single time.
Favorite Memory: I once owned a mutual insurance company that enabled me to meet agents from across the state and formed some great relationships. I fondly remember the good times at the Big “I” conventions at the Galt House during the 70s.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Insurance is complicated and confusing. I enjoy helping people understand why they need insurance and what insurance can and cannot do for them.
Raymond Nelson Raymond Nelson Insurance Agency, Inc. 55 years
Favorite Memory: I worked for my first boss when I started selling life insurance for 10 years. He taught me work ethic and explained to me you can have anything you want in life if you put the hours in and treat people the way you want to be treated. I have tried to live by this my entire career and have been blessed by this industy.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I am able to be myself and pursue my passion. I still have some of my first clients, and that is truly rewarding.
E. David Meena Durett Insurance 53 years
Favorite Memory: The first account I wrote as an Independent Agent was a $1 million account.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I love being creative, and I think it’s important to stay one step ahead of the competition.
Robert “Bobby” Wilson Wilson Insurance Agency 51 years
Favorite Memory: I have a client who lives about an hour from my office. When I asked why he always drives to the office to pay his premium, instead of mailing it, he responded with, “I just wanted to come visit with you.”
Brenda Berryman Limestone Agency 50 years
Favorite Memory: I have so many memories from agents, co-workers, underwriters, adjusters and customers! Jouett Hoffman and Floyd Jack Ison hired me at 18 years old, just graduated from high school and married. I stayed in the business because I have always been a talker and enjoyed meeting people.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I love speaking with customers at my desk about any type of insuance they are wanting, but I couldn’t have done it without my coworkers who are always willing to help! Deborah “Debbie” Hunter Hyland Insurance Agency 49 years
Favorite Memory: I had a wonderful opportunity to work in different parts of the US for Fireman’s Fund as a Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter in six different branch offices from the West Coast to the Midwest for 22 years. I also was fortunate enough to learn different locales, meet new people and develop lifetime relationships all over the country.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: My favorite part about my role as an insurance professional is the people. I enjoy having the ability to help and be there for my clients from both an internal (in-house) and an external (companies and insureds) standpoint through mentoring, guidance and reliability.
Favorite Memory: I loved working with my dad in the agency’s early days. When he passed away at 61 years old, I was young, and he left me in charge. At first it was frightening, but we made it.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I enjoyed helping people and turning clients into friends. This industry has been good to my family!
Fran Ramsey Morgan, Trevathan & Gunn, Inc. 49 years
Favorite Memory from your Career: Knowing and working with my coworkers for 49 years. Pete T. Gunn, III hired me in 1971, and I worked for him for over 46 years until he passed. Pete was a remarkable boss who would always help his insureds and employees with any problem. I have worked with many people at MTG for over 30 and 40 years. When you work with people for so long, they become part of your family. They will always be dear friends to me, and I will always cherish the memories I have with each person.
Favorite Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part was the opportunity to learn the insurance business and the different insurance software systems that our agency has used. I have enjoyed working on the Automation Committee, going to the AMS conventions and classes and teaching the products to our staff. When I started working at MTG, we used a batch computer system, but now, we are almost paperless because of new technology. Over the years, I have seen many technological changes.
George “Buddy” Wilson Crabtree-Wilson Insurance Agency, Inc. 49 years
Favorite Memory: I went after an account for 9 years before writing it, and I still have the account after 38 years! I also enjoyed my time serving as IIAK President in 1988.
John Dyer Carr, Jr. Carr Insurance Agency 48 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory is the wonderful friendships I have made with customers and different company reps. The purchase of my office building, after renting, is close to the top of my list. My daughter joined the agency full-time after graduating college, and we have been working together almost 25 years now, making work a home away from home. I guess that’s why I’m still working and haven’t retired yet.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I enjoyed helping people become more knowledgeable about their insurance needs and making lifelong friendships.
Favorite Memory: When I started in the business, happen to our clients.
there were 3 rating classes to quote automobile liability insurance: 1A, 2A and 2C. We had a simple one page rate chart that you quickly glimpse at and quote in less than a minute. Most of the time, we had the rate chart memorized and could provide a quote immediately.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The constant changes that occur daily in the industry still keeps me energized and interested, even though, it is sometimes hard to keep up with.
