Howalt McDowell

 On January 28^th, Curt Shaw, President of Succeed, is coming to Sioux Falls to spend a day training you on our Risk Management Center platform. From 8:30 – 10:30 am, we’ll have a class designed for beginners. And from 11:30 – 12:30 we’ll have a class designed for more advanced users. Whether you’re a savvy user of the Risk Management Center or have yet to learn about it, you’ll be sure to find great value in one of the upcoming classes.

 Sign-up to attend now by emailing Samantha at samantha@howaltmcdowell.com . As a perk for showing up at the class, you’ll be in a drawing to win a free upgrade to the Premier Platform for 1 year. That’s a $600 value. See below all of the awesome features you will receive.

 One of our most popular resources is our “web-based” Howalt+McDowell Risk Management Center.  Our clients can gain access to the Risk Management Center through a web-portal and login from our website.  It’s a comprehensive Risk Management Center where you can access, explore, and acquire valuable information and resources.  All registered users are protected via a personal User Login & Password. 

 The Howalt+McDowell Risk Management Center will provide you with a wealth of constructive tools to help you take a PROACTIVE approach in managing your risk and mitigating your exposures.  Put these tools in your hands and put yourself in control.  You only need internet access….and the drive to succeed. 

Click here to learn more

Thank you for nominating Howalt+McDowell as the best local commercial insurance provider. Congratulations to the many other wonderful businesses who won this great award. Click below to view the entire list.

http://siouxfallsbusinessjournal.argusleader.com/readerschoice/

Congratulations Sanford USD Medical Center for Earning the Governor’s Safety Award

The South Dakota Safety Council recently awarded a Governor’s Safety Award to Sanford USD Medical Center for excellence in workplace safety and health.

“An effective safety program reduces injuries and cost, maximizes productivity and builds morale,” said Cary Swenson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Safety Council. “Employers like Sanford understand that safety is good business, now more than ever.” The South Dakota Safety Council, founded in 1949, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in South Dakota by preventing unintentional injuries/accidents.

 
Congratulations Sioux Corporation for receiving the prestigious Presidential Export Award presented by US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

www.sioux.com for more information

As an agency, Howalt+McDowell is proud to give 5% of this year’s pretax profits to local and regional charities. But, that’s only the start.

The people who make Howalt+McDowell tick, the employees and stakeholders, have gone above and beyond in support of the community this year. The Howalt+McDowell staff is truly a special friend to many non-profits in our area. Here are some accomplishments:
Monthly dress-down weeks have raised over $3,000 for local charities. Each month they choose a  different charity for the earnings to go. Here are some recipients: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children’s Care Hospital & School, The Food Pantry, Children’s Miracle Network, Children’s Home Society, Mobile Food Bank, The Banquet, MidAmerican Energy (offset heat bills), March of Dimes, Children’s Inn.

Raised over $72,000 for the Sioux Empire United Way

Volunteered as a group for Volunteers of America, local food drives, The Banquet, Hot Harley Nights and Make-A-Wish.

Welcome Barb Henrich –

Steve Vlk, Vice President/Employee Benefits
svlk@howaltmcdowell.com

Kandy Jamison, Account Executive/Employee Benefits
kjamison@howaltmcdowell.com

We are right in the midst of change – it seems as if we always are.  This month the United States House and Senate will be reviewing multiple bills, all designed to reform the healthcare industry. While change is always a bit unsettling, we continue to stay ahead of the curve by providing our clients with the utmost service, no matter what happens at the federal level.

From what we know, it seems very clear that no matter what reform legislation comes out of this, wellness and prevention will be key pillars in any approach. And we at Howalt+McDowell fully support this path. In fact, we have been providing basic activity-based wellness services since 2002.

Now it’s 2009. We’ve made great strides in providing wellness strategies to our clients to keep their employees healthy and their health insurance costs down. Gone are the days of restricting a wellness program to just activities for the employees. Howalt+McDowell is taking it to the next level: a results oriented program where the employer can see and measure the enormous healthcare savings to the bottom line as well as healthier, happier and more productive employees.

Howalt+McDowell is one of only a few insurance agencies in the nation, as of date, to offer this specific all-encompassing approach to wellness for employers. And it all started with one question:

How can we control healthcare costs and build a wellness program that improves culture, helps employees live healthier, happier more productive lives?

We know that about 20% of employees at a company are dealing with a chronic disease that requires assistance from medical professionals and insurance carriers to help with disease management.

We know that the other 80% of these employees are usually healthy. We don’t want to move them into that 20%. That’s our focus – getting them healthy, keeping them healthy, reducing absenteeism, increasing productivity and containing healthcare costs.

