Q&A with ALEXIS BURNS

Meet Alexis Burns, winner of the 2021 Young Agent Award and executive vice president of Burns & Burns Insurance, in Clarion, PA.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Shortly after joining the agency, we had software systems coming to the end of their life, and we needed to make some big decisions. After conducting a thorough analysis, we made the decision to change agency management systems. We were a pilot agent over 30 years ago for Sagitta (a Vertafore product) and found it wasn’t able to best fit our agency and grow with us as the needs of our clients were changing. The conversion to Applied Epic was very daunting for our staff since the old system was all they knew. Managing the conversion, trainings for 60 team members, frequent internal communications, and maintaining employee morale was challenging to say the least, but I feel like it went as smoothly as possible. Therefore, the software conversion was one of my proudest professional accomplishments because it will be an instrumental tool in the growth and progress of our agency.

How do you network?

Every person I come into contact with has a potential to be a resource or client, and that is a beautiful thing about the industry we are in. With that being said, I do my best to treat everyone with kindness and respect. Maya Angelou said it best, “People will never forget how you made them feel.” I also find it important to give back and volunteer on local boards and committees in the community. I have met some wonderful community members volunteering, and it has organically grown into business relationships as well.

Have you experienced any resistance because of your age? If so, how do you counter it?

It is only natural to experience some resistance when you are in your twenties and the majority of the clients you are working with are double or triple your age. I have always looked at this as an opportunity to start as the underdog and after a few moments impress them with insurance knowledge and passion for protecting them. Tell us about a professional mentor you had and what you learned from him or her. My father is my professional role model and mentor. He is very well respected in the community and is so generous with his time and resources volunteering on multiple boards and committees. He cares very deeply about our team members and clients at Burns & Burns and puts their needs above his own. He has dedicated his entire life to the organization, and I feel so honored to work alongside of him every day and absorb his knowledge and wisdom. I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue the family legacy.

What time-management tips can you share?

In the beginning of my professional career, my father stressed the importance of recognizing the difference between urgent and important tasks. For me, I classify urgent tasks as items that have an approaching deadline. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these tasks have a significant impact on my life, but they are time sensitive. Important items, on the other hand, don’t necessarily have a deadline, but have more of an impact on my life. Understanding and classifying tasks with this in my mind has positively influenced my time management and productivity.

I also am a big fan of to-do lists. I find it most effective to create a to-do list at the end of the day with two columns: important tasks and urgent tasks. That way, when I come into the office in the morning I am organized and ready to tackle and prioritize the projects.

Collectively, how do you see your generation of insurance professionals benefiting the independent agency system?

Insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. I think my generation excels in recognizing not all accounts are going to be standard black and white. Often times problem solving needs to take place, and it is imperative to analyze the gray areas to provide clients with the best coverage for their situation. This is important for agents, as well as underwriters and insurance carriers, and is an area I think my generation will benefit the independent agency system.

What was your biggest professional challenge during the pandemic, and how did you respond?

I really enjoy and thrive in face-to-face meetings. Not being able to have these during the pandemic was very challenging. I had to find virtual ways to bring the same energy and personal touch, which took some creativity.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Professionally, in 20 years I see myself at Burns & Burns growing our client base, having increased brand recognition, and a top-notch team armed with the best knowledge and resources. Personally, I hope to continue to live in Clarion, PA with my husband and start a family. I also aspire to continue volunteering and giving back to the community.