Experience

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  RETIRED

  • PHOENIX, AZ

  • staying healty and feeling good

    • Feb 2017 - Present
    • PHOENIX, AZ

    retired after 25 years in radio/tv and property and casualty insurance sales and service

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  Ameriprise Insurance

  • Property and casualty insurance agent

    • Apr 2010 - Jun 2011

    Inbound call center where I was licensed in over 45 states and sold auto, home and umbrella policies. Management was fair and honest, but I decided to seek a position where there is a better match. Their procedures are often ambiguous and wordy,extreme underwriting and titling issues cause rejection of applications, their conservative approach not allowing people with marginal credit to be bound immediately impacted many sales, and completing 99 percent of the quote for a customer, only to lose the sale because the customer calls another agent to add a vin number or name/address of a mortgage company and thus he/she gets the full credit for the sale was patently unfair and frustrating. Plus, antiquated technology did not identify potential errors that agents may have overlooked which could have cut down on extra work for underwriters. I did have a high regard for my manager, Jenni Willems, who taught me many subtle selling skills, and I appreciate her efforts to help make me a better sales rep.

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  Delbrocco Agency-Nationwide Insurance

  • Licensed property and casualty agent

    • Mar 2009 - Feb 2010

    inbound and outbound calls, sales and service for owner John Delbrocco. the agency worked with customers who sought and received auto, home,commercial and umbrella policies. I cross-sold and reviewed coverages for existing clients making sure they properly insured and solicited new potential customers. It was a small office, just 3 agents, and a nice place to work. John is an innovative and intelligent small-business owner. But, I needed a company to provide me with healthcare insurance, so I decided to join Ameriprise Insurance.

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  Pacstar Insuance

  • Licesend Agent

    • Mar 2008 - Dec 2008

    I sold non-standard auto insurance to Arizona drivers. I was also able to access Progressive insurance for policy holders who required more than just a minimum amount of liability coverage. I also serviced my customers with changes to their policy, SR22s, reminder calls regarding payments etc.

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  Progressive Insurance

  • Direct Sales Representative

    • Nov 1998 - Dec 2007

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  Bank One Arizona

  • Loan Customer Service Representative

    • May 1997 - Oct 1998

    I was hired to as a public relations specialist, only to be told the unit was being relocated to Bank One Texas in Houston. I was offered a position in their call center as a customer service rep, and took the opportunity to learn more about customer service, expecting that inbound call experience could lead to a better position in the future. It did, when I was hired by Progressive Insurance.

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  Media911

  • owner-operator

    • Jun 1995 - May 1997

    I opened a media relations firm, emphasizing small business needs. I offered my skills at publicizing a new business or product by matching them with the proper media outlet. I also provided copywriting, voice overs, and teaching my clients how to answer interview questions on air.

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  KFNN, KFYI, KOOL radio and the Business Journal

  • News Director/News/Sports Anchor, Talk Show Host

    • Aug 1977 - May 1995

    At these radio stations, I was on-air doing news and sportscasts. I was named news director at KOOL in 1979 and Operations Mgr. at KFNN shortly after my hire. Those positions required hiring and firing air personnel, and being responsible for all on-air content. I also hosted a business news radio program daily on KFNN and co-hosted Calling All Sports on KFY, along with former U-S congressman JD Hayworth. I won numerous awards from the AZ Associated Press Club for my newscasts and newswriting abilities. I also wrote for the weekly business publication, The Business Journal, for 6 months beginning in June 1995 till December 1995 when I decided to devote full time to my newly opened business, Media 911.

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  KOOL TV

  • News/Sports Anchor

    • Aug 1977 - Feb 1985

    While working at KOOL radio, I was given extra assignments at KOOL-TV, a CBS affiliate. I was picked to substitute on the CBS Morning News local cut-ins at 6:25 and 7:25 AM. I was also named sports anchor for the first late night newscast produced by a local TV station, Newsnight, which aired in 1982. I wrote and anchored two 10 minute segments.

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  WOXR RADIO

  • Air Personality- Sports Announcer

    • Aug 1974 - Aug 1977

    This was my first full-time radio assignment, having worked part-time at such outlets as WMMS in Cleveland, WMMR in Philadelphia, WNEW-FM in New York and WBCN in Boston during summers while a student at Emerson College. At WOXR, I hosted a midday progressive rock music show and was the voice of Miami University football and basketball. This may still be my favorite job of all time. The pay was minimal but the motivation and satisfaction I received was off the charts.