Alan Ramsay Al Torstrick Miller Hoffman Limestone Agency 48 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory involves me working with my father, attending IIAK conventions in the 80s at the Galt House Hotel and making good friends all over the state.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is being able to help when bad things 48 years
Favorite Memory: My longest client received a quote from an HMO Direct Writer that was better than the one I gave her. She refused to use the other agent. When she made a phone call to the claims number, they informed her that I didn’t work for that company. She called me in a panic, but I insisted I was her agent even though I had to get her policy through a different company.
Gary Thornsberry Thornsberry Insurance 48 years
Favorite Memory: I was an accounting major and wanted to be in the FBI. However, my dad and uncle were in insurance. My uncle won a trip to London but couldn’t go, so I went instead. While in London, I spoke with an underwriter at Lloyd’s of London. I didn’t think insurance was “logical” but understood it better after talking with the underwriter.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Every day is different, and I enjoy having the Deborah Cordle Joe Young Insurance 47 years
Favorite Memory: One of my favorite memories is the relationships that I have built with customers, underwriters, field representatives and other insurance professionals over the years.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part o is helping customers protect their livelihood with insurance coverage, and when a claim opportunity to help people.
occurs, the customers thank you for being there and helping them during such a tramatic time in their life.
Linda Hoard M. Parker Insurance, LLC. 47 years
Favorite Memory: I began working for an insurance agency while I was in high school. I was hired by Roscoe Jackson and learned a great deal from sitting at a desk across the room from him. I listened to him interact with clients, underwriters, etc. He was regarded as one of the top insurance professionals in the industry. After his death, I was hired by E. Starling Holloway and worked for him for many years. “Mr. H” was also considered a top insurance professional in Kentucky. He had a great sense of humor, and I laugh when former coworkers and I reminisce about the funny things he did over the years. I feel fortunate to have worked for both of these outstanding men and remember them both fondly.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I enjoy working on small business accounts and helping them grow. It is satisfying to help an individual go from working a full-time job and working for himself on weekends to resigning and working for himself full time. Then, he will grow the business and hire his own employees.
Lee Askew Cumberland Valley 46 years
Favorite Memory: After many phone calls to the claims manager at Liberty Mutual, I developed a romantic relationship with her and married her! We were married for 37 years before she passed and had three children.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I take my job as an insurance professional very personal, and I do that because I love to help people.
Kevin Desmond Desmond Insurance 46 years
Favorite Memory: I have 2 brothers who served as IIAK Presidents, Dennis Desmond (1997) and Michael Desmond (1974). I will have the pleasure of being Chair in 2022.
Karen O’Hara Hyland, Block & Hyland 46 years
Favorite Memory: Going to a two-day convention in Chicago representing my agency as the appointed Kentucky provided for The Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons National Insurance Company. This carrier only writes and insures oral and maxillofacial surgeons and uses one agency per state to service their accounts. The speakers not only knew the coverage side but also the business side of insurance creating both a personal and professional vested interest in its success. They realized how each claim affected the company’s bottom line and how it affected the named insured and the settlement of a malpractice claim for the sake of “cutting the losses” of the carrier.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Learning the intricacies of the coverages and realizing the more I learn, the less I know. With each change in the world view itself, we come up with new coverage needs – EPLI, cyber, terrorism, communicable virus. Things that didn’t even exist when I started and how we change our thoughts each day to help our clients address these needs.
Favorite Memory: I traveled to Clay County, KY to insure a rented home. The tenants had several young children, and I let the children take pictures with my polaroid camera. After taking pictures of the house and sending them in, I received notice that my submission was rejected and that I was being reported to the authorities for child pornography. One of the children snuck into the photo when I wasn’t looking and was posing nude on the front porch. I informed the underwriter this is a part of Appalachian culture for children to play in little to no clothing. I learned from that point to always review my submissions and pictures thrououghly.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Forming personal relationships and building trust/respect for my suggestions when meeting and talking with customers who do not feel they need, want or have a certain type of coverage and then have a claim actually needing what I suggested.
Ron Smedley Risk Placement Services, Inc. (RPS) 45+ years
Favorite Memory: Facilitating an in-house business study at my previous company (W.E Kingsley Co.) for several weeks on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. Fourteen of our associates completed the study of the book and the exercise was a relationship builder. Everyone learned new things and shared views of the many habits in the book.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Easily, the amazing people that I have developed connections with 3 different sectors of the industry: insurance carriers, retail clients and professional intermediary competitors. My greatest lesson is, “Do things the right way and practice unselfishness, everything will work out fine.”
