“The core value of lending a helping hand and never being too busy to help a producer … is everything I want in a mentor, especially as a guy that didn’t go to school for insurance,” says young agent Jackson Doyle.
“Everyone says insurance is relationship-based and sometimes that can just be a throwaway statement,” says young agent Kate Adams. “But when you’re up against a deadline, it’s six o’clock at night and you’re not going to get paid if you don’t get something done by 8 am the next day, you need relationships and connections.”
“I see more people my age coming into the industry,” says young agent Ander Urdaneta, “and with new faces comes new ideas—and with new ideas, the industry is just going to keep growing.”
Taylor Hendrickson, Young Agents Council (YAC) director at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, is passionate about helping young professionals find their footing and thrive in the insurance industry.
Elliott has been a driving force in the Big “I” community on both the state and national level, from chairing the Young Agents of Kansas (YAK) and national Young Agents Committee (YAC) to championing political advocacy in his current role as chair of the state government affairs committee.
Rick brings nearly three decades of experience as a successful professional services executive to his role at Vertafore.
Wetenkamp’s career in insurance was unexpected. After working at In-N-Out Burger and at the DMV, he took a job with AAA Insurance when they started offering DMV services. This opened his eyes to the opportunities for career growth and serving the Hispanic community.
When Michelle O’Connor and her husband started their insurance agency 25 years ago, they knew from the very beginning that joining the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina was a must.
“These are the people taking risks, following their dreams, and creating something special,” says independent agent Luke Hoerr. “When I help them get the right coverage, I’m not just selling insurance—I’m helping protect someone’s passion project and supporting our local economy.”
Rather than being wary or frustrated with the Generation Z workforce, employers who seek to understand them can offer a much more positive workplace relationship and ultimately benefit their company.
