2015 Outstanding CSR of the Year Award State Winners Selected
AUSTIN, TX (June 5, 2015) – Each year, a group of exceptional insurance professionals are chosen by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research to represent their states and compete to become the National Outstanding CSR of the Year. This prestigious award, regarded as the foremost national award of its kind, recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry.
To qualify for the top state honor, the 2015 candidates submitted an essay on the following topic:
“In today’s political, economic, and social environment, the use of the English language has undergone significant change. Even in our insurance industry, words, partial words, and titles can have a multitude of meanings—some of which are unclear and even vague. In the current insurance agency environment, the meaning of the term, ‘Customer Service Representative,’ has frequently been replaced with the terms ‘Account Manager,’ ‘Account Executive,’ ‘Client Service Advisor,’ etc. In your judgment, is there any important difference in the meaning of these titles in terms of one’s knowledge, expertise, compensation, and responsibilities? Do you believe these different titles make a difference to your clients, coworkers, and insurance companies?”
Additionally, entrants must have demonstrated commendable service to their agencies, their industry, and their community. The only eligibility requirement for this award is that the candidate must be an insurance customer service representative, or have primary responsibility for insurance customer service duties.
“The Outstanding CSR of the Year Award recognizes the annual exemplar for exceptional customer service representatives across the nation,” said Danielle Janecka, Senior Vice President of The National Alliance. “Through their essays, contributions to their agencies, and their letters of recommendation, every one of the state winners helps to raise the standard for personal and professional excellence. We honor them for their clear contributions to their colleagues, teams, and organizations. They are the face of customer service for our whole industry.”
Each state winner receives a framed certificate and is eligible to compete for the national honor, which carries a $2,000 cash award, a gold and diamond pin, $1,000 cash award for the nominator, and a scholarship for the recipient’s employer to any program offered by The National Alliance. Additionally, the name of the Outstanding CSR of the Year is inscribed on a sculpture permanently displayed at the national headquarters of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research in Austin, Texas.
State Winners:
Alaska Luke J. Heafner, CIC, CISR, CPCU, MLIS, Marsh & McLennan Agency
CLCS, SBCS
Arizona Maria Rosaortega, CIC, CISR Brown & Brown Insurance of Arizona
Arkansas Ashley Sartin, CISR BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc.
California Mechelle Renee Wilson, CIC, CISR, AINS, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
AIS, CIIP
Colorado Valerie J. Brown, CIC, CISR CRS Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
Connecticut Hannah E. Fontenot Rabbett Insurance Agency
Florida Christine Lorriane Billington, ACSR, AAI Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance
Georgia Marion Catherine Guzman, CISR The Insurance Store
Idaho Terri Azzola, CIC Mutual Insurance Associates, Inc.
Illinois Taryn A. Simons Insurance Program Managers Group
Indiana Allison England ISU Insurance Services May Agency
Iowa Linsey Eiben, CIC, CISR TrueNorth Companies
Kansas Susan M. Gillam, CIC Black & Veatch Corporation
Louisiana Rhonda S. Anders Keith D. Peterson & Company, Inc.
Maine Mary Jane Cleary, ACSR, CIIP F.A. Peabody Company
Maryland Maegan N. Jackson Georgetown Insurance Services, Inc.
Michigan Kelly Marie Sparks, CIC, CISR, AAI, AIS Marsh & McLennan Agency
Minnesota Angela Marie Nyamburi, CIC, CRM, CISR, Wells Fargo Insurance Services
CSRM
Mississippi Aimee Gilbert Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc.
Missouri Lisa Lee, CISR Mike Keith Insurance, Inc.
Nebraska Sharon Richards Chastain Insurance Agency
North Carolina Kelly L. Leishman, AINS, CBIA Senn Dunn Insurance
Ohio Kara Denise Rettkowski, CPIA, INS, API Grange Insurance
Oklahoma Rondrea Christine Haywood, CISR Cole, Paine, & Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc.
Oregon Brittaine Hunter Focus1 Insurance Group
Pennsylvania Matthew J. Windisch, ARM Toll Brothers, Inc.
South Carolina Kimberly S. Lisenby CB&T Financial Services
Tennessee Frannie M. Sawyer, CIC, CISR The Crichton Group
Texas Erin Nicole Woodard, CIC, CRM, ACSR William Gammon Insurance
Vermont Duane Donahue Union Mutual of Vermont Companies
Virginia Tess Kaminski Patron Insurance Services
Virgin Islands Brenda Antonia Sells, CIC, CISR Theodore Tunick & Company
Washington Leandra Rachel Oliveira-Church, CISR Fournier Insurance Solutions
West Virginia Keri B. Anderson, CISR Ravenswood Insurance Centre
Wisconsin Ericka L. Berceau, CISR The Starr Group
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, the nation’s premier provider of advanced educational opportunities for insurance and risk management professionals, includes the Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) Program, the Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) Program, the Certified Risk Managers (CRM) Program, the Certified School Risk Managers (CSRM) Program, the Certified Personal Risk Managers Program (CPRM), the Dynamics Sales Training Series, the School for Producer Development, and The National Alliance Research Academy. For further information, contact The National Alliance, P.O. Box 27027, Austin, Texas 78755-2027; 800-633-2165; website: www.TheNationalAlliance.com.