Agnes Yates North Hardin Agency 45+ years
Favorite Memory: I have so many memories from over the years. It would be hard to name just one with so many kind phone calls, cards and flowers. I have developed numerous friendships throughout my years as an insurance professional.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: As a Commercial Lines Manager, I really enjoyed helping new clients, explaining the many types of insurance to fit the needs of their business.
Bradford Blain Al Torstrick 45 years
Favorite Memory: I wouldn’t have many memories if it weren’t for the great people/clients I get to work with.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is my ability to help people. Sandra Blain Al Torstrick 45 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memories would have to be when I was IIAK President in 2010.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: All the friendships I have made with other agencies and customers.
Mark Bruckert Fusting and Dugan Insurance, LLC. 45 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory is working and learning the business from my father, Jack Bruckert, who started our family agency. His honesty, perseverance and hard work for his clients was something I have tried to emulate for 45 years in the insurance business.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part of is providing my clients peace of mind and seeing that their claims are paid fairly and promptly.
Melinda Cornell Glass Thompson Insurance 45 years
Favorite Memory: I have enjoyed meeting so many associates and clients over the years. Each have provided a wealth of knowledge and presented many challenging opportunities to learn more about this industry and the people associated.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Through the vast products and programs available, I feel I have helped others pursue their personal and business dreams, while providing the financial security needed for them to succeed.
Mark Dexter Sam Dexter Insurance Agency, Inc. 45 years
Favorite Memory: In 2005, I attended my first regional meeting as a new agent representing Auto-Owners Insurance Co. In the front of the ballroom, there was a large banner which proclaimed, “We’re in business to write business.” I soon learned the company was serious about building genuine relationships with field underwriters, as well as, regional office personnel. Their dedication to serving clients was a breath of fresh air to me.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Providing peace of mind protection and facilitating payments for losses incurred by customers is especially gratifying.
Kenneth Goins Franklin Goins Insurance Agency, Inc. 45 years
Favorite Memory: Everything in my career has been about people. My friends turn into clients, other clients turn into friends and their children and grandchildren turn into clients.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I have never considered this a job. This has been my career.
Ruth Kirkpatrick Boontucky Insurance Service 45 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory is starting my own agency in 2004.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The honor of giving my clients great customer service is at the top of my list.
Vicki Frye Lawton Insurance 45 years
Favorite Memory: I have worked for agencies and companies in 6 states and have met many people and made many lifelong friends along the way.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: Building relationships with my customers and helping them find the best coverage at the best price. I, also, enjoy being there when they have a claim because that is when they need us most.
Linnie Claywell Kiely Hines & Associates 44 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory would have to be receiving my Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1990.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: The best part would have to be all the people I met over the years and knowing that I work in a business designed to help people.
Beverly Hatfield Hummel Hatfield Insurance 44 years
Favorite Memory: Moving from a claims adjuster to working in a family-owned agency with my husband and son.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: Meeting new people and being able to help clients with their insurance needs. I love educating people on the different types of insurance.
David Houk Houk Insurance Agency 44 years
Favorite Memory: I enjoyed serving on the IIAK Board of Directors and then as Chair in 2016.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Being able to help my customer through difficult times makes all my hard work as an agent worthwhile.
Alex LaRue LaRue-Carey Insurance Group 44 years
Favorite Memory: I have three favorite memories. In 1992, my father sold the agency to me. My second and third memories are from when my sons, Aaron and Jack, joined the agency.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is the people, working with customers to meet their needs and working with an awesome staff.
Jack Martin Glenn E. Martin Insurance 44 years
Favorite Memory: My first week on the job involved me sitting next to my dad’s desk. I fondly remember being hugged by an insured whose home was totally destroyed by fire. She was so appreciative of us having the proper coverage at her time of need. She still thanks me everytime we see each other.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: The best part is providing valuable advice and helping people protect their dreams.
Tim Murphy Harbor Insurance Agency 44 years
Favorite Memory: I enjoyed my time in young agents, going to conferences at Cumberland State Park and developing lifelong relationships. I can’t forget serving as IIAK President in 1992. It has been a priviledge to work with my two sons, Adam and John.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: It was so rewarding to be a local business leader and help people when they need it most, especially after a large loss.
