Company News
TWO NAMED TO ADVISORY BOARD
May, 2010
Doug Follmann, Webster City and Bill Sjulin, Story City, were recently named to the 2010 Agent Advisory Board at Group Benefits, Ltd. They were chosen to join the group of agents because of their success and expertise in the local health insurance market. Follmann and Sjulin are consistent leaders in sales and customer satisfaction at Town & Country Insurance, according to agency officials. Advisory Board members lend their knowledge of the insurance market to industry leaders and are involved in creating new opportunities for customers and other independent agents.
TOP AWARD TO TOWN & COUNTRY INSURANCE PRODUCERS
May, 2010
GBL, a Preferred General Agency with Wellmark BlueCross & BlueShield of Iowa, presented Wellmark’s “2008 Top Producer Individual Sales” award to Town & Country agent, Bill Sjulin, Story City and Tim Anderson, Webster City. The Wellmark awards are based on individual production, which included sales of Individual Major Medical, Short-term Major Medical, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D policies.
Davis to Chair IIAI Young Agents Committee
May, 2010
Justin Davis, insurance agent for Town & Country Insurance, Eagle Grove office, was recently named as Chair of the Young Agents Committee for the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa (IIAI). The Young Agents Committee, comprised of young agents aged 40 or younger, has the responsibilities of planning the IIAI Junior Golf Classis and reviewing special programs and services that will meet the needs of young agents, including sales programs for new producers.
Town & Country Insurance is also pleased to have the largest number of young agents in Iowa serving on the Young Agents Committee. In addition to Davis, Erik Wibholm, Webster City, Lynn McKinney, Webster City, and Staci Schnittjer, Clarion, also serve on this Committee. They will meet for their Annual Planning Session on June 3rd in Des Moines.
Follmann to Chair IIAI Committee
May, 2010
Doug Follmann, Executive Vice President and Agency Manager of Town & Country Insurance, was recently named Chair of the Agency Management/ Technology Committee for the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa (IIAI) for the 2010-2011 term, This committee is responsible for all areas of agency operations including financial management, managerial accounting and tax strategies, mergers and acquisitions, personnel management, employee benefits, internal office management, sales management of producers, agency automation/technology issues and for the annual Agency Management and/or Technology Conference. This committee will meet for the Annual Planning session on June 3rd in Des Moines.
Town & Country Insurance Announces Department Assignment
May, 2010
Doug Follmann, Executive Vice President and Agency Manager, announced that Erik Wibholm has accepted the position of Health Department Training Coordinator for the Town & Country Insurance Agency. He will assist in reviewing the education/training needs of the Health Department team at all locations, along with scheduling appropriate training. In addition to these new responsibilities, Erik will continue in his position as a Life/Health/Farm CSR and a producer in our Webster City location.
Top Sales Award
March, 2010
Staci Schnittjer and Connie Wilson of Town & Country Insurance were both recently recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa with the Individual Sales 2009 Top Producer Award. This award acknowledges the expertise and sales experience Staci and Connie use to find the right product to fit the needs of their customers. Less than 1% of all Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield agents in the state of Iowa achieved this honor. The awards were presented by KHI Financial Solutions, a preferred general agency of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa, at a recent training event for KHI top producers. This is the second consecutive year that Staci and Connie have received this award.
IIAI Presidential Citation to Follmann
March, 2010
At the recent 103rd Annual Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa (IIAI) state convention held in Des Moines, IIAI President Hans Boehm presented four Presidential Citations to Association members. Doug Follmann, Executive Vice President of Town & Country Insurance, was one of the 2009 recipients. Mr. Boehm presented the Presidential Citation to Doug Follmann, “due to his excellent leadership as Chairman of the IIAI Agency Management & Technology Committee, his assistance in planning our Association’s annual Technology EXPO, and his recent involvement with our national Agents Council on Technology (ACT). As our Association’s liaison to ACT, Doug has been very active in representing the interests of Iowa’s Independent Insurance Agents. Doug was also instrumental in having Iowa selected as one of two pilot states for the new 21 Day Real Time Agency Workflow Challenge and will be responsible for promoting the campaign to both our Association members as well as to our Iowa insurance carrier partners.” Follmann has been the Manager of Town & Country Insurance for over twenty five years and resides in rural Stanhope with his wife Mona and children Andrew and Nicole. Town & Country Insurance is based in Webster City, Iowa and has additional offices in Eagle Grove, Clarion, Story City and Fort Dodge.
