Current City
Jacksonville, Florida
Education
M.S., Risk Management and Insurance (2018)
Florida State University
M.S., Applied Economics (2015)
University of North Dakota
B.S., Political Science (2013)
Troy University
My role covers four primary areas of responsibility that is directed by four distinct teams: Sales Enablement, Sales Support, Sales Field Services and Sales Operations Intelligence. Respectively, these teams support the technology-based sales tools, work the processing of groups from sale to enrollment, support the proposal of large groups and the account management of groups across multiple segments, and develop analytics to support operational and sales intelligence.
While working with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, I learned of the program and saw an opportunity to add some real granular, functional knowledge as I endeavored on a new career within the insurance industry. The curriculum was broad and deep, ranging from understanding contracts to the operational functions of the insurance business.
It really accelerated my understanding of the industry and helped me instantly develop a foundational level of expertise without having to spend years in multiple different departments, market segments and across disciplines.
It has given me a much better appreciation for the need for insurance, the benefits it serves to both individuals and the economy, as a whole and for the complexity of the business environment. This understanding is critical at a time when, in a world where ideas are often communicated in short bursts, we must better understand what influences the outcomes of policy and business decisions.
I had the pleasure of briefly working as an adjunct professor, which helped me maintain relationships into the department. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Cole via LinkedIn and email on several occasions. I also have maintained a relationship with a couple of my classmates, which is a relationship I truly value and appreciate.
My wife and I set income and career goals together, and then I structure my work life to meet those goals. If we were to decide I am spending too much time working, we would have to modify our goals, adjust our lifestyle to accommodate those revised goals, and then we could manage the work-life balance for that.
I would say my superpower, if I have one, is binary and the two are complementary: 1) the ability to sense when something (e.g. a process) is not working optimality and 2) the ability to understand what incentivizes individuals and be able to align those incentives with the goal.
I would choose leadership. In my mind, leadership is a key in business that is often overlooked in reality, even though it is regularly discussed. How we impact others is critical to good business outcomes and is certainly a force multiplier. Additionally, getting the opportunity to help someone elevate is one of the most rewarding feelings.
My wife is my biggest supporter. She supports me in every way that enables us to be a successful team. he is also my greatest inspiration as I am driven to try and deserve her friendship and our relationship every day.
I would propose a class focusing on two imperative professional skills called Foundations for Professional Success. The two skills included in the class would be leadership and process improvement and would be very valuable to all students entering the workforce. One book I would employ as demonstrating the application of process improvement and critical thinking would be "The Goal," by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. A great example of a strong leadership and team building book would be the "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team," by Patrick Lencioni.