Sharnel K. Hawkins of Bratrud Middleton Insurance Inc., in Tacoma, Wash., has been selected as the 2006 National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award winner.
The Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors picked Ms. Hawkins from a field of 34 state winners.
After five finalists were chosen from the larger field, a blue-ribbon panel of five judges, including National Underwriter Editor-in-Chief Sam Friedman, evaluated them based on contributions to the insurance community and essays they submitted.
Entrants were asked to write on the topic "Three Great Ways for a CSR to Build Good Relationships with Company Underwriters."
Ms. Hawkins, the account manager in the Construction Unit of Bratrud Middleton, was praised by her associates as someone set apart from others by her technical knowledge coupled with her customer focus, said William T. Hold, president of the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Mr. Hold said Ms. Hawkins' "get-it-done" attitude and ability to handle key commercial clients made her "a role model for CSRs everywhere."
In her essay, Ms. Hawkins cited "knowledge of the carrier's philosophy and underwriting guidelines; complete submissions to make their job easier; and treating underwriters with the same level of professionalism and customer-service based values as insured clients," as the most important relationship-building factors.
Ms. Hawkins receives a cash award of $1,000, a gold and diamond lapel pin, and her name is inscribed on a sculpture on permanent display at The National Alliance headquarters in Austin, Texas.
A scholarship will be awarded to her employer, Bratrud Middleton Insurance Inc., for participation in any National Alliance program.
In addition to the selection of Ms. Hawkins as the national award recipient, four national finalists were chosen:
o Lisa Folta, RJF Agencies Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
o Tracey L. Hall, Karn Sitkins Payette Insurance Agency Inc., Wyandotte, Mich.
o Karen A. Jergenson, Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.
o Kimberly S. Shows, Fox Everett, Jackson, Miss.
Each will receive a gold and garnet lapel pin.
For more information, contact Danielle D. Janecka, vice president, the Society of CISR, at 512-349-6181 or [email protected].
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