2022 State Winners
| STATE WINNER | STATE | COMPANY |
| Rose Griffith | Arizona | The Coverage Pro |
| Jennifer Goree, CISR, CAWC | Arkansas | BXS Insurance |
| Linda Hernandez, CISR | California | Apollo Insurance Services |
| Caytlyn Griffith, CIC, CISR | Colorado | CRS Insurance Brokerage |
| Christina M. Pritchett, CISR Elite | Delaware | Wilgus Associates, Inc. |
| Alissa Collins, CPCU, AAI | Florida | Plastridge Insurance |
| Darcy Castrejon | Georgia | Buckle Insurance |
| Korinda Sprague | Idaho | Hub International Mountain States Limited |
| Amy Merced, CAWC | Illinois | Worthy Insurance Group |
| Stacy McClaine, CISR | Indiana | Central Insurance Associates, Inc. |
| Martha Elliott, CIC, CISR, CIIP, ANFI | Kansas | Cornerstone Kansas City |
| Melissa Baxter, CISR | Kentucky | Houchens Insurance Group |
| Heather Hall, CISR | Maine | Cross Insurance |
| Roxanne Glessner Cameron, CISR | Maryland | ACM Insurance Agency |
| Pamela Da Silva, AU, AINS, MLIS | Massachusetts | Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC |
| Rebecca Thomas, CISR | Michigan | Select Underwriters |
| Brittany Ratke | Minnesota | Christensen Group Insurance |
| Laney Ward Smith | Mississippi | Insurance & Risk Managers |
| Pamela Hamilton | Missouri | Ollis/Akers/Arney |
| Cathi Schuett | Nebraska | FNIC |
| Suzanne Sanders Durante, ACSR, CLP | Nevada | Durante Insurance & Financial Services |
| Amanda Petrylka, ACSR | New York | Mackoul Risk Solutions |
| Jennifer L. Gordon, CISR Elite | North Carolina | Morrow Insurance Agency, Inc. |
| Wendy Kegley | Ohio | Fourman Insurance, LLC |
| Megan Smith-Vinson, CISR Elite | Oklahoma | Messer-Bowers Company |
| Ashley Buell, CISR | Oregon | KPD Insurance |
| Amber Patterson, CISR | Pennsylvania | Howard Hanna Insurance Services |
| Madeline Ivette Perez Allende, CISR Elite | Puerto Rico | Velox 24 Auto Insurance a Division of Colonial Insurance Agency |
| Jennifer Ridgill, CISR | South Carolina | McGriff Insurance |
| Pamela J. Lunzman, CISR | South Dakota | Farmers Union Insurance/Tom Farber Agency |
| Alicia Potter, CISR | Tennessee | RSS Insurance |
| Sonnie Tremble, CIC, CRM, CISR | Texas | The Insurance Man & Associates |
| Andrew Skypack | Vermont | Kinney Insurance Agency |
| Tiffanie Courtney, CIC, CISR, CRIS | Wisconsin | M3 Insurance |
| Amy Jo Ratcliff, CIC, CISR | Wyoming | Hub International Mountain States Limited |
2022 Competition Entry
Essay
Please submit a 500 to 1000- word essay on the following topic:
“Transferable Skills are learned from experience which includes prior careers, education, volunteer work, or personal encounters. What are the top three skills you transferred from outside the insurance industry to your current job role? Discuss how you leverage your skills, continue to develop and evolve them, and how you transfer your expertise to others to ensure perpetually exceptional customer service.”
Rules & Rewards
How Does It Work?
*Individuals who nominate the national winner receive a $1000 cash award.
Nominees compete at the state level to become one of five finalists.
NEW 2022 National Qualifier Stage:
State Winners will be required to submit a short video entry for the National Competition.
Video guidelines will be sent to State Winners when selected.
History Of The Competition
The Outstanding CSR of the Year competition started in 1991 to honor customer service representatives and account managers who have made significant contributions to the insurance and risk management industry. The competition is sponsored by the Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC)—proud member organizations of The National Alliance.
We encourage you to nominate your best customer service representatives and account managers to compete for the Outstanding CSR of the Year award. The competition is open to any insurance customer service representatives or candidates primarily responsible for customer service regardless of affiliation or professional designation. Candidates interested in participating in the competition may also nominate themselves.
2021 National Winner
Ms. Darnella Rodriguez, CIC, CRM, CISR
is the 2021 National Outstanding CSR of the Year
Darnella Rodriguez, CIC, CRM, CISR, Account Manager for Higginbotham, in Austin, Texas, has been awarded the most prestigious honor available to insurance customer service representatives: National Outstanding CSR of the Year.
In her essay, Ms. Rodriguez mentions what it takes to provide excellent customer service.
She states: “You have to give sound advice, and it requires communication; you need to effectively communicate coverages and work well with others to ensure activities are done correctly and in a timely manner. But to truly give unique customer service, you have to put yourself in your client’s shoes, be two steps ahead of them, and be ready to provide solutions to anything and everything that comes up. That’s how you add value to a client’s business, by giving them the peace of mind that once they send over something or reach out to you, you will get it taken care of and minimize their concerns.”
Ms. Rodriguez receives a cash award of $3,000, a distinctive gold and diamond lapel pin, and her name on a sculpture at The National Alliance headquarters. A National Alliance scholarship will be awarded to her employer, Higginbotham.
2021 National Finalists
2021 Outstanding CSR of the Year Finalists
Meet this year’s finalists! Each finalist receives a special gold and garnet pin, a $500 cash award, and publicity in the national trade journal, Rough Notes.
2021 State Winners
2021 Outstanding CSR of the Year State Winners
Meet this year’s State Winners! Each State Winner receives a framed certificate and national recognition.
2020 National Winner
Ms. Judi Vaughn, CIC, CISR is the
2020 National Outstanding CSR of the Year
Judi Vaughn, CIC, CISR, Account Manager for Kysar Leavitt Insurance Agency, in Farmington, New Mexico, has been awarded the most prestigious honor available to insurance customer service representatives: National Outstanding CSR of the Year. Ms. Vaughn was selected from a field of 30 state winners.
In her essay, on the topic of changes in technology, the consolidation of agencies, societal influences, and clients’ expectations, Ms. Vaughn mentions that times have changed in the world of insurance.
She insightfully states: “Now, we send emails, post on social media, and air commercials all in hopes to catch a new client. Not only has this change affected business’ strategies, but consumer’s expectations have been altered as well. Our world is ever-changing, so as customer service representatives we must be flexible and knowledgeable enough to provide our clients with the best services.”
Ms. Vaughn receives a cash award of $2,000, a distinctive gold and diamond lapel pin, and her name on a sculpture at The National Alliance headquarters. A National Alliance scholarship will be awarded to her employer, Kysar Leavitt Insurance Agency.
2020 National Finalists
2020 Outstanding CSR of the Year Finalists
Meet this year’s finalists! Each finalist receives a special gold and garnet pin, a $500 cash award, and publicity in the national trade journal, Rough Notes.
2020 State Winners
2020 Outstanding CSR of the Year State Winners
Meet this year’s State Winners! Each State Winner receives a framed certificate and national recognition.
