Tell us about yourself.

I was educated in Pennsylvania and California and worked in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. My first career was counseling of socially and emotionally disturbed children, mostly child abuse cases. I eventually worked my way to human resources and then to medical malpractice insurance. Every 10 or 15 years I like to "hit refresh."

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What was your most interesting job before coming to Farm Bureau?Customer Service Agent for Alaska Airlines in Palm Springs, CA. Having to face a crowd of passengers whose flight just got canceled teaches you how to stay calm. Working in a service job with the general public is a good way to learn how to work with people.

When did you begin working for Farm Bureau?

I started at Farm Bureau on May 21, 2007. The interview process developed into a conversation about my career being the sum of my many job experiences, including my volunteer work. The first few days of the job were a blur. I was lucky, though, to have a patient trainer.

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What is your role at Farm Bureau and what aspect do you enjoy most?
Commercial Lines Underwriter. I enjoy the people. 

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What are some highlights of your Farm Bureau career?

Learning my job "by the seat of my pants." You learn by doing. The biggest change is, of course, technology.

 

What do you wish other people knew about your role?

It’s complicated. Underwriting is a “gray area ”of knowledge, problem solving, and judgment. It is more than just numbers.

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What is your proudest accomplishment?

Facing adversity without mental collapse.

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Who inspires you?

I was inspired by two former managers I worked for in San Francisco. They both inspired me by their work ethic and belief in the following:
1. “People are people. Teach by example.”
2. ”Respect has to be earned.”
3. "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch."

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What do you do for fun?

My interests are wide and varied: aviation; yoga; road cycling; movies with a plot and dialogue; conversation with people from other countries and learning about their cultures; European travel.

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What is your favorite vacation spot and why?

To narrow to one vacation spot I would choose Italy. The culture is one that is relaxed and not rushed. Food is prepared fresh and mealtime is an event with friends, family, and lengthy conversation. The Amalfi coast near Naples has high cliffs where you can have breathtaking views of Mt. Vesuvius and the island of Capri. After hours of cycling you can stop in the town of Sorrento for a leisurely lunch and buy a lemon the size of a grapefruit. Venice is at its best at night where you can find a restaurant along a quiet canal that is away from the tourist spots, and then wander among the maze of narrow streets. Rome, with its ancient history and architecture, lives up to its reputation as "The Eternal City."

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If you could tell one person "thank you" for helping you, who would that be?

Ken Morhart. I worked with him as his associate as a trainer in the Human Resources department. He was my VP and no matter how busy or how tired he was on any day, he always had time for people. He sat beside people for discussions instead of be-hind his desk, believing that the desk was a barrier or wall to open and honest communication. He truly was one of those people "on the right bus and in the right seat."

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When are you the happiest?

During and immediately after my yoga practice. Also, cruising on the Mediterranean Sea.

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What one memory do you most treasure?

Traveling across country and surprising my mother for a mile-stone birthday.

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What's the most important lesson you learned last year?

How to pack light.

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Please tell us your favorite Farm Bureau story.

I've had a very colorful life. Parachuting from 15,000 feet, climbing 
the steps of the Eiffel Tower to the top, swimming with stingrays, and crawling through narrow spaces to burial tombs of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Yet, never have I been more battered and bruised than when I was a participant in the Farm Bureau sponsored Great Tricycle Race for Relay for Life.

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EMPLOYEE PROFILES