Cyndee Pedersen Assured Partners - Louisville 44 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory was getting to ride along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay in the Goodyear blimp. Our client was a huge Goodyear distributor.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: The best part is constantly growing and learning, while developing relationships with my clients and carrier colleagues.
Rollin “Buddy” Underwood Cook, Downing and Underwood 44 years
Favorite Memory: When we would have an ice storm or hail storm, we were able to help everyone!
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: I enjoy being a part of the independent agency system. Charles Fox Tarter & Roberts 43 years Favorite Memory: All the good people and relationships that God has blessed me with. Also, I had a farm insured and a tenant house on the property. The insured wanted to double his coverage because he had a bootlegger on the property, and they were afraid the bootlegger was going to burn the house down!
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: When claims were paid, it was help to insure those who needed to get their homes rebuilt. This was very gratifying to me knowing I was able to help them.
Cherie Brewer Sterling Thompson Company 43 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory was when I received my Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: I enjoyed educating and helping my insureds. Sue Orth C.K. Ash & Associates 43 years Favorite Memory: For a few years, I taught insurance licensing classes for new agents. I felt like by helping new agents start out on the right foot, I was giving back to the industry that gave me so much.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: The best part is the people I have met, worked with and worked for. There were many that made quite the impression on my life, and I hope I had the same impact on them as well.
Robert “Bob” Fletcher Intellectual Property Insurance Services 43 years
Favorite Memory: Getting Connecticut Indemnity to be the carrier for our Patent Enforcement Insurance policy.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: We level the playing field by providing our clients with money to protect their intellectual property and
products from infringement.
Scott D. Pippen Bluegrass Insurance Agency 43 years
Favorite Memory: It was a pleasure meeting the Lloyd’s of London head of regulatory in the London headquarters, as well as visiting the trading floor and meeting with several underwriters. I also had the opportunity to fly in a helicopter, 60 miles, into the Gulf of Mexico with a marine engineer and landed on an oil platform to inspect the damage for a “loss of hole” claim.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: I am blessed to have met so many influential people and learned about so many different types of businesses and how they operate.
Favorite Memory: My first life insurance policy with a P & C client in the agency. I went with a binder full of information to share. The home had no air conditioning, and it was hot. I went through the binder, wrote the application and issued the policy.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Listening and communicating with clients, so we can assist them with all of their needs with a wide variety of insurance products and carriers.
Virginia “Jean” Troll Houchens Curneal Hignite Insurance 43 years
Favorite Memory: I don’t have one favorite memory in particular. I have had a great career and enjoyed meeting and working with some great people.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I enjoy helping customers get the coverage they need and developing relationships along the way.
Favorite Memory: In 2008, Intellectual Property Insurance Services Corporation (IPISC) had an insured claim and was sued for patent infringement on one of his best-selling products (this threatened his business’s viability, should he lose). IPISC and the carrier, Gotham Insurance Company, stood by the insured throughout the years of litigation, even through the US Supreme Court where the insured won the suit and received an award of compensation. This case is now considered one of the landmark patent cases in the last 10 years and the result has altered the way patent cases in the US are litigated. We continue to see this case cited in legal documents and are very proud that IPISC and the carrier whoplayed such an important role to help the insured continue his business and make patent litigation history.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: In our industry, we sell all kinds of innovative ideas and products from our insureds. It has been a pleasure serving these insureds to help protect their inventions, products and businesses. Ethel Welsh Limestone Agency 43 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory is having the courtyard garden at Thomas Woodford Insurance. I helped with gardening and always had afternoon tea with my coworkers and clients.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: I enjoy getting to know the clients and coworkers and their families. I truly enjoy helping others by providing the best possible coverage at the best prices for my clients. A lot of my farm and commercial clients have my personal cell number and are comfortable to contact me at any time.
Tom Wheeler Peel & Holland 43 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory with the Big I happened in the 80s. We would go the Big I KY conventions at the Galt House. At that time a lot of our companies had branch offices in Louisville. The underwriters and the assistants would come over to the company hospitality suites and we could put names with faces. I built a lot of good relationships during those times. I also met agents from other areas of the state and we exchanged selling ideas, as well as, find out about markets we didn’t represent.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I always enjoyed getting a new client and becoming their trust advisor. They depended on me to give them insurance advice as their business grew. It was always gratifying to see them succeed and to get to work with the next generation of that business’ owners.
