The Source - Higginbotham

Rusty’s
Remarks
Page 9
Work Hard,
Play Hard
Page 6
Straight From The
Source Blog
Page 10
The Source
Volume 2 | Issue 5
Partner Spotlight
Safe Harbor Benefits
Safe Harbor Benefits has a distinctive logo of a lighthouse with a beaming light
that beacons a boat to its shore. It evokes a feeling of safety and symbolizes the
firm’s ability to guide clients toward solutions. Higginbotham saw that light and
found its way to Safe Harbor Benefits.
Describe a typical day at
your office in one word
Safe Harbor Benefits is an independent brokerage firm in Arlington providing
insurance and financial services to business and personal clients. It was opened
in 1996 by Bryan Keathley, who had been a petroleum geologist and commercial
banker before becoming a life and health insurance broker. Customers were
drawn by Safe Harbor Benefits’ light, and Bryan enjoyed annual double-digit
growth that enabled the purchase a property/casualty agency in 2001.
“Fluid.”
Bryan Keathley,
Executive VP
Always looking for ways to better serve his clients, Bryan “knew the timing was
right to explore merging and had been approached by other agencies.” But,
it wasn’t until he received a phone call from New Partners Managing Director
Sharon Godwin that he “learned about Higginbotham and our shared passion for
doing right by our clients and our similar company cultures” and found the right
fit.
With our partnership, Bryan can navigate clients toward expanded services.
Welcome aboard our ship.
Global Reach. Local Touch. Single Source.
Stats
Year established: 1996
Location: Arlington
Number of employees: 4
Practice areas: Employee Benefits,
Personal P&C
F.O.R.C.E.
Family Of Responsible Caring Employees
Presbyterian Night Shelter
Fort Worth employees donated three large boxes of gently
used coats and tennis shoes to the Presbyterian Night Shelter
in October to help it prepare for winter weather needs.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
Rose Martinez in
Portland joined
the Radiology
Associates “Pink
Ladies” team in
the Making Strides
Against Breast
Cancer Walk. Can
you guess which is
her?
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Our Wichita Falls
office showed its
support of Breast
Cancer Awareness
Month in October
by purchasing pink
t-shirts sold by the
local fire station.
Light the Night Walk
Our Houston
office had a team
of 18 walkers
raise $25,000 for
the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society
in October.
Tarrant Area Food Bank
UnitedHealthcare selected the Tarrant Area Food Bank, a
long-time Higginbotham client, to receive a $2,500 donation
given annually to a locally operating non-profit organization.
Crime Stoppers Cops & Robbers 5K Pursuit
A group from our
Wichita Falls office
walked in the
Crime Stoppers
5K in November.
They dressed as
cops with Luann
Yarberry’s son
playing a bank
robber. Luann took
the prize for Best
Dressed Cop.
Greater Houston Builders Association
Our Houston office
brought Christmas
to a family in need
with the GHBA
Frank Aranza
Adopt-A-Family
Project. They
bought gifts for
Mary Louzi and
her five children,
who moved from
Sudan and were
left homeless after
Mary’s husband passed away.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth
More than 40 children with the Boys &
Girls Clubs enjoyed a pizza party and
visit with Santa at our Fort Worth office
to celebrate Christmas. They received
gifts purchased by employees from
their individual wish lists.
Center for Child Protection
Alexis Dowling and Erin Woodard in our
Austin office volunteered a combined
10 hours with the local IIA at the
Dancing With the Stars benefit for the
Center of Child Protection in December.
p2
Higginbotham Community Fund
Grants to Texas Non-Profits
Adventures in Missions — $1,000
Christian ministry that sends thousands of people on mission trips every year.
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Houston — $1,000
Legal, education and intervention services to families that are victimized by violence.
Cancer Care Services — $500
Help and hope to cancer patients and survivors and their families and caregivers.
Camp Fire — $500
Programs helping youth explore their interests, find their strengths and fulfill their potential.
Communities in Schools of the Coastal Bend — $2,500
Drop-out prevention agency that empowers youth to excel in school and life.
Family Time Crisis and Counseling Center — $1,000
Outreach programs for abused families and individuals in crisis.
Fort Bend County Women’s Center — $1,000
Assistance to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children.
