Through Imagination: Starmount Innovation Womens History Month Connection
March 2013
Always in Brief
Brandi Horsley married David Kleinpeter on February 9. Congratulations, Brandi! Korie Gotreaux gave birth to daughter Kenslie Delyn Gotreaux on February 8. Kenslie and mom are doing great. Congratulations, Korie!
March marks the beginning of Womens History Month, established in 1987 by Congress to celebrate the contributions of American women across various fields and industries. This years theme, Innovation through Imagination, aims to highlight women in every discipline who have made successful strides for our country as a whole through their creativity. We asked several of our leaders how they view the progress of women in the workforce and how they feel this years theme fits.
Jennifer Williams gave birth to son Riley Kaiden Williams on February 22. Both Riley and mom are doing great. Congratulations, Jennifer!
Starmount/AlwaysCare held its 2013 Sales Conference Feb. 18-21 at the Home Office. The Sales team participated in 1-1/2 days of sales training and business planning, and received a first look at new plans from AmeriFlex, a new business partner offering COBRA, FSA and Section 125 plan administration for AlwaysCare group clients.
I went to graduate school in international affairs, which was unconventional for women to do at that time. My parents worked together in retail, and I was always very interested in business. Hans parents worked together in retail, too, so when I joined the family retail business six weeks after we were married, it seemed natural to me, but it was pretty unconventional, too. Women were just beginning to enter the workforce in some fields, though retail was always a welcoming profession for women. I feel women are naturally and generally hard working, skilled, smart, thoughtful and innovative. The knowledge economy, in particular, has been a boon for women in the workforce. Thanks to flexible scheduling, longer leave time for maternity and the emphasis on creativity and innovation through knowledge, women dont have to run across the world to work. They can stay close to home and have a business opportunity, wherever they may live. -Donna Sternberg, Executive VP I definitely work with more women in executive and decision-making roles today than when I first started working in the health insurance industry 15 years ago. I believe this trend will continue in years to come, in our industry and the workforce in general. The theme Innovation through Imagination is quite fitting. Whether it is a woman who is a CEO, U.S. Senator, etc. they use the power of their imaginations to innovate within their fields and to strive for success. I believe that women in general are better listeners, which I think can be beneficial to the decision-making process. -Betty Tucker, Sales The current landscape is an encouraging one. For the first time in history, women are surpassing men by record numbers in college enrollment and completion. We see evidence of this at campus recruiting events where the young women bring a new confidence to their interactions with potential employers and are taking great strides to prepare themselves for successful careers upon graduation.
Associates receive top sales awards. From left: Pete Stam, Shelly King, Mike Umpleby, Betty Tucker, Brian Muse, Craig Cichanofsky.
-Sarah Munson, VP Human Resources and Compliance It was not that long ago when the traditional role for a woman was being a nurse, teacher or stay-at-home mom. However, women have proven that they have the skills and knowledge to succeed in business. As a woman, I do not consider gender barriers in the workplace. For women to continue to force change in the corporate world, we must stay true to our aspirations and believe in our values. Strong leadership requires an individual to communicate effectively, take ownership and responsibility, listen and have the passion to succeed; none of which are defined by gender. -Melissa Killian, VP Group Underwriting
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Spotlight: Life Marketing
Many different departments keep the company running on a daily basis. You may know what the departments are, but how much do you really know about them? This feature will highlight one department and its role in daily operations. Department Name: Life Marketing Department Size: Four Associates Department Functions: Life marketing creates and oversees the production of all marketing materials and mail-outs for Life Operations. Role in the Big Picture of Starmount: Life insurance is the foundation on which the rest of the company grows. Life Marketing sets goals to consistently compete with larger companies and expand the brand recognition of Starmount. These goals are vital for company growth. The department understands this expectation and works very hard to learn and quickly adapt to evolving methods of direct mail marketing. Something You May Not Know: In the 30 years that the department has been mailing out materials for Life Operations, it has mailed over 30 million marketing pieces. Why They Would Win a Race Against Other Departments: The department has teamwork and tight deadlines etched into its DNA. This would lead to victory. Department Traditions: The department often faces stressful deadlines and a fast-paced work environment. When the stress level gets very high, members of the department sprinkle Peace and Calm essential oil to relieve the pressure. Department Topics of Conversation: The department often talks about current and upcoming projects, family members, pets and food. This last topic is a favorite of department members. Why They Do It: First impressions are very important in marketing. Life Marketing takes pride in ensuring that every piece mailed exudes the passion and care that has come to define Starmount Life.
Animals in Need
Are you an animal lover? Have you ever wanted to help animals in need? There are many organizations in the Greater Baton Rouge area that offer volunteer and adoption opportunities to help stray, homeless and abandoned animals. If you are looking for a way to get involved with animal welfare, here are just a few of the most prominent local organizations: Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS) CAAWS ensures that all animals in its shelter are spayed, neutered and up to date on all shots. The adoption process requires a full background check so CAAWS can see that each animal gets the love and attention it needs and winds up in the best home possible. Learn more at http:// caaws.org/welcome.php. Cat Haven Cat Haven seeks to rescue and place stray or abandoned cats into loving homes. Cat Haven also hosts a variety of different fundraisers including events at Painting and Pinot and On the Border. Program and event details are at http://www.cathaven.org/index.htm. Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge Friends of the Animals seeks to prevent dogs and puppies from being euthanized and instead have them placed into loving homes. The organization is continially looking for volunteers for its many pet adoptions and can be found downtown every Saturday at the Farmers Market. To volunteer, visit http://www. friendsoftheanimalsbr.org. Whether you are looking for a new addition to your family or would simply like to help local animals, check out these and other animal welfare organizations in the Baton Rouge area. There is no better feeling than knowing you have made a difference to an animal in need.
