Welcome Dean Sarnowski - HNI Wisconsin's newest Account Manager. Dean has spent almost 20 years in the insurance industry and has developed a passion for educating and strategizing with companies on employee benefits.
How did you get into the insurance industry?
As with most people in the field, I didn't seek out insurance - it luckily found me. I have spent time in the various areas of insurance and eventually fell into the broker side and immediately loved it.
The reason I've built my career in insurance is due to its ability to make a difference in business and ultimately help people. Employee benefits are crucial to a company's success because it helps retain top talent. The tough part is finding the right plan fit for a business and then helping their employees understand how to best utilize their benefits.
What were you most surprised to learn about HNI?
The employees at HNI have bent over backwards to not only make me feel welcome, but to also assist me with my learning phase. Before my first day, I received a welcome package and a note letting me know that HNI was excited for my first day. Starting a new job after 12 years at my previous company was pretty daunting, but after my first day I already felt like I had made a great decision making a career move here. Each day that passes I know I made the right choice to move to HNI.
Additionally, the systems and technology here is well beyond the size of this agency. I was thouroughly impressed with just how advanced HNI is in terms of technology.
What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I've done tandem skydiving, I've ran a total of six marathons (slowly), and I love to cook and bake (wellness is on the inside as well as on the outside). Thankfully these two things balance each other out!
My go to item for baking is chocolate chip cookies - just don't ask me to put nuts in my cookies. ;)
Any advice for someone looking to get into insurance?
Don't come into it with pre-conceived notions - good or bad. Try to find a good company (like HNI!) and take advantage of the opportunities it provides. Learn to embrace change because change is the one constant in the insurance world. The options in this industry are endless and your career will look drastically different from where you started - you will never feel bored!