Town & Country Insurance Recognized for Outstanding Performance
February, 2010
EMC Insurance Companies has announced its 2010 “Premier Partners” and has distinguished Town & Country Insurance. Town & Country Insurance is one of the highest-performing EMC agencies in the country, placing them in the top 2 percent of all EMC agencies nationally.
This annual award is based on key indicators including a high level of customer service, good policyholder retention, profitability and growth, which are reviewed over a three-year period.
EMC developed its signature “Agency Performance Value” (APV) tool in 2005 to measure an agency’s performance against all other EMC agencies nationally. This is the third consecutive year that Town & Country Insurance has been recognized as a Premier Partner.
McIlrath Named Town & Country Insurance Manager
February,2010
Doug Follmann Executive Vice President and Agency Manager of Town & Country Insurance is pleased to announce the promotion of Chris McIlrath to the position of Manager of Town & Country Insurance’s Story City office. Follmann states “Chris is a great asset to Town & Country Insurance and has proven that he has the insurance experience and leadership qualities to manage our Story City office. Chris is licensed in and actively services Commercial Insurance, Farm & Crop Insurance, Personal Insurance and also Life & Health Insurance”.
McIlrath is a native of Roland and a graduate of Roland Story High School. After graduation Chris attended Iowa State University and obtained a degree in Ag Studies, with a minor in Agronomy. Prior to joining Town & Country Insurance in 2007, Chris was affiliated with Thrivent Financial. After graduation Chris moved back to Story City, where he resides today with wife Lisa and children Adam and Heston. Chris is active in the Story City community and served as Scandinavian Days Chairman in 2007. Lisa is also active in the Story City business community working with PDG Printing for over four years and is a current board member of the Story City Economic Development Committee. McIlrath comments “My wife and I have always enjoyed Story City and we can’t imagine raising our children anywhere else. People are so friendly here and everyone is always ready to lend a helping hand. I thoroughly enjoy working in the community and look forward to continuing to serve the insurance needs of Story City area residents in my new position as Manager of our Town & Country Insurance office.”
T&C Announces Davis Promotion
January, 2010
Doug Follmann Executive Vice President of Town & Country Insurance is pleased to announce the promotion of Justin Davis to Farm Department Manager. Justin has been with Town & Country Insurance since 2006 and is a sales agent in Town & Country Insurance’s Eagle Grove Office specializing in Farm and Crop Insurance. Justin will continue his responsibilities in the Eagle Grove office in addition to his new Department Manager obligations. Follmann goes on to add “Davis has been one of our leading salesmen during his time with our agency. He is a 2008 graduate of the Midwest Elite Sales training program where he received the Top of Class Award and also just finished a three year training program and recently was awarded the Agribusiness & Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) designation. Justin has quickly developed into one of Town & Country Insurance’s most knowledgeable farm agents. As a Department Manager, Justin will be responsible for ensuring the farm department meets the agency’s goals for training, client service, account retention, growth, automation, productivity and profitability.
Town & Country Insurance Earns Farm Certified Agency Designation
New program from Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company focuses on providing top protection for farms and ranches
January, 2010
Seven Town & Country Insurance agents successfully completed a series of educational courses and have achieved the On Your FarmSM Certified Agency designation from Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company. Congratulations to Justin Davis and Brad Emick, Eagle Grove; Scott Oswald and Erik Wibholm, Webster City; Chris McIlrath, Story City; and Craig Nelsen, Clarion. Completing the rigorous training program means farmers and ranchers can depend on an On Your Farm Certified agent to understand their farming operations, provide basic risk assessment that can help reduce expenses, educate them about exposures, match the correct coverages to meet their needs, and provide professional, knowledgeable service.
“We’re excited that these agents have completed this certification program,” said Doug Follmann. “We have made a commitment to help protect farmers and ranchers in our area with the highest level of professionalism and service. This certification tells our area farmers that we’re committed to helping protect them now and into the future.”
The designation is intended to help farm and ranch customers recognize agents who make a commitment to understanding the complex risks faced by the agriculture industry. Only agents who successfully complete the program will be awarded the designation, and agents must re-certify every three years.
“Nationwide Agribusiness developed this training program to provide additional education and resources to insurance agents who make a commitment to protecting farms and ranches,” said Jerry Hillard, Farm Sales Director, Nationwide Agribusiness. “We’re proud of the agents who complete the program and are excited about the level of service farmers and ranchers can expect from partnering with On Your Farm Certified agents.”
