1. Since you have been in an ESOP for a while now, what would you tell new ESOP employees?
Don’t get discouraged while waiting for your first ESOP Statement. I waited almost 2 years before seeing the value of my ESOP shares (I was hired in August) but once I saw the number of shares and their value it reminded me what a blessing it was to work for a company that had this as an Employee Benefit and that I could be a part of helping to grow not only the agency but also the ESOP. Over the 20 years it has grow into a very nice retirement fund that I would not have had if it had not been for the foresight of Ron Ollis, Richard’s father.
2. Why is being in an ESOP important to you?
There are very few, if any, smaller companies that offer Designated Pension Benefit Plans anymore. The ESOP is now that path towards retirement in addition to your 401(K). With the ESOP, you do not have to contribute anything monetarily. You only need to work hard every day to support our clients, the insurance carriers, and our fellow employees so we can grow and prosper our agency.
3. What do you like most about your role?
I loved being a Sr Commercial Account Manager – the challenge of putting together a great program for our larger clients. This sometimes meant finding coverage for overseas exposures in China, Honduras and Puerto Rico, or building a $25 million Umbrella tower. Sometimes it was trying to find Windstorm coverage for a Building in Miami, FL or trying to talk the insurance carrier to entertain a new operation for an existing client – installing fireplaces when their main business was working with stainless steel or manufacturing cardboard baby bassinets.
Now after 20 years, I’ve changed my position to that of Trainer and Special Projects. I love this time as well. One of my first loves is sharing knowledge with others so the training is right up my alley. I started off my college experience in education before changing to business. I like that I’ve been tasked with “auditing” our data management system to make sure that everyone is using it the same way and then sharing my findings with each Account Manager in hopes that the small things that I find and it will help them in their day to day work with our system. I hope that I can share at least one small thing that they didn’t know about or how to do with each review.
4. What does your ideal day off look like?
I’m not sure I have an “ideal” day off now that I have 5 days off and only 2 days where I come in the office. I guess it would involve doing things that I enjoy and being around family and friends.