Malcolm Blane Higgins Insurance 42 years
Favorite Memory: I have many favorite memories: being active in Young Agents, becoming Chairman in 1990, running the Insurance Youth Golf Classic from 1988-1990 and taking our 1988 Kentucky winners to the National Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The network of peer agents and friends I made from Young Agents was invaluable to my career.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is helping to build and grow our agency with a culture dedicated to serving others. For 15+ consecutive years, we have been an IIABA Best Practices Agency, and that’s something to be proud of!
Favorite Memory: I enjoyed have the opportunity to work with my son and helping him get started in the insurance business.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: It is truly rewarding knowing that you have taken care of clients for years, so well, that they send their children to me for insurance when they start out on their own. Phyllis Earlywine Limestone Agency 42 years
Favorite Memory: My time working as an underwriter with Ohio Casualty is one of my favorite memories.
Favorite Part of being an
Insurance Professional: I enjoy working with the public and working with different personalities. I also enjoy trying to make things easier for all my clients.
Fred Foltz III Woodall Agency, Inc. 42 years
Favorite Memory: Getting involved with Young Agents was an extremely rewarding experience. I leared a lot and gained many friends. My involvement in Young Agents was one of the most important decisions I made as a new agent.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: The best part is the impact helping people has had on me. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of knowing I helped someone.
Jeanine Fowler Al Torstrick Insurance Agency 42 years
Favorite Memory: Sandra Blain and I always travel to the annual AMS Convention together. It was always a good time and took me to many interesting places.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I have seen a wide array of personal and commercial losses that have taken on a life of their own. There is never a dull moment in the insurance business and providing clients with the help they need has been a great career.
Jay Hall Insurance Associates, Inc. 42 years
Favorite Memory: I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to attend the Young Agents Conference at Lake Cumberland and Insurance Conventions at The Galt House in the 1980s. I have met so many amazing people and made lifelong friendships. I received the E. Starling Holloway Insuror of the Year Award in 2018, and it was the highlight of my career.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I enjoy helping people and solving difficult to place risks.
Peggy Kroger Insurance Svcs of Northern KY 42 years
Favorite Memory: I thoroughly enjoyed starting as a policy typist.
Best Part of being an
Insurance Professional: The client relationships you build are life-changing. I always look forward to speaking to people, learning their situation and providing courage that fits their needs. Gary Mabry E.J. Mabry Insurance Services, Inc. 42 years
Favorite Memory: It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help people and make a difference in their life.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: Essentially, our industry was designed to help people when they are experiencing crisis. I enjoy being a part of a community dedicated to serving their clients in the best way possible.
Favorite Memory: It’s a priceless blessing, being able to work everyday with my family. My husband, son and brother work with me at the office!
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: You get to know your clients so well that they become lifelong friends who feel like family.
Jeffri Northcut Hyland Insurance 42 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory is when we moved to transactional filing back in the early 90s. We had to figure it all out online and trust our computers. It seemed quite out of the ordinary that people would stay late, but we soon realized everyone was trying to be the last one out, so they could sneak a peek at the paper again. Busted!
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Having something to learn, a project to do and people to help -- our industry certainly provides all of that, particularly in the independent agency system.
Frank Rassiga ONI Risk Partners 42 years
Favorite Memory: I still get excited thinking about obtaining my first commercial insured who is still a client today.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: We, as insurance professionals, make a huge difference with the long-term success of our insured’s business. Tallu Smith Smith Insurors 42 years
Favorite Memory: In 1999, there was a flood in Cynthiana. Land lines were down, so people had their cell phones. Insureds would drive by and were happy to see their insurance agents working every day. The agency made cold-cut sandwiches for insureds and the National Guard.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: I was able to give advice to people when buying their first house or first car, even if I didn’t write their policy. I especially looked forward to helping the young clients who didn’t understand what they were buying.
Favorite Memory: I am blessed to be working with such an amazing business partner, April Fair. She is a very special person.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: The people you meet and work with will always be the best part about this profession.
Russ Wardlaw Insuramax, Inc. 42 years
Favorite Memory: It is difficult to name just one, but a fond and rewarding memory was the day I transitioned over to the independent agency side of our business. The first 12 years of my insurance career was spent on the company side which provided outstanding training and opportunities.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: My favorite part of our business has always been the relationship-building process with my customers and developing strong business partnerships and friendships. Secondly, the opportunity to make a difference in an insureds life after they experience a loss and having the ability to make them whole again.
