Sara Sheppard Pacifici, vicepresident at Sheppard InsuranceGroup
College: University of SouthCarolina '07
Organizations: IIABA, PIA

Read Sara's previous nGI Q&A

Do your top carriers recruit young workers? Itseems that they are recruiting young workers. Auto-Owners Insurancein particular recruits a lot of young people. And those we haveinteracted with are doing a great job in underwriting, claims andprocessing.

What's the toughest thing about being a young agent in afield where the average age is 55? I think young agentscan bring a lot more to the table than some might think. We havefresh ideas, lots of energy and are eager and ready to learn. Youngagents see the insurance industry as a solid, challenging, and,yes, even exciting career choice. Insurance is difficult and thereis a lot to be learned from those who have been in the industry formany years. Both generations can learn a lot from each other.

How does technology fit into your workstrategy? Technology is a necessary part of my work lifeand my work strategy. We are in a time of new opportunities withtechnology that we are still trying to figure out in regard to ourindustry. Now it's not just agency management systems andcomparative raters. It's social networking, Smartphones, websitesand blogs. My strategy is to find a productive blend of themall.

What's your mantra for success? Always go theextra mile, not only for clients but for friends and family aswell. I believe positive things come back to you if you take careof others.

How do you balance work and personal life?Being in a family business can get hectic. I feel it is myresponsibility to work hard and put in more hours. However, I am afirm believer that taking care of yourself and doing things thatyou enjoy outside of work will make you a happier and betteremployee or boss. I just got engaged on Christmas Day so I'mgetting ready to really figure out how to balance these parts of mylife.

Read on for more from Sara SheppardPacifici

How does your office reflect how you work? Ouroffice is not like most insurance agencies. It is open andlight, and we are encouraged to interact with each other and withour clients in a comfortable, relaxed setting. While it is stillprofessional, I feel each of our offices also reflect ourindividual personalities.

What do you see Millennials struggle with relating toGen Ys in a professional environment? What advice do youhave? We are an on-the-go generation which sometimes makesit difficult to sit in an office all. We rely on fast-pacedcommunication like email and text messages, and some clients arenot comfortable with this just yet. My advice is to respect thatall clients are different and to slow down and enjoy theinteraction with them no matter what form of communication you areusing. I would also advise them to always look for opportunities tostay busy and meet new people. You will be surprised at how fastthe day goes by when you stay engaged.

Where do you hope to take your career? What directionwould you like your career to go? I would like toestablish myself in the industry as someone who has a traditionaljob in a traditional business, but is doing things in anontraditional way. I hope to create a positive reputation formyself and our agency.

Gen Y's often change jobs—7 times in their 20s,according to research. How can employers retain youngtalent? Employers can retain young talent bychallenging them, encouraging growth, opening new opportunities andallowing them to use their creativity to enhance businessprocedures. I would also advise employers to be flexible and opento new ideas from the younger generation.

Sara Sheppard Pacifici was featured inthe March 2011 issue of AA&B. She is a vicepresident at Brock Insurance Agency.