Inside Sales and Support Team Lead

June, 2019

Cody was born and raised “about 1,000 feet from where I live now” between Chubbuck and Fort Hall. She married Scott Bird (who served on the Farm Bureau Insurance Companies’ Board of Directors for 12 years) 27 years ago. They have two girls, Ashlie and Brittney.

Cody has been involved in either “farming or Farm Bureau” her entire life. Her involvement with the Idaho Farm Bureau began when she became a volunteer for the Bannock County Farm Bureau board (where her dad served as president). It was while volunteering for the board that Cody developed an interest in becoming a Farm Bureau Insurance agent. She spoke with the local agency manager, Mike Long, about this opportunity, and he suggested she first get a feel for how things worked by becoming a production assistant. “This was the same time,” Cody says, “that my kids became involved in extracurricular activities. My personal assistant schedule worked well with their schedules, so I postponed becoming an agent.” Twelve years later when her kids were older, Cody finally became a Farm Bureau Insurance agent, a position she held for four years.
 

In July, 2016, Cody accepted a position in the Home Office’s sales department as a Customer Sales Representative. In March of 2018, Cody's title was changed to Inside Sales and Support Team Lead. "We are a team of two," Cody says, referring to Joan Gaskins in Nampa, the other half of the Inside Sales and Support team. Cody's responsibilities include:

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• Onboarding and appointing agents

• Onboarding Personal Assistants and Service Associates

• Binding coverage

• Managing the movement of book transfers

• Moving accounts / quotes to agents

• Helping and assisting agents with their needs

• Managing a book of business with the help of her Regional Executive, Ben Rae, and Customer Service Representatives from North Idaho

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“The sales department is a unique part of the Farm Bureau engine. Each of us in the department has completely different jobs and tasks. However, we all need each other and each other’s knowledge and expertise to make the engine run.”

 

Cody has been on both sides of the sales fence, first as a field agent and now as an in-house agent. “I understand the fears and frustrations the field agents have. But after being an in-house agent I can say there’s nothing to fear. It’s a great time for Farm Bureau with all the changes taking place.”

 

Cody adds that “in the field, my clients were friends, family, neighbors, or the random person who walked in the office. In the Home Office, my clients are the agents. I’m excited for this experience, and grateful that Ron and David have faith in me and what I can bring to the Farm Bureau table. I really want each agent to know I’m here to help them with whatever issue they have.”

While at Farm Bureau, Cody has received the “Farm Bureau Woman of the Year” award from the Federation in 2010, a “Rookie of the Month” award from the insurance company in 2012, and an UMSYS award from her coworkers in May of this year.

 

Outside Farm Bureau, Cody has several interests that keep her busy. “I was raised in a musical family. As a kid growing up there was always music playing, most of the time live music.” It wasn’t uncommon for her to come home from school to find her dad’s band practicing or hear him playing guitar. “I’ve always had a deep passion for music, and I’m always listening to music. I take advantage of any chance to hear live bands; that’s why I go to so many concerts each year. Nothing beats it in my book.” 

Cody also plays co-ed softball and enjoys golfing, riding her RZR, camping, 5K races, and going to the gym. When asked about any hidden talents, Cody listed the following: “I can play the violin. I can do the worm. I make killer salsa and many other treats.”

She’s “a Chevy girl, through and through.” One of her most treasured memories is a test-drive she took with her dad when he was considering buying a 1968 Camaro. “He stopped at my house and said ‘Let’s go for a ride.’” They went down the road a mile or so, turned around, and stopped in the middle of the road. “He lit the tires up and we took off like a rocket.” When they got back to her house “2.9 seconds later,” they got out and looked the car over. “He was telling me what work needed to be done to the car, then he asked me what my thoughts were.” Cody responded with, “Here’s the thing dad, I’m your only daughter who appreciates old cars, so you can only get this car if you leave it to me in your will.” A deal was made. “I love Camaros - always have, always will. My own Camaro is blue, which happens to be one of my favorite colors.”

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