What do you do at Great West?
Underwrite commercial truck insurance.
What does your day-to-day work look like?
Underwriting involves profitably managing a book of business. This involves quoting new and renewal business, processing endorsements, and issuing policies. Communication with our agency force and interdepartmentally within Great West is key for success. Underwriting truly works with all departments (Safety, Actuary, Claims, UW Support, Marketing, Management, IT, Business Analytics, Billing, et al.)
At Great West we know “The difference is service.” An underwriter must effectively communicate the value proposition GW provides our insureds. Accountability and turnaround time are important for growth and accuracy. Project management, organization, and decisiveness are also important traits for an underwriter in addition to training our agency partners regarding UW guidelines, appetite, and how to access and use our IT systems.
What surprised you about this role when you first started?
You have a lot of access to training materials and Great West supports employees furthering their educations through STAR courses, the Symposium and learning via The Institutes.
Our underwriting rating software is advanced but very user friendly.
What's challenging about your job?
Growth, retention, and profitability are the primary goals and challenges. I strive to improve efficiency, especially with a growing book of business. This can be accomplished by establishing rapport and trust with our client partners and by staying abreast of what is happening in the trucking industry, as well as continuously developing my underwriting skill set.
What is the best part about working here?
Developing relationships with my clients and with my coworkers is the best part of being here at GW. I appreciate the willingness of my colleagues to share knowledge garnered from life and industry experience. It’s true that we are the sum of our parts, and together we can accomplish great things.
What's your favorite memory from working here?
Participating in the Great West Pro-Am has been fun and an excellent networking opportunity (and I’m no scratch golfer). The genuine charitable nature witnessed here at Great West during our annual toy drives and United Way fundraiser is something I look on fondly.
What advice would you give to someone who just joined our team?
Grow individually and as a member of the team. Don’t be afraid to volunteer or ask questions.
The great jazz pianist Thelonious Monk said, “A genius is the one most like himself.” It’s important to be true to oneself. Great West provided Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder 2.0 to all employees; results provided insight on how we can all know and cultivate our own unique individual strengths and talents.
Did you ever think you'd be working in insurance?
I’ve now been in the insurance industry for 13 years. Agents often joke that my psychology degree must be helpful when working with retailers. I enjoy working together with others for shared success. At Great West, I feel great pride in working to make our roads safer and to support the essential trucking industry.
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This blog post was created by Megan L., Great West Casualty Company HR Communications Specialist.
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This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Great West Casualty Company does not provide legal advice to its insureds, nor does it advise insureds on employment-related issues. Therefore, the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds. Legal advice should always be sought from the insured’s legal counsel. Great West Casualty Company shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein.