In recognition of American Business Women’s Day, we realize that our company has a wealth of resources in the many professional women who work hard every day to provide you with the best insurance services in the state of Maine. Recently, some of our employees offered kudos to their female coworkers.
“The entire Hampden Office is just the best, we couldn’t ask for a better crew. Hanna, Linda, Shelly W. and Colleen put their best foot forward to take care of our clients. They do what is needed and beyond to make sure the client is satisfied and make the office flow in a positive direction. We laugh a lot and this makes for a great atmosphere for our clients to walk into and feel welcome. The total collective knowledge of insurance in our office is over 100 years and it shows. The professional level they show the client gives the client the confidence that they are being well taken care of by the time they leave our office or hang up the phone. They all deserve to be acknowledged for the excellent level of service they provide.”
“I would like to suggest Ginger Campbell, Julie Bradstreet, and Bobbie Jo Matwyko. Individually they all have special qualities. Ginger really has a heart for her customers. She will go above and beyond to see they get her best effort, she knows her business like the back of her hand. She is also the mother of three boys which is a feat in itself! Julie is able to handle any situation gracefully. She is always looking on the positive side of things and offering good advice. Bobbie Jo is a planner and customer service is of great importance to her. She is well organized and pays attention to detail. I have enjoyed getting to know these three tremendously! The work they do for F. A. Peabody speaks for itself! I am not sure how you plan to set this up, but if possible you may leave my comments as anonymous. I don’t mind if you include my name, but I think it is more fun if they don’t know.”
“Chelsea Henderson – she recently achieved her PHR designation. (Professional in Human Resources). This is quite a strenuous achievement.”
Connie Hagan – leader of FAPCO Administrative Services. She runs the largest third party administrator of mortuary trusts in Maine.”
Stacey Perry, outgoing president of the Insurance Association of Greater Houlton, took the time to recognize all of the FAPCO members of this local chapter of the International Association of Insurance Professionals:
“Marcene Long CIC, CPIW is a true role model for other women in business. She has been working for FAPCO’s Houlton branch for 30 years, beginning her career specializing in commercial lines. Marcene’s leadership and organization skills, along with her versatility and commitment to the industry, led to her advancement as the Commercial Lines Manager, overseeing the department. Excelling in this role, she was ultimately positioned as the commercial and personal lines manager, taking on the role of Vice President of Insurance Services and Operations. Marcene’s strong focus and professional creativity allowed her to see the small actions that lead to the big picture, making her an excellent fit for this position. Marcene is a longstanding member to the International Association of Insurance Professionals, which has encouraged her to enhance her leadership and further develop her career. Through the years, she has taken several courses to gain more knowledge, including achieving the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1989, showing national recognition of a high level of understanding of all property and casualty lines of insurance, and the Certified Professional Insurance Woman, showing tangible evidence of her awareness to insurance industry issues. Marcene’s ongoing commitment to her career has been recognized through her many awards, including the Insurance Woman of the Year Award.
“Julie Bradstreet CIC, CPIW offers integrity, dependability, and optimism, all of which make her the perfect fit as the Branch Manager for the FAPCO Mars Hill branch. She has been with the company for 15 years, specializing in Personal and Commercial Sales. Julie’s confidence and calmness allow her to deal with any situation in a professional manerr as an experienced and trusted adviser. Her collaboration and team-player spirit allow her to be preeminent both in and outside the office. Julie volunteers her time to the International Association of Insurance Professionals and to the Pine Tree Chapter for the American Red Cross. Her commitment to continuing education and awareness of insurance industry issues is proven by the attainment of the Certified Professional Insurance Woman designation. Her self-motivated personality pushes her to continuously learn new things, having taken several courses through the years, and earning the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor designation, distinguishing a higher professional level of experience and competence. Julie’s dedication to her staff, community, and career are endless, contributing to each through education, professionalism, and the creation of alliances. These things combined have led to Julie’s recognition multiple times throughout her career, including being awarded the Insurance Woman of the Year.
“Amanda Dunn CIC, CIIP has a self-motivated personality with the drive to succeed personally and professionally. She is the Branch Manager for the Lincoln FAPCO branch, specializing in commercial trucking accounts. Her commitment to continued education is key to her success in the ever changing insurance industry, achieving her Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 2012 and her Certified Insurance Industry Professional designation in 2013. Amanda has served as a director for several non-profit organizations including National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Lincoln Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Penobscot Valley Hospital and the International Association of Insurance Professionals. Amanda’s ongoing commitment to her professional and personal development has been recognized through her many awards including Rookie of the Year, Lincoln Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, Insurance Professional of the Year.