Introducing Howalt+McDowell Ignite Wellness

We’ve implemented a wellness platform called Howalt+McDowell Ignite Wellness. This comprehensive program ranges from providing on-line resources, to building an operating plan, to calculating your return on investment – all in an effort to take the employer from a simple fun based wellness program to a program that measures results and builds on the successes.

Many of you know all about the activity centered wellness programs – walking challenges, education, disease management, lunch and learns, employee rallies, etc. Howalt+McDowell Ignite Wellness is much more. It is so much more that we hope this program will help shift the thinking of how employers purchase health insurance. And those employers will come to understand the importance of a whole approach to their employees’ health, wellness, behavior and productivity.

We can’t give all our secrets away, but we can assure you that if you partner with Howalt+McDowell through our Ignite Wellness program data show that it does work. It’s not easy and it’s not immediate. But when you partner with Howalt+McDowell, it can happen. We will help you change your whole culture to be more wellness conscious, help lower and/or contain healthcare costs,  increase productivity and keep your staff smiling.

Give us a call at 800.584.7054 and ask for Kandy.

We found an interesting story in USA Today that breaks down healthcare spending in a nice graphic that is easy to understand. We urge you to take a look: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-09-22-healthcare-poll_N.htm .

The Partner by Cooperative Mutual Insurance Company
By Ken Voigt, Senior Risk consultant/Compliance Specialist with Coop Mutual

Harvest and grain bins go hand in hand. And as the warm weather matures crops, it’s an excellent time to review basic grain facility safety and security issues with employees before they’re caught in the rush of the fall season.

Grain Bin Entry

The standard for proper grain bin entry has been in place for years and anyone who’s been in the business for even a short while is well aware of the requirements. However, you can’t stress often enough the importance of the following correct procedures. Even with a broad understanding of the standard, an employee was killed in a grain engulfment accident in Iowa as recently as last summer. Remind your staff continually of basics, like having an attendant monitor the person working inside the bin.

Grating Over Bin Sumps

Larger grain bins being constructed to accommodate increasing yields require bigger and deeper sumps to empty the grain. Many times, due to concerns over plugging, sump openings do not have proper grating. In some instances, there is no grating at all. Tragic accidents have occurred when the bin is almost empty and an employee is operating a sweep auger. The depth of grain may be less than one foot deep over the flooring area, but with sumps six feet or more in depth, employees have been killed when they accidently step into the open sump area and are engulfed.

If you have a bin with no sump grating, consider building a grate with openings big enough for decent grain flow but close enough to stop a worker from sinking all the way to the conveying system. You may also want to check into new technology such as remote control kill switches. Employees can strap the remotes to their belts, enabling them to immediately shut off grain flow should they get into a dangerous situation.

Ladders and Walkways

If you are building or considering building a new grain bin, ensure that the ladders and walkways are OSHA-compliant. For example, OSHA requires that when ladders are used to ascent to heights exceeding 20 feet, landing platforms shall be provided for each 30 feet of height or fraction thereof. That requirement may have to be specifically included in the bidding process since it’s not the responsibility of the bin company to comply with these regulations.

The bin roof is another critical area that is often overlooked. The most common peak access is a series of angle-irons for ladder rungs with no cage for fall protection. At the very least, continue the ladder cage from eve to the peak or, preferably, install stairs with railings on the roof.

Security Protection

The price of grain today makes it more tempting for thieves to steal. Make certain that your security procedures include locking all outside draw-offs after-hours and always at your unmanned facilities. If you haven’t done so already, consider installing ladder guards at the bottom of your bin ladders.

At the very least, post No Trespassing or Authorized Personnel Only signs next to your ladders. An incident at an amusement park last summer is an example of why warning signs are so important. A 17-year-old boy climbed two security fences to gain access to the area beneath a roller coaster. He was beheaded when the coaster passed over him. Even though there was signage making it obvious that he should not have climbed the fences, discussions after the incident focused on whether the park posted enough warning signs. Not having any warning signs near your ladder is a certain invitation for a lawsuit if someone is injured or killed while climbing your structures.

Take time now to review safety information with your staff and check over your grain facility area for those issues that can help you have a safe and secure harvest.

Kandy Jamison, Account Representative & Wellness Expert

Question:
I am bombarded with the terms “health” and “wellness” but I’m not quite sure of the difference between them. Can you define?

Answer:
Health and wellness are often used as one single word when actually their definitions are very different.

Health is defined as a “healthy state of well-being free from disease.”

Wellness is defined as a “state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential.  Wellness is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual  and environmental well being.”

As we continue to build Health & Wellness goals and objectives that deliver the results our employers are looking for, we need to continue to focus on the differences between health & wellness and provide the different tools and resources that offer solutions.  Successfully managing chronic disease and preventive medicine will continue to help us move forward with keeping our health in check; however, practicing wellness and modifying behaviors to change our lifestyle towards a more wellness oriented model is an objective that becomes a life long process.  The road isn’t easy, but the outcomes are well worth the work.

