Annmarie Westerfield, CRIS

When I was 14 years old my father said, “It would be a good idea for you to get your working papers and look for a part time job.” At the time our neighbor was a bookkeeper at a local independent agency and they were looking for a file clerk. (Side Note: this was 1981 so they still used typewriters!) I started working at the agency after school and over the summer all the way through college, quoting simple auto policies, typing applications, filing, answering the phone, and doing simple data entry. After college, I was looking for a teaching job during a time when the market didn’t have a lot of open teaching positions so I ended up taking a job at an agency “until I found a teaching job”. They sent me for my license and the rest is history!

I can’t imagine being in this industry without being a member of the Big I. Insurance is such a unique industry. We really need as many resources as possible to keep current on market trends, coverages, legislative matters, and insurance company ratings and offerings. When I have a question about anything pertaining to insurance in general, the first resource is always Big I NJ. That may be by attending an event, asking other members, or by visiting the website or Big I University. Big I NJ is one of the most valuable tools I have at my disposal and I would advise anyone thinking of joining to just do it! The products are great and the staff is the best!

We have an opportunity for the “passing of the torch”. Agents preparing to leave the industry have so much knowledge and talent and it is our opportunity and obligation to pass that knowledge onto younger people in the industry so they can to take that experience and use it in new and different ways going forward.

In my opinion, it is going to be AI. I confess that I don’t really know all of the ways it will change our business, but rest assured it will. At a recent board meeting I saw first-hand how ChatGPT works and my jaw literally dropped at what it can do. It’s fascinating, but also a bit frightening!

Knowledge is power. If you only learn about one type of insurance, or one job function, you will limit yourself. Take every opportunity to try new things, take new education courses, and attend industry functions (Big I NJ has great events!). Eventually you will settle into the role that suits you best, but if you can build a foundational knowledge about our industry, I promise, you will succeed.

I hope to help strengthen our program utilization for agents by getting the word out on what’s offered and how it will help agents. I would also like to focus on engagement and education for our members. There is so much available if you just know who to ask or where to look.

The Ideal Traits job searching tool, which is offered at a discount to members. You can advertise open positions and have it broadcast out to numerous job boards, access templates for job ads or assessments to send to applicants, and more. It really makes a very challenging process of hiring much easier.

My biggest professional mentor was my first boss, Dave Madden. I worked at his agency for almost 20 years from high school through adulthood. He started as a one-man shop in his basement and grew to be a very successful Morris County agency. I learned so much from him – I don’t know that I will ever have another mentor like that.

My greatest motivator is being able to contribute in a meaningful way, no matter what I am involved in. Financial reward is great, but I need to feel like I am a part of something, to be able to make a difference.

Don’t be afraid to take a chance. Raise your hand and say “I will try it”. Don’t be afraid to fail.

I have a great sense of humor and I love to laugh!