Welcome Karissa Uelmen - HNI Wisconsin's newest Account Associate. Karissa looks forward to cultivating strong relationships with clients to become a true partner within their businesses. When she's not conquering business risk, you can find her traveling the world or with her nose buried in a book.
What inspired you to make a career move to HNI?
For me, the website was a major seller. I stumbled across the blog, Coming Soon: Gen Z in the Workplace, and was really impressed with how forward thinking and future focused they were. I was interested in what HNI had to offer and immediately joined the talent network. About a week later I had an interview and the rest was history.
What were you most surprised to learn about HNI?
HNI doesn't just preach the good word - they are exactly as they appear. A lot of companies boast about being progressive and wanting to "change the game", but HNI actually does it. Their transparency is a breath of fresh air - their benefits are posted right on their careers page which is really cool.
How do you plan to spend your mandatory 1 week unplug?
I will be in Las Vegas at the end of October to get to a semi-exclusive car show. No, I’m not a car person by any means, but when my boyfriend and I were able to get tickets we thought, why not?
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am a major travel buff. I have been to all of the mainland states and Puerto Rico. Growing up, my dad worked for an airline, so my family of six oftentimes took standby tickets and jetted off to new destinations! I have also been to Jamaica and then China for a summer session while in college. I hope to visit Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe in the future.
Why did you choose the Insurance Industry as a career?
When I began my career, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After a few months, I felt like I was totally rockin' my job and became a huge insurance nerd - I LOVED insurance, no really. The thing is, it doesn't matter your age, when a client needs advice they look to you and your experience. They are in crisis mode and really value your opinion. I think that is what differentiates the insurance industry, no matter who you are you can make a major impact on someone's business. That is why I am so passionate about this industry.