Genesis Women’s Shelter — $1,000
Shelter, safety counseling and expert services to battered women and their children.
Guide Dogs of Texas — $250
Training school providing guide dogs to visually impaired Texans.
Junior Achievement of The Chisholm Trail — $500
Volunteers paired with teachers in grades K-12 to implement entrepreneurship curriculum.
Kids Across America — $2,500
Christian-based camping and education for urban youth.
Manor Independent School District, For the Children — $1,000
ISD serving the Austin-area with numerous child development, community education and school supply programs.
Moonlight Cats of Austin — $250
Cat shelter that provides protection, welfare and adoption services.
The Samaritan Inn — $556
Programs that help homeless individuals and families gain dignity and independence.
The Tara Sawyer Foundation — $1,000
Funding for young athletes and their families in need through scholarships, ministry, education and enrichment programs.
Tarrant Area Food Bank — $3,167
Distribution hub for a 13-county network of hunger-relief programs.
Total Contributions &
Pledges as of 01/31/2014:
$400,183.27
Check the intranet for the latest
activity each quarter
p3
p3
New Faces
Welcome to the Best in Texas Team
Shea Diaz
Comm. CSR
Waco
10/07/13
Jacque Morse
Benefits Exec. Assistant
Fort Worth
10/07/13
Kia Lewis
Comm. CSR
Friendswood
10/10/13
Liz Kiertscher
Health Risk Mgmt.
Dallas
10/21/13
Crisanna Lin
Benefits Technology
Fort Worth
10/23/13
Trina Montesdeoca
Benefits Acct. Mgr.
Fort Worth
10/24/13
Jenny Buttelmann
Benefits Acct. Mgr.
Arlington
11/01/13
Julissa Chubbs
Benefits Acct. Mgr.
Arlington
11/01/13
Bryan Keathley
Benefits Producer
Arlington
11/01/13
Melissa Knotts
Comm. CSR
Fort Worth
11/01/13
Beverly McCann
Pers. CSR
Arlington
11/01/13
Rebecca Crick
Benefits Acct. Mgr.
Fort Worth
11/04/13
Tracie Neuls
Benefits Acct. Mgr.
Houston
11/11/13
Aryanne Reusch
Claims
Fort Worth
11/19/13
Joe Bass
Producer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Cindy Bison
CSR
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Stacy Blackman
CSR
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Shelley Booker
Policy Processor
Tyler
12/01/13
Rayette Corley
CSR
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Kim Crawford
Marketer
Tyler
12/01/13
Rebecca Cross
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Lori Duvall
CSR
Port Arthur
12/01/13
David Fishel
Producer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Leonard Forey
Managing Dir.
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Jill Forsythe
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Jackie FrancisBreaux
CSR, Port Arthur
12/01/13
Patty Gilliam
CFO
Hillsboro
12/01/13
Jimmy Harrison
Producer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
p4
Leslie Harrison
Producer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Brent Hill
Producer
Tyler
12/01/13
Paige Holst
Admin. Assistant
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Nina Howard
Claims Rep.
Port Arthur
12/01/13
April Lewis
Policy Processor
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Kathy McElroy
Claims Mgr.
Carrollton
12/01/13
Ted Moor III
Managing Dir.
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Mary Nelson-Hardy
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Carole Reeves
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Sheila SandersGillespie
Supervisor, Port Arthur
12/01/13
Sherry Sharp
CSR
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Ricki Slone
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Linda Trevino
COO
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Heidi Ward
Marketer
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Lisa Yarborough
Accounting
Fort Worth
12/01/13
Cathy Caero
Sect. 125 Coordinator
Fort Worth
12/16/13
Jacob Kirkpatrick
Producer
Fort Worth
12/01/13
Alan Ponder
Loss Control
Houston
12/01/13
Kay Spector
Marketing Mgr.
Port Arthur
12/01/13
Matt Kirkpatrick
Producer
Tyler
12/01/13
Scott Kirkpatrick
Managing Dir.
