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Applied Systems Client Network TENCon Connect

 2010 TENCon  September 15-18, 2010 | Hyatt Regency | Chicago, IL

Feature

The Best Places to Work

By Dave Willis

When Insurance Journal magazine announced the six winners of its “2009 Best Independent Insurance Agency to Work For Survey,” odds are one or two ASCnet member agencies would have made the list. Wrong. ASCnet members beat the odds. Half of the winning agencies are part of your users group! These include Heffernan Insurance Brokers, headquartered in Walnut Creek, Cal.; Rathbun Agency, in Lansing Mich.; and Senn Dunn, based in Greensboro, N.C.

A common theme among winning agencies is one of family ideals, the magazine noted. “The leaders and managers of these agencies encourage and listen to their employees, create opportunities for success and growth, and provide a sense of stability and protection against the challenges of these uncertain economic times,” the Insurance Journal writer said in an article showcasing the winners.

Given the strong showing by member agencies, ASCnet wanted to dig deeper. So we did, speaking with our contacts for each. We found interesting tie-ins between corporate culture, job satisfaction and the agencies’ use of technology and education—ASCnet focus areas.

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TENCon Connect: A Review

Nov/Dec 2009 - By Dave Willis

Looking forward more than back.

A tough economy and a weeklong spell of “cool and cloudy with a little rain thrown in here and there” weather didn’t dull enthusiasm at this year’s ASCnet TENCon. From the opening session to the closing party, nearly 1,200 attendees made the most of the event’s education and networking opportunities.

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Workflows and Procedures: Keeping Them Fresh and Followed

October 2009 - By Dave Willis

Investing the time, energy and resources on documenting procedures increases consistency and reduces errors.

Talk about agency workflows and procedures and some people’s eyes start to glaze -- often just before they shut. But there’s good cause to pay attention, experts say.

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Cashing In On Accounting Efficiency

September 2009 - By Dave Willis

Less Paper, More Download.

No doubt about it, accounting is paper-driven.


“You get paper statements from the company, you get paper notification from the company about commission discrepancies, everything is paper,” says Christine Forbes, who oversees the technology and training department for The Daniel and Henry Co., a 200-person TAM agency in St. Louis. “For years, accounting people have printed reports and kept hard copies of them.”
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Getting to the Pot of Gold

July/August 2009 - By Dave Willis

Agencies use a wide spectrum of techniques to boost sales.

Agencies are getting creative and broadening their approach to sales, exploiting opportunities in technology and the culture to boost their bottom lines.

Heather Teegarden, CPIA, operations manager at Ohio-based Andres O’Neil & Lowe, a multi-site, 30-person TAM agency, gives an example: “We’re doing an ‘e-mail blitz’ contest to see who can get the most e-mail addresses from clients, which we will then use to do e-marketing. The contest is open to all office staff, except producers. People are complaining because the receptionist is answering the phone saying, ‘I’d like to update just a little bit of your information.’ She’s getting them first. It’s fun—a little internal competition.”
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