“Dawn Halkyard ACSR, CIIP has encompassed her professional development in the insurance industry. She is the Office Supervisor for our Sherman FAPCO branch, specializing in servicing commercial accounts and acting as a notary public. Outside of work, she dedicates time to her community through food collection for local pantries and community clean ups. Dawn has also been a member of the International Association of Insurance Professionals for eight years, chairing many committees and serving as President for two terms. Dawn’s drive to succeed has allowed her to take advantage of the many opportunities along her professional journey, having been awarded several scholarships to continue her educations including one for her full Accredited Customer Service Representative designation, which she completed in 2012. Dawn has received multiple awards for her efforts including Insurance Professional of the Year in 2009 and the state of Maine Customer Service Representative of the Year in 2014. Currently Dawn is working toward earning the Certified Leadership Professional designation and Certified Insurance Service Representative designation, having already completed three of the five courses.
“Julie Folsom CPCU, CPIW has been in the insurance industry since 1969 starting as a Customer Service Agent for both personal and commercial lines. Through the years she began allocating most of her time toward commercial accounts, having bonds become her specialty, and most recently has become the Claims Specialist for FAPCO, reporting to our main branch in Houlton. Julie’s extensive insurance background has allowed her to excel as a claims specialist, offering clients superior quality service and always looking out for their best interest. She holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation and continuously upholds the CPCU code of professional conduct, always performing her professional activities ethically. Julie has also been a longtime member of International Association of Insurance Professionals, serving on multiple committees and earning her Certified Professional Insurance Woman designation showing her commitment to continued education and awareness of industry issues. Julie’s goal is to begin study for earning the Associate in Claims designation.
“Ginger Campbell ACSR strives to excel in each task she handles, practicing teamwork with a positive attitude. She offers a high level of quality service to her clients as a Personal and Commercial Customer Service Agent in our Mars Hill FAPCO branch. Ginger’s commitment to education is shown through her submissions for scholarships and her motivation has allowed her to earn the Accredited Customer Service Representative designation, conveying her excellence in customer service and professionalism, illustrating her commitment toward enhancing the quality of service provided to her clients. Her perseverance continues outside of work by keeping herself involved through volunteering her time to community events, the Big 13 ATV club, and International Association of Insurance Professionals. She is currently working on achieving her Certified Insurance Industry Professional designation.
“Kim Dube entered the insurance industry in 2005 as a Personal Lines Sales Agent and continues that role today, reporting to our Lincoln FAPCO branch. Her motivated personality and flexibility has allowed her to excel in this role, achieving top producer status frequently. Kim possesses the qualities required to build a strong relationship with her client base and has an ongoing desire to learn which has allowed her to offer superior quality service and practice exceptional sales etiquette. She has the passion to involve herself, proven by her commitment to International Association of Insurance Professionals and volunteering her time on several committees, helping to streamline policies and procedures. Because of this passion, Kim has been awarded many scholarships through the years. Currently, she is using the scholarships to work toward the full Accredited Customer Service Representative designation and completing a Certified Insurance Service Representative course to broaden her product knowledge.
“Amanda Schools has been in the business for five years, currently holding the position of Personal Lines Data Processor in our main FAPCO branch in Houlton. Her quality of service and commitment to these duties is mostly done behind the scenes, however has not gone unnoticed. Amanda has helped to set quality controls to make the work flow for all agents become more consistent. Her knowledge and understanding of the programs helps to ensure our clients are receiving the coverage options requested and each following year to make certain they are receiving the best value. During her free time, Amanda volunteers in her community through her membership to the Monticello Fish and Game Club and to International Association of Insurance Professionals. Through her volunteer effort, Amanda has served in leadership positions including Vice President and Secretary in addition to the multiple committee’s she has chaired. Her future objective is to enjoy her work while she continues learning and maintaining a positive, happy attitude.
“Brittani Suitter joined FAPCO in July 2014 and immediately began training as a Personal Lines Customer Service Agent in. Prior to joining the FAPCO branch of Mars Hill, Brittani held the role of Activities Director for Madigan House Residential Facility. She has the drive to succeed personally and professionally shown through her commitment to education, earning her Associates degree in Business from the University of Phoenix in March 2014. She also stays involved in her community, serving as a board member for the Houlton Football Association, Houlton Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, and International Association of Insurance Professionals. Currently Brittani is studying for her Property and Casualty license and is scheduled for her exam in October. Her drive to succeed is shown through her motivation to continue product knowledge once licensed so she can develop her career and earn designations.