Ask Hans
Question: How would you describe the overall experience of writing We Were Merchants? Are there any special methods you implement to facilitate your writing process? What tips would you give to anyone desiring to one day publish a book? Answer: We Were Merchants wasnt a spontaneous exercise; far from it. For 30 years before formally beginning writing the book, I kept a journal and periodically recorded a description when important events took place.
The history of my family came from interviews of my mother, my siblings and other relatives, plus research by Jay Shelledy, a professor at LSU and former newspaper publisher who was invaluable in making what I wrote enjoyable reading. There were also wonderful memories of my father, Erich, who passed away in 1965. Since the family was in the department store industry with Goudchauxs and Maison Blanche, there was a trove of newspaper and magazine articles to draw from. The book was probably the hardest project I ever attempted, and Donna and I spent many nights gathering materials and proof reading, too often to 2 a.m. After it was done, our judgement is still that the result was worth it. It recorded a bit of personal and Louisiana history which the family did not want lost. A major review by the Wall Street Journal and the fact that it was LSU Presss best seller of the year of publication, as I understand it, made the effort doubly rewarding.
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Revenue: A Sign of Business Health
By Erich Sternberg This is the first in a new series of articles about some of the main ways we measure company growth and success at Starmount. This month, we start with revenue.
Associate Anniversaries
Melanie Hudman David Roth Kim Seals Sabrina Boudreaux Philip Elliott Erica Henry Dee Sonnier Victoria Williams Kelly Moore Rene Milligan Jennifer LeGlue Shanea Pitslata Andy Schoppert Tammie Hintz 10 8 8 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1
Simply stated, revenue is the money the company collects each month for the services we provide. Continuous revenue collection is vital because it provides the funds to pay claims, salaries, and other costs of doing business. Plus, it also allows us to make longer-term investments like our new home office, upgrades in our computer systems and on-going associate training programs. Compared to our largest competitors, such as MetLife, with $68.4 billion or Aflac, with $25.4 billion, our $110 million in annual revenue is small. However, we are growing! Our company revenue has increased an average of 11% to 14% per year for the last four years. Were especially proud that this growth has occurred during a period some have called the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Revenue growth is the mark of a healthy company. Its a sign we are pleasing our members we are keeping them satisfied, and holding onto their business year after year while our sales team is busy lining up even more new customers.
March Birthdays
Stacey Osberghaus Debra Hadden Jamie Blanco Natka Varisco Elizabeth Vitter Becky Hampton Brandi Kleinpeter Sherry Nola Lori Langlinais Howard Drury Janice Enich Stacy Clement Jennifer Williams 1 2 9 10 11 16 17 17 20 25 27 29 30
How do you see your role at Starmount and AlwaysCare impacting company revenue and growth? What other topics would you like to see discussed here? Please email me your thoughts at [email protected].
Starmount Races for the Cure
If you are looking to get out and active this weekend, check out the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, March 2. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is an annual fundraiser to promote positive awareness, education and early detection of breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised from the event stay with the Baton Rouge Afilliate to provide diagnostics, treatment, services and education. The remaining 25 percent of funds goes toward national breast cancer research. Starmount does its part every year, holding several office-wide fundraisers and encouraging Associates to participate in the race. This year, more than 25 Associates are registered to take part in Race for the Cure. If you are not one of them, it is not too late. Registration ends the day of the race. As of our publication deadline, Associates have raised approximately $1,500 through this years fundraising campaigns. At just over three miles, the race is an excellent opportunity to squeeze a workout into your weekend. In a short three-mile walk, you will be doing wonders for not just your own health, but the health of thousands of others around the country. You can register online at http://www. komenbatonrouge.org/komen-race-for-the-cure or in person the day of the race.
Source: http://www.komenbatonrouge.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/
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Associate of the Month
? o h w s s e u G
y r e t s My ee y o l p Em
Christy Johnson 1 year of service
Christy Johnson is always looking to learn new duties and help out where needed. Christy performs a multitude of duties including coordinating exams, answering phones, conducting phone interviews and processing individual dental applications. She excels at everything! Now that we are busy with the mailout, she volunteers to work overtime to help enter applications or whatever may come up.
Keep it up, Christy!
The Rules: Use the clues to guess the mystery employee. Submit your answer to Ryan DeLaune by the end of today, March 1. Everyone with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing for a prize. 1. Went to a Hootie and the Blowfish concert before they became popular. 2. Went to college with Shaquille ONeal. 3. First job was working for a po-boy shop. 4. Dreams of buying a house in the country. 5. Loves running and outdoor sports.
New Associates
Erin Richard Ashley Connolly Lashanda Jackson Sales Support Group Underwriting Group Customer Service
Revealed
Guess who?
Last Months Winner: Melanie Maurus
If youre interested in nominating a Guess Who? Mystery Employee, email Ryan DeLaune.
Shoshanah Ferguson, Group Underwriting
1. Went to the same high school as Cameron Diaz. 2. Broke both arms simultaneously at an amusement park. 3. Read 58 books in one year. 4. Member of college soccer team. 5. Insists that television volume be on a multiple of 2, but not divisible by 10.
