InVEST taps former student to lead national board

Shank previously served on the InVEST board from 2012 to 2015 as an agent member and returned for another term in 2016.

Shank started learning about insurance through the InVEST program at St. Petersburg Catholic High School where she was an InVEST student her junior and senior years. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Classroom-to-career education program InVEST has appointed Lindsey Shank as the new chair of its national board. She is vice president and regional agency operations manager for McGriff Insurance Services Inc. in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“As an InVEST student back in 1999, I would have never imagined my path would have led to a successful career in insurance, as well as the opportunity to serve as an InVEST board member and now InVEST board chair,” Shank said in a statement. “I am excited to move the organization in its new strategic direction to bring new talent into the independent agency force.”

Related: 6 ways to tackle the insurance industry talent gap

A strong return on investment

Shank started learning about insurance through the InVEST program at St. Petersburg Catholic High School where she was an InVEST student her junior and senior years. She began working at Iler Wall & Shonter (now McGriff) a week after her high school graduation and she continued to rise through the ranks of the agency throughout her college career.

She previously served on the InVEST board from 2012 to 2015 as an agent member and returned for another term in 2016, as well serving on the Florida Association of Insurance Agents board of directors from 2014 to 2017. She also brings the perspective of volunteer teacher to her new role, as she currently teaches the InVEST program at Northeast High School where she helps to mentor students on insurance education, business and life skills. She received InVEST’s National Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005 and 2010.

“Lindsey brings enthusiasm and a unique personal experience to the InVEST board of directors,” Deborah Pickford, InVEST executive director, said in a statement. “We look forward to harnessing her energy to grow the InVEST program and have her lead efforts to develop strong career pathways into the insurance industry and our independent agencies.”

Related: Women dominate insurance, but inequality is rampant at leadership levels

Notable InVESTments

InVEST has also awarded the 2018 InVEST Teacher of the Year Award to Linda Bruno, a business teacher at Dryden High School in upstate New York, and the 2018 InVEST Volunteer of the Year award to John Scheck, a claims representative at Insurance Planning Inc. in Hays, Kansas.

The annual awards honor an InVEST teacher and an InVEST volunteer who have made substantial contributions to their students by teaching them about insurance through the InVEST online curriculum.

“Dedicated teachers and volunteers like Linda and John are key to the success of the InVEST program which provides much needed financial literacy education,” Shank said in a statement.

Related: Teach insurance literacy