Insurance & Employee Benefits

Akers & Arney Insurance Associates in Branson was named a Best Practices Agency for the fifth consecutive year based on the 2005 Best Practices Study conducted by Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and Reagan Consulting. Akers & Arney also was recognized as a Top Performing Agency for its performance in each of the study’s seven revenue categories. Factors ranked for performance included client retention and services, employee productivity, financial results and overall management achievement.

Beimdiek Insurance Agency in Carthage announced several staff accomplishments. Missouri Department of Insurance Director W. Dale Finke appointed JoAnn Evans of Beimdiek Insurance Agency to a two-year term on the recently established Insurance Advisory Panel, created by Gov. Matt Blunt. The panel is designed to consolidate some existing boards and councils within the department. Evans is vice president of employee benefits for Beimdiek and has 23 years experience in the insurance industry.

Angela Heckart, senior commercial account executive with Beimdiek, was recently awarded the certified insurance service representative designation by the National Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives. The designation was achieved after successfully completing five courses, covering all major areas of the insurance field and five comprehensive examinations.

Carmen Bearden and Bonnie Powers, commercial account executives with Beimdiek, recently completed the Certified Insurance Counselors Life & Health Institute. The three-day insurance institute was one of the five parts of the Certified Insurance Counselors Program offered by the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents. After the successful completion of all five institutes, covering all major areas of the insurance field and five examinations, these agents will be awarded the certified insurance counselor designation by The National Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Bearden has been in the insurance industry for seven years and works from Beimdiek’s home office in Carthage. Powers has 18 years of insurance experience and works in the company’s Joplin office.

Kevin Hoskins, transportation manager, and Chris Evans, commercial lines producer for Beimdiek, attended the joint Missouri Motor Carriers/Kansas Motor Carriers convention in Overland Park, Kan. The event included breakout sessions and roundtable discussions to help educate, improve and promote the trucking industry.

Misty Graff, human resource and safety consultant, and LeRoy Hill, vice president of Beimdiek, attended the Missouri Employers Mutual workers’ compensation workshop held Oct. 5 at the Clarion Hotel. The event addressed workers’ compensation laws that will take effect in December, loss prevention and return-to-work programs.

The Springfield Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors sent two representatives to the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors annual conference in Baltimore. SAIFA President Joyce A. Jones of AFLAC’s Springfield office, and Roy W. Kern, of Roy W. Kern & Associates, attended the event.

Ollis and Co. announced a staff addition and two achievements. Mindy Pippin joined Ollis and Co.’s group select department. She is a graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College, where she earned a degree in business management and marketing. Pippin previously spent more than five years working as an independent sales associate/agent, providing supplemental benefit packages to area businesses.

David Endacott received the certified insurance counselor designation from the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Endacott, a commercial property and casualty producer with Ollis and Co., completed five CIC institutes and comprehensive written examinations. He specializes in working with medium- and large-sized businesses to lower their costs of risk and increase their profitability. The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors is a key member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, which conducts more than 2,000 programs each year in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Ollis and Co. was among 200 insurance agencies recognized in the annual Independent Agents & Brokers of America Best Practices Study Group. It was Ollis and Co.’s 11th consecutive year in the group, through which more than 900 agencies were nominated.

Michelle Conway joined Barker Phillips Jackson as a commercial lines customer service agent in the company’s Springfield office. She has eight years of experience in insurance, with extensive experience in property and casualty lines. Conway received her life and health license early this year.

Alan Humphreys, American Family Insurance agent in Ozark, was recognized for customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program. The distinction is awarded after an evaluation consisting of a customer satisfaction survey and an on-site evaluation.

American National Property and Casualty announced its Leader of the Quarter for the first and second quarters of 2005. Kristee Buff, manager of human resources, was the first quarter honoree, while Application Development Manager Lona Miller was the award recipient for the second quarter.

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