Becoming an insurance agent can be a life-changing event forsome, especially when the opportunity turns into a calling. Thefollowing producers may have come into the business for differentreasons, but they're each staying in the industry for the same: toimprove the lives of others.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.

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Matt Mauller, vice president
Neace Lukens
Cincinnati, Ohio

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
A close family friend owned an agency in our hometown, so I had amarginal understanding of the industry. After college, I wasintroduced to a district manager of a small insurance company basedout of Minnesota. The district manager hired me, trained me andeventually recruited me to Neace Lukens, where we both still worktoday. Throughout the past 15 years, my career path in insurancehas enabled me to grow professionally and accomplish my goals. Tothis day I truly enjoy the personal aspect of developingrelationships with my clients and tailoring coverage to meet theirinsurance needs.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
Helping my clients protect what they have spent their lifebuilding.

What's your favorite client successstory?
I counseled a client on the benefits of aworkers' compensation policy to cover their uninsured subcontractorexposure. On my advice, the client purchased the workers' comppolicy. Two years later, they received notice of an incident thatresulted in a 6 figure workers comp claim. The premium for theworkers' comp insurance that the client purchased was just $500 peryear. I was able to help my client protect themselves againstunforeseen circumstances, and helped them save a great deal ofmoney.

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Some people dream of success, while others wake up and work hard atit! In our industry, it's important to stay focused and driven—hardwork and honesty will get you far.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
In another life I would be an entrepreneur! Every day, I see thechallenges and achievements my clients experience, and I realizehow rewarding life as an entrepreneur can be.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister ofEngland during World War II. Churchill motivated his country tostand almost singlehandedly (prior to the US involvement) againstthe German Western front against great odds. Without hisdetermination and perseverance, we could be living in a verydifferent world.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
I love to spend time with my three young children and beautifulwife.

Michael Mormando, producer
Concklin Insurance Agency
Lombard, Ill.

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
In June of 2008, I was ready for a career change from dailyrestaurant ownership operations.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
Deciphering the best coverage needed for different types ofbusinesses.

What's your favorite client successstory?
Eliminated a theft coverage gap for a client that, a yearlater, had an employee embezzlement situation. The client wascovered completely.

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Make plenty of phone calls, network with different industries,listen to people describe their challenges and offer easy, sensiblesolutions.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
Professional golfer.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
Donald Trump; he's not afraid of challenges.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
Old cars, cooking, family time, snow-skiing, golfing and finewines.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.

Liz Raifman, owner
Liz Raifman Risk Management Services Inc.
Plainview, N.Y.

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
I was looking for a profession rather than just a job. I went foran interview at what was Alexander & Alexander (one of thelargest brokers). I started in a clerical position and workedmy way up to account manager within a year. I had a wonderfulmentor who pushed me to go further.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
I like the challenge of covering a new risk. I enjoy educating myclients on all of the overlooked points on their current insurance.I am always learning.

What's your favorite client successstory?
It is hard to point to one success story. The bottom line is when aclaim is paid against the policy and I have included that coverageand convinced my client that it may be worth the extra premium inthe long run.

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Keep up with the technical parts of the insurance policy. You willset yourself apart if you can impart excellent information. Thathas always served me well. Start at the bottom and know how tomentor others. The more you know, the better broker you are.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
I would probably enjoy a position in the fashion oradvertising industries.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
Golda Mier is a person I admire. Her leadership in a country whichis being torn apart is incredible. I also share her personallife and views.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
I love reading. I also like artistic endeavors. Redecorating a roomis extremely rewarding. It can be as simple as moving the furniturearound.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.

Alan Caruso, owner
Al Caruso Agency
Kensington/Berkeley, Calif.

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
My aunt Clara was a debit agent withAmerican National. She said I was a natural because I talkedcontinuously.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
Being able to help people solve theirproblems.

What's your favorite client successstory?
There are so many. This may be a bitdepressing, but many years ago, a client bought a new home andinsisted he wanted a 20-year endowment. After a very heateddiscussion, I sold him and his wife a term plan. A year later, hedied suddenly and his wife was OK.

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Talk to the people.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
Never have given it a thought.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
Ronald Reagan. He was a great actor andcarried that right into the White House.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
Racquetball/Cruising.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.

Rita Harris, customer serviceagent
Archibald Insurance Center
Rexburg, Idaho

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
I didn't decide to do this. Furthest thingfrom my mind. I had just gotten married and was looking to buyinsurance. Also, I was looking for job. Bought insurance and got areceptionist job at the same time.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
Saving money for my customers. Hearing goodreports back from satisfied customers after a claim.

What's your favorite client successstory?
Losing a customer to the competitor, but thenhaving them want to come back to me the next year so I could betheir agent again. Price was not a factor!

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Learn all you canabout what you are selling. Knowing your product is a must. Be wellrounded. Have broad shoulders, rejection will happen, but not allthe time. Pay attention to detail. Document, document, document.Learn the technology, learn to grow with it. Do not be stagnantwhen it comes to technology. Learn to love the business and it willlove you back.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
I always thought I would have been a good social worker.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
John F. Kennedy; I have learned his tragichistory since I was a little girl. I still follow the Kennedyfamily. Very interesting, yet sad.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
Horseback riding, traveling,hiking, trying new restaurants.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.

Kim Boyette, president
Boyette Insurance Agency
Henrico, Va.

How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
The agency was started by my father and Ialways knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
I would have to say that the interaction Ihave with my clients are what I love most about being an insuranceagent. Most, if not all of my clients, are like family to me. Iwant them to know that they can talk with me about anything,insurance related or not.

What's your favorite client successstory?
My favorite client success story would haveto be the family that immigrated from Asia to the United States inthe 1980s. When the relationship began, no English was spoken bythe parents, and only broken English by the children. One of theirdaughters actually worked for us while she was in high school. Shehas since married and has a child of her own. I still have thatfamily insured today, and assist when I can to help facilitatethe small business that was started by one of the family members. Iwas honored and humbled to be invited to an wedding in thefamily and assigned a family member to translate theproceedings.

What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
The best careeradvice I would give to anyone is that treat people with respect andhonesty. I firmly believe in what goes around comes around. Clientshave often said that they may not like what I tell them but theyknow that I speak the truth, and that I will be straightforward andforthcoming about any issue we discuss.

What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
This is a toss up between cake decorating and training servicedogs.

What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
I would consider Jack Sampson of AC&SInsurance a person I most admire. He and his wife Joyce Sampsonhave the utmost respect for both their employees and clients. Jackhas worked in the insurance industry for decades and I have seenhim work both as a company man, an agent and business owner. He hasstrong ethics in his business and personal life. He trulyexemplifies an individual that wants to help others in any way.There need to be more individuals like Jack and Joyce Sampson and Ican only hope that I can emulate their success.

What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
I love to bake for my family andfriends, and for my dogs. I love working dogs, both purebreeds as well as mix breeds.

Want to share your own insurance story? Clickhereto tell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Vol. IV.