“Mary Jane Cleary ACSR possesses the desire excel in every task. Her competitive nature allows her to be quite successful as a Personal Lines Sales Agent for FAPCO’s main office in Houlton. Mary Jane learned early on in her career that there is a direct relationship between continued education and professional development. Because of her eagerness to learn and grow, she has been awarded scholarships which have helped her to attain the Accredited Customer Service Representative designation. This designation helps to demonstrate the high level of professionalism Mary Jane offers to her customers. Her efforts do not stop when she leaves the office as she also acts as a Notary Public and has a membership to International Association of Insurance Professionals where she has served in multiple executive positions. Mary Jane was recently named the Insurance Professional of the Year for 2014 and has endless motivation to grow professionally.
“Shelley Wyman entered the insurance industry in 2013 with FAPCO’s Lincoln branch. She immediately demonstrated the ability to work effectively with the other staff, practicing team work with a positive attitude and the flexibility to adapt, excelling in each task she handles. Her motivated personality and eagerness to learn allowed her to achieve a promotion to a Commercial Lines Customer Service Agent in a short period of time. She has fully embraced the position with her natural ability to build rapport with her client base and her initiative to continue her knowledge proven through her recent completion of a Customer Service Representative Development Course sponsored through Liberty Mutual. Next, she will be completing a Certified Insurance Service Representative course to gain more product knowledge. Shelley stays involved in her community by volunteering her time as a soccer coach and hosting fund raising events for local sports teams. Shelley is also a member of the International Association of Insurance Professionals which allowed her to be awarded a full scholarship to begin working toward the Accredited Customer Service Representative designation.
“Alicia Cram started with FAPCO’s Lincoln branch as a receptionist. Earning her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maine at Farmington combined with her sales and business development background allowed her to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the insurance industry. Soon after starting with FAPCO, Alicia began developing her career by becoming a licensed Property and Casualty agent which helped lead to her new position as a Personal Lines Customer Service Agent. Alicia has outstanding communication skills with her client base offering clear and concise information. She has recently joined the International Association of Insurance Professionals where she hopes to continue broadening her knowledge of insurance.
“Sharon Leighton has been in the business since 1975, making her a familiar face for much of the community. She has held multiple positions through the years and has excelled in her current role of a Personal Lines Service Agent with FAPCO’s Lincoln branch. Sharon serves as a mentor to other staff members, helping to explain coverage options and claim scenarios to help paint the full picture. She is fully dedicated to the insurance industry and her team members, offering assistance every chance she gets. Her drive to offer her clients the very best customer service never ceases to amaze. Sharon’s sincerity and honesty allow her to fully engage with her clients, making them aware of coverage gaps and options to be considered. Sharon is a member of the International Association of Insurance Professionals and is currently studying for a Certified Insurance Service Representative course being offered through the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.
“April Nesbitt’s diverse history made her a perfect fit for the Personal Lines Customer Service Agent in the FAPCO Sherman branch. Her vast experience in sales and service has allowed her to adapt into the position very easily. She offers her clients exceptional customer service with skills she’s obtained in her professional travels through Alaska, St John and back to Maine. April is an advocate for homeless women and youth, and has assisted in the operations of a homeless shelter in the past. She is a member of the nonprofit organization, International Association of Insurance Professionals and encompasses their mission of fostering and encouraging diversity. April wants to take grasp of the opportunities that lie ahead and take full advantage of training, educational opportunities, and designations to help grow professionally within the industry.
“Bobbi Jo Matwyko has been with the company for five and half years, starting in the Sherman FAPCO branch as a Personal Lines Customer Service Agent. Her commitment to the industry is shown in her most recent role as a trainer. Bobbi Jo has traveled to different FAPCO locations, providing hands on training to fellow employees. Her organization, preparation, and innovation has helped several employees successfully settle into their positions. Her practical approach and high level of competency on the products and material has helped to increase the consistency of processes and procedures company wide. Bobbi Jo is a member of the International Association of Insurance Professionals, having served on multiple committees. Now that she is settling in her newest position at the Houlton branch as Personal Lines Customer Service Agent, she will be working toward her Accredited Customer Service Representative designation through The Institutes.