Tyler
12/01/13
Danette Prince
CSR
Montgomery
12/01/13
Leslie Prince
Policy Processor
Colorado
12/01/13
Tina Stallings
Marketer
Tyler
12/01/13
B.J. Terry
Accounting
Fort Worth
12/01/13
p5
Work Hard, Play Hard
Higginbotham Events
Higg-mas
Holiday Party
Halloween
Halloween
Holiday Party
Halloween
UT vs. OU
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Higg-mas
Higg-mas
Halloween
TCU Head Football Coach
Gary Patterson
p6
Higg-mas
Thanksgiving
Holiday Party
Halloween
Holiday Party
Higg-mas
Holiday Party
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Holiday Fashion
p7
Employee Spotlight
Who: Ross Carmichael
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Ross was one of roughly a
dozen insurance agency representatives to participate
in the National Association of Health Underwriters annual
Principal’s Council in Washington, DC. They discussed
legislation and met with key policymakers at the summit.
Who: Binni Carter
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Christy Eardley, executive
assistant to David Hansen with Virtuoso, was tasked with
submitting his family’s 2013 Explanation of Benefits for
reimbursement. She thanked Binni for simplifying the
process, “Thank you isn’t enough, but THANK YOU.” She
paid her “a virtual pat-on-the-back.”
Who: Maggie Hadden
Office: Dallas
Best in Texas Performance: Maria Perez with NuTone
Solutions credited Maggie for a painless online enrollment
launch. Despite last-minute requests, Maggie managed to
have BenefitsInHand up and running by deadline.
Who: Donna Karpenko
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Ryan Casey with the Federation
of State Medical Boards worked with Donna after he missed
the deadline to apply for his employee benefits. “Not only did
she call us out of normal business hours, she had excellent
customer service! She answered all of our questions and
walked us through the whole process. Not to mention how
patient she was with us. In my opinion, consumers rarely
experience quality, noteworthy customer service...Donna
restored my faith in quality customer service!”
Who: Mary Russell
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Mary was elected to the Safeco
Insurance Central Region Agent Advisory Council. She
will serve a three-year term helping improve the customer
experience by providing a voice for agents.
Who: Theresa Stroud
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Dalynn Cross, a Flex Plan
participant, gave Theresa high compliments, writing “I am so
grateful for Theresa Stroud! She has helped me over the past
two years keep out of trouble with my FSA and has patiently
walked me through my errors. I can’t tell you how much that
means – please know that I can not adequately express my
gratitude for all she does.”
Who: Mistie Van Houten
Office: Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Bruce Frankel with the Day
Resource Center for the Homeless explained, “we found
ourselves in the position of having to quickly change
insurance carriers, and Mistie came through for us with flying
colors – she literally saved the day, ensuring uninterrupted
coverage for our agency...Mistie’s deft work on our behalf
has been just another example of the great people at
Higginbotham.”
Who: Janice Winetroub
Office: Austin
Best in Texas Performance: After discovering rodent
damage in his car, John Joseph with Coats Rose called
Janice to file a claim. He says that his experience with
her is the reason he doesn’t buy insurance online. “It is
so comforting to know that there are folks like Janice to
intercede in our behalf in matters such as these. Janice is an
angel and a professional. She is the best and I want you to
know how much we appreciate the great service we get.”
Who: Higginbotham
Office: All
Best in Texas Performance: Higginbotham received two
awards for employment practices in October: a Hire Power
Award from Inc. magazine recognizing private companies
that lead the way in creating American jobs, and Best Places
to Work in Insurance from Business Insurance.
Who: James Reed and Kevin Springer
Office: Dallas/Fort Worth
Best in Texas Performance: Carl Beck with Beck and
Company Real Estate Services expressed his appreciation
for the work that our claims team has done to resolve his
loss issues. Curtis Page, the producer on the account,
agrees by saying “The bottom line is that you and your team
have established a long term relationship with Beck that will
ensure we continue as their broker for many years to come.”
p8
Rusty’s Remarks
Group in Austin, Safe Harbor Benefits in Arlington and Talon
Insurance Agency in Port Arthur, Tyler and Fort Worth joined
us on the journey. Already this year, Edgmon Insurance
Agency in Odessa has followed suit.
Our BEST IN TEXAS journey started in 2007 when we
began seeking partners to carry our Single Source strategy
across the state. And, the year 2013 saw us surpass many
milestones. The numbers speak for themselves.
Then…Now…
$37.4 million rev.