Rob Wessel Central Insurance Services 41 years
Favorite Memory: One of my favorite memories was the thrill of writing my first commercial lines account. In 1980, I started fresh out of college with the world’s largest insurance broker and was given a stack of D&B cards to cold call. After visiting 100 accounts in my first month, one CFO told me they wanted to switch agencies but wanted to stay with the same insurance company. That is when I learned of an agent of record letter. The premium was about $9,000 which seemed huge to me at the time and I was thrilled to have made my first sale. This account has become especially important to me and I still have it today.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is the camaraderie developed with fellow employees, underwriters, agents and clients. I have made many friends in our wonderful industry. Many long-term clients have become long-term friends. The respect and professionalism among agents is extraordinary. I continually encourage young people to join the insurance industry because of the many opportunities for growth and the special camarderie that exists in our business.
Mary Britt Patriot Group, LLC. 41 years
Favorite Memory: Back in the day, I received an invitation to Westfield Insurance Company’s annual celebration of agency CSRs. We were flown to the Westfield Center in Ohio and were treated like royalty from the minute we got off the plane. Westfield wined and dined us, surprised us with gifts daily and provided non-stop fun and games for our entire stay.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: The best part is when my clients show appreciation for the stellar customer service that I pride myself on providing. After 41 years, the enjoyment I get from that interaction motivates me to always do my best for every customer.
Favorite Memory: I’m honored to have worked for Gerry Hignite.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Most people do not like or understand insurance, but they know they need it. I like helping people understand and make decisions on their insurance needs. I enjoy building relationships with people.
Lynn Colyer Reed Brothers Insurance Services, Inc. 41 years
Favorite Memory: I was told you will either hate this business or love it. I am one of the lucky ones because I love it! Too many wonderful memories to name just one.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I honestly still love coming to work, interacting with customers and learning something new every day. I love that our industry is rewarding, interesting, challenging and enables me to develop lifelong relationships.
Alma Cornett Frazier Insurance Agency 41 years
Tim Conder Insuramax, Inc. 41 years
Favorite Memory: I enjoyed serving as Big I KY Chair 2012.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: Your clients show so much gratitude for educating them on something about insurance that they had no idea about. Helping them fix problems is a very rewarding experience.
Favorite Memory: One of my most favorite memories is driving into the rural mountains of Eastern Kentucky with fresh produce and candy for our customers we did not see often enough. Being greeted with those warm smiles of people who didn’t expect to see us just showing up with vegetables still makes me smile and laugh to this day.
Best Part of being an Insurance Professional: I feel blessed to have been an insurance agent in a small community where I have been able to become a main-street fixture and a big part of daily life. I have been able to develop many friendships from clients who come into my office, not only for insurance services, but to say hello, spend time and allow me into their lives. Insurance has provided me with countless ways to put smiles on local faces, such as giving out treats at Halloween, parades at Christmas and many sporting events our agency has been involved with. I can’t think of a better career for a people person!
Gerald “Jerry” Ditsler Ditsler Insurance Agency, LLC. 41 years
Favorite Memory: Just recently, a long-time PH called me to say thank for giving them a recommendation 31 years ago. I told them to bring their 401k into the office, and I would review it to ensure they were properly invested for their age. I noticed thay had 100% in a low-yield fixed account and recommended they move it into a more agressive stock option available. They took my advice, and now, it is worth over $400,000.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: My favorite part about working in insurance is helping people make something as complicated as insurance easy for them to understand. Sandy Downs Kiely Hines 41 years
Favorite Memory: I got to travel to Texas and Alabama to present a $5,000 grant to the Local Fire Department to purchase new turn out gear for the firefighters and thermal imaging equipment to help them locate people caught in fires.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: Your clients show so much gratitude for educating them on something about insurance that they had no idea about. Helping them fix problems is a very rewarding experience. Stan Gentry Limestone Agency 41 years
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory would have to be paying out my first life insurance claim for $100,000 and seeing how much it meant to the survivor. I also helped an older couple find affordable health insurance and reduce their rates by 60 percent.
Best Part of being an Insurance
Professional: Everyday is different. After 40 years, I still enjoy what I do and talking to other people.
