AUSTIN, TX (August 31, 2005) - Since the inception of the National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award in 1991, one exceptional customer service representative has been selected each year to receive the high-profile honor sponsored by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.
This year, however, the blue-ribbon panel of judges narrowed the field of 36 state winners to five finalists, and found themselves unable to fairly eliminate one of the top two. Consequently, for the first time, two winners were chosen to receive the top award in 2005:
Misty L. Kriskovich, CIC and Miranda M. Wescott, CIC, CISR. Ms. Kriskovich manages the commercial insurance department for Hobson Insurance in Hobson, Montana. Ms. Wescott is a personal account manager working with special personal lines account coverages at Chandler-Frates & Reitz, Inc., in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ms. Kriskovich's employer, Dale Longfellow of Hobson Insurance stated:
"Misty has been my Commercial Lines CSR for eight years. She strives very hard to be an asset not only to our agency, but also to the insurance profession at large."
The judges evaluated the finalists based on their individual contributions to the insurance community, and the strength of their essays written on the topic, 'The Four Most Constructive Things a Producer Can Do Now to Help CSRs'.
"Producers and CSRs cannot function efficiently or effectively without each other. Producers that take the time to understand the duties responsibilities and ultimately the burden of the CSR will relate better," says Misty Kriskovich.
To be considered for this award the candidate must be an insurance customer service representative, or have primary responsibility for insurance customer service duties.
"Misty is a delight to work with," reports co-worker Kristy Hodik, MSPT, CIC. "She is a source of knowledge for all of us in the office."
Kriskovich and Wescott each receive a cash award of $1,000, a gold and diamond lapel pin, and their names will be inscribed on a sculpture on permanent display at National Alliance headquarters in Austin, Texas. A scholarship will be awarded to both of their employers for participation in any National Alliance program.
In addition to the selection of Kriskovich and Wescott as national award recipients, three national finalists were chosen from a particularly competitive field of applicants:
- Cathy M. Cassetta, AAI, CPIW, with BB&T/Iler Wall & Shonter Insurance, Inc., of St. Petersburg, Florida
- Diane L. Hodas, CISR, CPIW, with Loesel Schaaf Insurance Agency, Inc., in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Carol "Cricket" Mitchell, with Premier Insurance in Twin Falls, Idaho.
They each receive a gold and garnet lapel pin, and publicity in a national trade journal.For additional information about the award and application for 2006, contact The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, 800/633-2165; Email: alliance@scic.com; Website: www.TheNationalAlliance.com.
