Texas Nominee Selected as The 2015 National Outstanding CSR of The Year
AUSTIN, TX - August 10, 2015 – Ms. Erin N. Woodard, CIC, CRM, CISR, ACSR, Commercial Marketing/Service Executive for William Gammon Insurance in Austin, Texas, has just been awarded the most prestigious honor available to insurance customer service representatives: the 2015 National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award.
The Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) selected Ms. Woodard as the winner of this award from a field of 36 state winners. After five finalists were chosen from this field, a blue-ribbon panel of five judges evaluated the finalists based on their individual contributions to the insurance community, and the strength of their essays written on the 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?”
Erin Woodard was praised by an associate for “her professional way of doing business with an instinct for what her clients require, and working hard to make sure she is offering the best product for them. She is motivated to do her best. Her CIC and CRM designations allow her to move forward in our industry and be confident with her counsel to others.”
In her essay, Ms. Woodard was clear about the difference between her career and her title. She put it this way: “Do I believe the varying titles mean anything different to me? To my clients? To my customers? To my overall ability? Of course not!! The success and/or the failure are entirely left to me as my responsibility and a direct result of my commitment and dedication. I hope my clients soon grow to realize that no matter what my title, I will always put forth my absolute best to make sure their needs are met.”
Ms. Woodard receives a cash award of $2,000, a distinctive gold and diamond lapel pin, and her name is inscribed on a sculpture on permanent display at The National Alliance headquarters in Austin, Texas. A scholarship will be awarded to her employer, William Gammon Insurance for participation in any National Alliance program.
In addition to the selection of Erin Woodard as the national award recipient, four national finalists were chosen from a particularly competitive field of applicants:
• Ericka L. Berceau, CISR, with The Starr Group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Angela M. Nyamburi, CIC, CRM, CISR, CSRM, with Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc. in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
• Sharon Richards, with Chastain-Otis Insurance & Financial Services in Omaha, Nebraska
• Kelly M. Sparks, CIC, CISR, AAI, AIS, with Marsh & McLennan Agency in Livonia, Michigan
Each finalist receives a special gold and garnet lapel pin, $500 cash award, and publicity in a national trade journal.
For additional information about this award, contact The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research: P. O. Box 27027, Austin, Texas 78755-2027; 800-633-2165; Email [email protected]; Website: www.TheNationalAlliance.com.
Contact:
Danielle D. Janecka
Senior Vice President
The Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives
512-349-6181; [email protected]