Casey Armstrong named a top woman in benefit advising

Sep. 3--VICTORVILLE -- Casey Armstrong, president and owner of Armstrong Fairway Insurance Agency, is featured in the summer edition of Employee Benefit Adviser magazine.

She was named one of the "Top Women in Benefit Advising" by the magazine.

Armstrong, who operates her business from her office on Silica Drive in Victorville, was one of 20 businesswomen who exemplifies the best in benefit advising, according to the magazine.

"It's an honor to be recognized among the other business professionals by Employee Benefit Adviser," Armstrong told the Daily Press. "But I have to admit that when they first called I thought it was a scam."

Walden Siew, the editor-in-chief of the Employee Benefits Group at SourceMedia, said Armstrong and the other benefit advisers stood out both professionally and personally, some overcoming heavy odds to build successful practices and to develop their skills.

As the owner of Armstrong Fairway Insurance, Armstrong manages 10 employees, affectionately known as the "Armstrong Posse," which brings in about $8.7 million in benefits business per year.

Assemblyman Jay Obernolte told the Daily Press that Armstrong is an "extraordinary young woman" who will continue to reach new heights in her career because of her hard work and dedication to the community.

"Congratulations to Casey Armstrong for her continued success and for being recognized as an accomplished and dynamic business leader," Obernolte said. "In 2016, I recognized Casey and her company Armstrong Fairway Insurance Agency as my Small Business of the Year. Since then, I have been fortunate to continue to work with Casey both up in Sacramento and in the district."

Over the years, Armstrong has traveled to Sacramento and yearly to Washington, D.C., where she speaks with representatives about the issues confronting the High Desert, California and the nation.

Armstrong told the Daily Press she'd like to be more involved in the political world, helping legislators and government leaders, such as Rep. Paul Cook, State Sen. Scott Wilk and Obernolte, to understand how their actions could potentially affect the lives of people who need healthcare.

In the July/August edition of EBA, some people who benefited from Armstrong's expertise and knowledge of the health industry were spotlighted, including the owners of Kelley's Underground Construction in Apple Valley.

The article described Jennifer Kelley, the CEO of the construction company, calling Armstrong in a panic after her husband, Jay, the president of the 28-employee company, had severely fractured his ankle in a motorcycle accident.

Having no medical insurance due to rocketing costs after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and fearing a mountain of medical bills, Jennifer Kelley's first call was to Armstrong, who quickly got the couple an HMO plan that took effect the following month.

Armstrong was also able to refer the Kelleys to an orthopedic trauma surgeon at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, who later operated on Jay's foot.

The EBA article said Armstrong's wisdom and action helped the Kelleys save hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Jennifer Kelley said Armstrong's struggles in life have given her the compassion and understanding needed to help others as they seek help in navigating the healthcare system.

Nearly 20 years ago, Armstrong was at her Apple Valley apartment when she suffered a stroke, which left her with limited mobility on the right side of her body, she told the Daily Press.

After she was misdiagnosed as having encephalitis and later with multiple sclerosis, Armstrong became frustrated with how difficult the healthcare system was to navigate, she told EBA.

"Every time I hear of someone having a stroke, I tell their caregivers, 'I know it's a struggle and it's hard to even fathom getting better at this point, but you have to force yourself to get up and put your all into physical therapy and speech therapy because those things are so important,'" she told EBA magazine.

Armstrong told the magazine that her knowledge was a factor in her ability to get the help she needed, including extending her physical therapy sessions.

After a nearly two-year recovery, and seeing the complexities of the healthcare industry from the eyes of a young patient, Armstrong emerged as an advocate for healthcare issues.

"I really wanted to be a lawyer, but my stroke helped me to see the bigger picture of the complicated healthcare industry," Armstrong told the Daily Press. "That's when I decided that my future included advocating for those struggling with healthcare."

Armstrong said greater transparency is needed in the healthcare and medical costs should never be a surprise to any patient. She also added that change can come only from the leaders in the medical industry.

Armstrong told the Daily Press her mantra to clients seeking healthcare is, "Education, education, education," adding that some low-cost and self-insured plans that are non-ACA compliant can confuse workers into selecting an inadequate amount of coverage.

Armstrong told EBA magazine that she's had to work harder at times to win clients, because of her youth, gender and previous health issues. In some instances, clients were hesitant to do business with her based on those factors. One client even went so far as to question her backup plan in the event of another stroke.

Armstrong, who credits her father, John Armstrong, for much of her success, said she was a child when she first became interested in the benefits industry after watching him work. At 8 years old, she began working with her father, answering phones and attending client meetings where she took notes.

Armstrong's office team was quick to praise their leader. They shared with the Daily Press some of the qualities that make Armstrong successful.

Armstrong Executive Administrative Assistant Tonya Florin called Armstrong an "amazing boss," great friend and the hardest working person she's ever known.

"And while she is so busy, she is never too busy to take the time to teach and lead by example," Florin said. "She is so accomplished, driven, motivated, motivational, intelligent, strong and the kindest person ever. She has a way of making every day at work not feel like work or a chore, but instead, an exciting and fun experience."

"I have worked in insurance for many years and encountered many agents and owners along the way, and Casey definitely leads by example," said Armstrong Commercial Lines Account Manager Jennifer Brown.

"She doesn't dictate one set of expectations of her employees and another for herself," Brown said. "She leads the office every day with a productive attitude and works very hard. She demonstrates real patience, never allowing her feelings to guide her behavior."

Brown added that Armstrong is a very compassionate employer who enjoys providing her employees with the best benefits and a source of stability and guidance. She is such an inspiration to her staff and community.

"One of my favorite things about Casey is how creative she is. She has a gift for marketing and an eye for smart business moves," said Armstrong Benefits Account Executive Nancy Rodriguez. "Her love for her community is truly admirable. This love for the community drives her high expectations for our insureds to be given the best customer service. Casey is one of the most selfless people I have met."

Besides taking time for her clients, the community and her staff, Armstrong has also befriended a few other members.

"She has a little family of birds and squirrels that come to her office window everyday and she feeds them," Florin said.

Reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com, Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

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