Dewinda Ford Gets ?CSR Of Year' Award

Dewinda Ford Gets ?CSR Of Year' Award

NU Online News Service, July 21, 11:43 a.m. EDT?Dewinda A. Ford, of the Bramlett Agency Inc., Ardmore, Okla., has been honored by two insurance education groups with the 2003 National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award.

The Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, both in Austin, Texas, selected Ms. Ford from a field of 42 state winners.

After five finalists were chosen from this field, a blue-ribbon panel of four judges evaluated the finalists based on their individual contributions to the insurance community and the strength of their essays written on the topic, "How CSRs Find Success Using Five Essential Service Skills."

The judges included Sam Friedman, National Underwriter publisher & editor-in-chief,

Ms. Ford, a commercial lines manager customer service representative with 38 years of insurance industry experience, also serves The Bramlett Agency as vice president and office manager.

Ms. Ford recently celebrated her 30th anniversary with the agency. In addition to her work activity, Ms. Ford has been a member of the Lone Grove City Council for six years, with one year as mayor.

She also does volunteer work with the Oklahoma 4-H organization, her church, March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. Ms. Ford is a former Ardmore, Okla., Insurance Woman of the Year.

Ms. Ford, in her essay, defined the five important areas of service as "making our clients feel special, creating a bond of trust, providing a certain level of service, extending product knowledge and developing strong producer/company/co-worker relationships."

Dr. William T. Hold, president of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research in Austin, Texas said: "Ms. Ford's love and respect for the profession came through clearly in her essay. She wrote about how much she values both the business and personal relationships she forms with her customers."

Ms. Ford receives a cash award of $1,000, a distinctive gold and diamond lapel pin, and her name is inscribed on a sculpture on permanent display at National Alliance headquarters. A scholarship will be awarded to her employer, The Bramlett Agency Inc., for participation in any National Alliance program.

In addition to Ms. Ford, there were four national finalists for the award.

Jacqueline Cameron, SWBC Insurance Services, in San Antonio, Texas; Peggy Fletcher, Charles Crane Agency, in St. Louis, Mo.; Elaine M. Slate, Holmes Murphy & Associates, in West Des Moines, Iowa; and Ann C. Tharp, Collins Insurance Agency, in New Albany, Miss. Each will receive a special gold and garnet lapel pin and publicity in a national trade journal.

For additional information, contact The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, P.O. Box 27028, Austin, Texas 78755-2028; 800-633-2165; Fax: 512-346-4672; E-mail: alliance@scic.com; Web site: www.TheNationalAlliance.com.