6 offices
206 employees
Launch new partner strategy
$110.0 million rev.
22 offices
609 employees
15 partner firms
Another initiative that gained traction in 2013 was the
Higginbotham Community Fund. It was established in 2011
with $50,000. At the close of 2013, it has amassed more than
$400,000 with your pledges and donations and aided 175
nonprofit organizations in Texas that you’ve advocated. $1
million, here we come.
These partner firms often say that Higginbotham’s culture
is what drew them to our firm. With our giving nature,
employee ownership is another key component of our culture.
Higginbotham simply couldn’t reach the milestones we’ve
enjoyed without your tireless work. To share in our success
above and beyond a paycheck, we grant HIG Units. This
plan was monetized in 2012, which resulted in $19.5 million
distributed to you. Today, we have almost 450 HIG Unit
holders and 200 employees who are also shareholders. In
December 2013, shareholders received dividends totaling
$46.7 million, and HIG Unit holders will learn what returns they
can look forward to at our annual meetings in early May. Your
invitation will arrive in your email.
What else can the BEST IN TEXAS expect in 2014?
Considering our history of performance, our trusted leadership
and your determination, we’re projected to reach between
$125 and $126 million in revenue.
Through the years, I’ve enjoyed coining an annual revenue
goal catchphrase like “$40 premium in $4 revenue in 1994!”
Because “We Are Higginbotham” and based on the revenue
guidance provided above, please send me an email with what
you think our revenue catchphrase should be for 2014.
Here’s to you, the BEST IN TEXAS in 2014!
The success of the fund is due in large part to our
expansion—more team members mean more pledges and a
bigger impact on our community. Last year Capital Benefits
Rusty Reid, CIC
Chairman/CEO
We Are Higginbotham...
“
“
“
“
...in one word, that means ‘family.’
”
- Susan Davis, Fort Worth
...because I know I make a difference. With all the [health care] changes that occurred the 4th quarter 2013, it was
Higginbotham customer service that set us apart from ‘the other guys.’
- Gloria Gil, Corpus Christi
”
...because we are unapologetically committed to doing business with integrity.
...because we not only share our knowledge and work ethic,
we also share our lives!
- Regina Dingmon, Wichita Falls
”
- David Stewart, Dallas
”
How would you finish this sentence? Tell us by emailing cmagee@higginbotham.net.
p9
Announcements
Events
It’s a girl!
It’s a girl!
It’s a boy!
Angela Gonzalez, Houston
Daughter: Ava Joeli
Born: October 1, 2013
Stats: 7 lbs., 15 oz.
Chanda Wiltz, Houston
Daughter: Lauren Elize
Born: October 15, 2013
Stats: 6 lbs., 15 oz.
Brian Schneider, Fort Worth
Son: Owen Henry
Born: November 7, 2013
Stats: 6 lbs., 11 oz.
It’s a girl!
It’s a boy!
February 21: Biometric Screening,
Port Arthur
February 27: Producer Meeting and
Awards, AT&T Stadium
Contact
Billy Crocker, Austin
Daughter: Joanna Margaret
Born: November 30, 2013
Stats: 6 lbs., 14 oz.
Teresa Ramirez, Austin
Son: Cameron
Born: December 30, 2013
Stats: 9 lbs.
Send story ideas to:
cmagee@higginbotham.net
Straight From The Source
Higginbotham Blog
Higginbotham launched a blog named Straight From The Source in January that is
accessible on our website and social media. Straight From The Source will be updated
weekly at minimum with information, resources, tips and announcements of interest to
our customers at large. Topics will cover commercial lines, personal lines, employee
benefits, individual life/health, risk management, health care reform, company updates
and more. At the end of every month, the most recent blogs will be compiled into an
e-newsletter and emailed to designated clients. You’ll also receive the e-newsletter so
you’re prepared should a client contact you with a related question, but you can visit
our blog as often as you like to keep current on postings. Anyone can also sign up for
the e-newsletter on our website.
Visit our blog at www.higginbotham.net/blog, and be sure to use the social sharing
icons to post on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
If you’d like to contribute a written post to the blog or have a topic suggestion, please
email cmagee@higginbotham.net.
Like Higginbotham on Facebook
p10