Howalt McDowell

Our corporate office continues to add more fine thinkers and risk management professionals. Matt Vanden Bosch is joining us as a personal insurance account representative. He, along with our wonderful personal insurance service staff excels in giving the hands-on consulting no other agent provides. Wade Ericson’s experience and skill set is a wonderful addition to our LHEB department. He has great client skills and understanding of the ever-changing health insurance market. Dustin Haber joins us as an account representative helping businesses with their insurance needs. His former professional experiences brings a breadth of knowledge to the table as he assists businesses with their risk management needs.

Wade Ericson, Account Representative
wericson@howaltmcdowell.com

With over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, Wade offers expertise paired with a high degree of customer service.  As an Account Representative, Wade will work with employers to create custom Group Benefits and Employee Benefits Programs.  Wade strives to align clients with a comprehensive plan that will provide an enhanced quality of life.

Matt Vanden Bosch, Account Representative
mvandenbosch@howaltmcdowell.com

After graduating from the University of Sioux Falls with a degree in Business Administration in 2003, Matt entered the insurance industry in Des Moines, IA.  He worked for Allied Insurance in a variety of different positions including personal and commercial insurance sales and commercial underwriting.  Matt’s knowledge and experience allows him to assist in determining clients’ personal insurance needs.

Dustin Haber, Account Representative
dhaber@howaltmcdowell.com
As a life-long resident of Sioux Falls and a graduate of Augustana College in 2005, Dustin has degrees in Business and Economics. His professional history includes involvement in managing a  family  business, assisting individuals with financial planning, advising businesses with thier commercial banking needs. Now as an Account Representative, he has a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to assist any business with their cost of risk.

Congratulations, Tammy Carlson, for earning the prestigious South Dakota 2009 Outstanding CSR of the Year! You are a role model for all of us – exemlifying up our long-term motto of “Right People, Right Answers”. And you take the idea of a partnership with our clients seriously. You are truly one of Howalt-McDowell’s Finest. Your achievement is applauded!!

2009 NATIONAL OUTSTANDING CSR OF THE YEAR

STATE AWARD WINNERS SELECTED

AUSTIN, TX (July 2, 2009) – Each year, a group of exceptional insurance professionals are chosen by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research to represent their states and compete to become the National Outstanding CSR of the Year. This award, regarded as the foremost national award of its kind, recognizes the contributions and commitment of customer service representatives within the insurance community.

To qualify for the top state honor, the 2009 candidates submitted an essay on the following topic: Many in the insurance world believe that “the price of insurance becomes more important to the client in the absence of value.” What are five ways a CSR can add value to the insurance-client relationship? Additionally, entrants must have demonstrated commendable service to their agencies, their industry, and their community. The only eligibility requirement for this award is that the candidate must be an insurance customer service representative, or have primary responsibility for insurance customer service duties.

“The Outstanding CSR of the Year Award is an opportunity to recognize exceptional customer service representatives across the nation,” said Danielle Janecka, vice president of The National Alliance. “Our state winners demonstrated through their essays how well they understand that the most important value they can add is to deliver great service to their customers.”

Each state winner receives a framed certificate and is eligible to compete for the national honor, which carries a $2,000 cash award, a gold and diamond pin, $1,000 cash award for the nominator, and a scholarship for the recipient’s employer to any program offered by The National Alliance. Additionally, the name of the Outstanding CSR of the Year is inscribed on a sculpture permanently displayed at the national headquarters of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research in Austin, Texas.

Outstanding Customer Service Representatives of the Year for 2009:

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, the nation’s premier provider of advanced educational opportunities for insurance and risk management professionals, includes the Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) Program, the Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) Program, the Certified Risk Managers (CRM) Program, the Certified School Risk Managers (CSRM) Program, the Dynamics Sales Training Series, the School for Producer Development, and The National Alliance Research Academy. For further information, contact The National Alliance, P.O. Box 27027, Austin, Texas 78755-2027; 800-633-2165; website: http://www.thenationalalliance.com/.

Howalt+McDowell Insurance has been endorsed by the Assisted Living Association of South Dakoat (ASASD) Board of Directors. In a recent action, the board passed a resolution stating: “The Assisted Living Association of South Dakota (ALASD) endorses Howalt+McDowell Insurance as the agency for our member insurance programs.”

Howalt+McDowell has been a committed partner of ALASD and the eldercare industry. Significant energy was invested working with the ALASD Board of Directors to develop programs that are specifically designed for members of the Assisted Living Association of South Dakota. Tracy Dahl-Webb (PHOTO) has negotiated directly with carriers to help them understand the unique attributes of assisted living – differentiating the various levels of care within the eldercare industry. “Too long have the ills of the skilled care/nursing home industry clouded the eldercare spectrum of care. Carriers simply did not fully understand the difference between an assisted living care program and that of a full-fledged nursing home. Once we were able to explain and they understood, the ability to develop a program with the needed coverage’s and appropriate pricing fell into place“ according to Dahl-Webb.