Do you have a question about benefits, your wellness program, health or wellness in general? If so, email Kandy at kjamison@howaltmcdowell.com and she’ll answer. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have your question posted to our newsletter.

Today, Howalt+McDowell employs a staff of over 85 of some of the finest thinkers and decision-makers in our region. More important, we’ve helped the most respected businesses of the Northern Plains manage risk, grow and prosper. And that’s given our people the thrill of helping others achieve their full potential. Here’s a bit about some advancements these fine thinkers are making in the field of insurance and risk management education.

• Congratualtions to Tanya Schlenker, Toni Crittenden, Terri Vanderloo, and Jeremy Miller for receiving their SDWCS (South Dakota Workers’       Compensation Specialists) Designation.
• Amy Vande Voort has been promoted to Assistant Account Manager/Marketer
• The Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota is please to congratulate the recipients of this year’s two $500 scholarships
  Teresa Phillips – Daughter of Cathy Phillips of Howalt+McDowell Insurance
  Lindsey Graeber – Daughter of Ric Graeber of McKinney Olson

Stop in or call for a free personal insurance quote today and receive $10 off your dinner of $20 or more at Wild Sage Grille!

Yeah, you read that right – $10 off your dinner at one of the best spots in town. We know insurance isn’t always a whole lot of fun. But we all need it. So, why not buy from us when we offer the finest personal service during and after the sale? On top of that, you get a delicious meal at half the cost and all you need to do is let us take a look at your coverages.

Give Matt Vanden Bosch, Nancy Garry or Audrey Story a call at 800.584.7054 or stop in. We’re located in Cherapa Place – 6^th floor. There is no commitment. You don’t even have to buy your insurance to receive the Wild Sage discount. Just stop in and let one of our fine personal insurance consultants take a look at your current coverage to see where it could use improvement and possible cost savings.

What a better way to spend your evening than at Wild Sage Grille on the East Bank of the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls (and at half the cost if you come and talk to the personal insurance department)?

Wild Sage Grille
www.wildsagegrille.com

Click for driving directions – Google Directions

Whatever your situation, let us take care of the policy issues so you can take care of more important things. And as your life changes,  your insurance needs change too. Expect Howalt to work tirelessly to stay abreast of developments in both the market and your life. Your team of local agents are on the job for you.

This is our stage. The action is now. We’ve expanded!

You’ve go places to go and so do we.

Whether it’s a life of business or the business of life, the idea isn’t to sit still and keep the world away. Quite the opposite: the idea is to let it in. Businesses need to grow. Businesses want to grow. So do the people who drive them, and that’s why we’re here.

We’re excited to announce the opening of our Minneapolis/St. Paul Howalt+McDowell branch office. As of September 1^st, three new faces have joined the HM family. Lead by Michael Choinski, Michael Korf, James Degenaro and the rest Howalt+McDowell staff are walking our talk and doing what we are best at – growing a successful business and in-turn reaping the rewards.

Here’s a bit about each of them. Feel free to contact them at any time. And, if you have friends up in the city, let them know we have an office up there!

Howalt+McDowell
Minneapolis/St. Paul Branch
275  4th Street East , Suite 420
St. Paul, MN 55101
1.800.584.7054

______________________________________________________________

Michael Choinski
mchoinski@howaltmcdowell.com

Mike has been consulting with clients for over 15 years. He has developed an expertise in the healthcare industry serving a wide spectrum of clientele. Mike has an extensive background in Risk Management which he utilizes to partner with his clients in building a risk architecture that enables clients to focus their energy on what’s important – growing their business. Mike Graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee with a double major in Philosophy and Business. Mike currently resides in St. Paul, MN with his wife and two daughters.

Michael Korf, AAI
mkorf@howaltmcdowell.com

Michael, a licensed business insurance advisor, has nine years of professional experience providing assistance and solving the insurance needs of businesses across a wide variety of occupations and industries.  Additionally, Michael has spent six years of his insurance career working in the Middle East and European insurance markets as an insurance broker/consultant, assisting the regions’ high profile clients with their business insurance needs.

Jim DeGenaro
jdegenaro@howaltmcdowell.com

Jim is a detail-oriented Business Insurance Consultant and has been in the business insurance industry since 2005. After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Communication from the University of Minnesota in 1988, he went on to serve in The United States Navy as a Naval Flight Officer. After the Navy, he continued to serve the public as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jim is certified by the Insurance Institute of America as an Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI). He employs all of his skills and experience to understand the uniqueness of each business in order to develop comprehensive strategic plans to help guide clients and protect their businesses. Jim has experience working with clients in a wide spectrum of industries and takes great pride in finding creative solutions.