What inspired you to make a career move to HNI?
What peaked my interest in continuing my career at HNI is that HNI’s culture and brand is forward looking, adept at change, and nimble. I had been wanting to get back to a position where I could continue to grow and exercise my talents in client relations, especially around helping clients determine their risk finance strategy, and HNI was the best match for me.
What were you most surprised to learn about HNI?
After coming to HNI, I was most pleasantly surprised to learn that the culture I learned about during the interview process is not fluff and that HNI practices what it preaches. HNI’s focus on de-risking business is something I’ve been talking about for some time but haven’t been able to be a part of.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
People who don’t know me may be surprised to learn that I home brew beer. I enjoy trying different recipes, but my favorites are IPAs. I’ve been known to share my brews with friends and coworkers, and I even used specialty batches bottled with custom labels as birth announcements for my children called Ivan’s Pale Ale and Honey Bee(r).
How do you plan to spend your mandatory 1 week unplug?
Our extended family owns a resort in Minnesota, so I’m planning to spend the week fishing and relaxing with my wife and children. It is a family reunion and my 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter enjoy spending time with their family they don’t often get the chance to see.
Why did you choose the Insurance Industry as a career?
I didn’t necessarily plan on choosing the insurance industry as a career. I went to college at Whitewater and earned a degree in statistics, intending to do something in the actuarial field. A few weeks before school ended, I got a job lined up with Willis as an Assistant Client Manager and haven’t looked back. I have stayed in the insurance industry because it provides solid career opportunities with many options for growth. I believe it is a stable industry because businesses will always need insurance, and so I have become a self-proclaimed “insurance nerd.” I have enjoyed earning a variety of designations and learning as much as I can about the insurance field and my client’s businesses.
