Janet
became a licensed insurance agent in 1981 after working as a CSR for eight years
while in school. In 1983 she started a full lines agency from scratch, merged
the agency in 1984 and became the Vice President of Agency Operations. While an
agency owner, Janet served the agent’s association on the education committee
and taught classes for her peers. She sold the agency in 1989 when she joined
Olivet College as the Director of the Insurance Program and Assistant Professor
of Insurance and Risk Management.
Janet’s
has extensive experience providing education, training and continuing education
to the insurance industry through work with designation programs, individuals,
agencies, associations, companies and college students. Her efforts have benefited
many, helping them achieve their designations and college degrees.
She
is the President and a Founder of Insurance Educators, Inc., an insurance training
and continuing education firm incorporated in 1993. From 1989 until 1994, Janet
was the Director of the Insurance Program and Assistant Professor of Insurance
and Risk Management at Olivet College. She served as Educational Consultant for
the Certified Insurance Counselor program in several states, primarily Michigan,
from 1992 – 2005. Beginning in 2005 she served on the faculty of the Kalamazoo
Valley Community College offering insurance courses online. Other positions she
has held in the insurance industry include risk management consultant, contract
trainer for agency management systems, classroom and seminar educator, marketing
rep/account manager for Premium Financing Specialists, opening Michigan as a viable
territory and licensed agent for all lines of insurance. Before becoming part
of the insurance industry, she was a teacher and library media specialist in K-12
public schools and served as the Professional Librarian for Regional Educational
Media Center 7 (REMC-7).
While the Assistant Professor of Insurance
and Risk Management, Janet served as Academic Advisor to students in the Insurance
Program and also was the Faculty Advisor for the Alpha Alpha Chapter of Gamma
Iota Sigma, a national scholastic insurance fraternity. The Alpha Alpha Chapter
won its second Edison L. Bowers award (“Best Chapter” in the nation)
for the 1990 to 1991 year. Under Janet’s advisorship, the Alpha Alpha Chapter
of Gamma Iota Sigma continued to be recognized with various awards at the state,
regional and national levels. During Janet’s leadership, the Olivet College
Insurance Program began offering evening courses for the Insurance Institute of
America General Insurance (INS) series, and the CPCU program in 1993. In 1993,
members of the Michigan Council of the National Association of Insurance Women
worked with members of the Olivet College Insurance Program Advisory Committee
to organize the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame.
Janet
had a significant impact on the students at Olivet College including those in
the Insurance Program. During her tenure at the college, she was the recipient
of the student selected Presidential Award for Teaching in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
In 1993, she also received the coveted faculty-selected Reithmiller Award for
Academic Advising.
Beginning
in 1990, Janet has served numerous terms on the Agent’s Education Council
for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR), a position
appointed by the Insurance Commissioner. She served as chair of this council three
terms. When MI changed its agent’s license format, Janet was asked to serve
on the committee as a test writer. She has served several times on the MI insurance
agent’s license test development committee, including the most recent revision.
She has represented Michigan at a number of national test development events.
Janet has been invited to once again serve on the national Insurance Job Analysis
Property and Casualty Committee – a group that helps determine the relevancy
of items on which insurance agents are being tested.
Janet has been
a leader and driving force for the National Association of Insurance Women since
joining the organization in 1992. Her involvement in NAIW at all levels (local,
state, regional and national) has had an impact of many areas of the organization
and the industry. She served on several special committees including IT, education,
cybercrime, professional development and corporate partners. She has held various
offices, including president of two associations several times. She helped charter
two associations and is currently a member of the Greater Kalamazoo (GKAIW), Upper
Peninsula (UPAIP) and Northern Michigan (IWNM) associations. She served as MI
Council of NAIW State Director 1997-1998 and 2004-2005, the first person elected
to hold the office twice. Janet was awarded GKAIW Insurance Professional of the
Year three times, the 2003 State Loyalty Award, the 2003 State AAMGA Award, the
2004 Regional AAMGA Award, several local and State Education Awards, and the 2008
State Vision award.
At the local level, Janet was instrumental in
organizing the GKAIW Continuing Education offerings and has served the association
continuously since becoming a member in the mid-1990s. She was its president in
1997 and 2003 and under her leadership it was awarded the 2004 CBL Spirit Award
and 2004 Pinnacle Award. The association continues to be recognized for leadership
winning the CBL Spirit Award again in 2008.
In
2008, Janet was inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame. The Michigan
Insurance Hall of Fame was established in 1994 as a way to pay tribute to individuals
who have made a significant impact on the ability of the Michigan insurance and
risk management industry to serve the public.
