Current and former principals of the Hummel Group of Berlin and Orville, Ohio: Darrick Hummel ’99, Barry Hummel ’74,
Stephen Yoder ’74, Vaughn Troyer ’93
After Hurricane Sandy tore along the East Coast in the fall of 2012, employees at Lacher & Associates in Souderton, Pennsylvania, went into overdrive to assist clients whose homes and property were damaged by the destructive storm.
“People want to feel heard and valued, especially navigating insurance in times of loss,” says Erin Price ’05, a personal insurance account executive with Lacher & Associates, an individual and commercial insurance company. “[After the hurricane], we were able to shine for our clients.”
People filing claims after destructive storms usually have more pressing things on their to-do lists than telling the world about how great their insurance company is, though, and in some ways, working in insurance can feel a bit like being a referee. People don’t generally stand up to cheer a job well done, and are quick to lambast perceived faults. This has led to a misperception of the industry as a heartless, money-grubbing one, say alumni who work in the field.
“For every claim that may not go as a client thinks it should, there are many clients that are satisfied with the insurance coverage that they have received,” says Kevin Lehman ’88, co-owner of Kooman Agencies, Ltd. in Red Deer, Alberta.
Chad Lacher ’97, partner at Lacher & Associates, describes the “powerful calling” of working in insurance as one that prevents injuries, saves lives and helps communities, families and businesses avoid financial hardship.
“Insurance carriers are good at covering large groups but not effective at understanding the individual,” Lacher says. “As an insurance advisor, one of the best parts of my job is to be a real voice and advocate for clients in [difficult] situations.”
Like Price, Lehman and Lacher, numerous alumni have entered the field with a sense of service and practical skills developed during their time at EMU.
M. Trevor Parmer ’94, vice-president for employee benefits at BB&T Insurance Services in Harrisonburg, Virginia, says lessons about diversity in culture, belief systems and ways of forming opinions have been invaluable in his interactions with clients, colleagues and insurance carriers.
“Communication, mediation and creativity in problem solving are all skills I use every day and ones that were in many ways shaped or learned at EMU,” Parmer says.
Julie Mumaw Lambert ’75 did a work-study job as a keypuncher in the science center, which gave her early, practical experience in data entry, a skill central to her job now as an underwriter assistant for Westfield Insurance in West Salem, Ohio. An appreciation for life-long learning has also been important for Lambert, who had to learn to speak the quirky language of insurance when she began with the company in 2001.
Alumni at Lacher & Associates: (from left) Chad Lacher ’97, Alyssa Derstine ’10, Erin Price ’05, Greg Grimm ’04
“When a family member requires care, there are serious consequences for those who feel they have no choice but to provide that care .… I enjoy helping clients plan ahead to cover the cost of long-term care in the setting of their choice.”
Beulah Hess-Yoder ’74 // Project manager // Retirement Security, Inc. // Wilsonville, Oregon
“Insurance companies are often regarded as the bad guys, only out there to make a profit. I try to educate people on the coverage they are buying .… People think because they have been paying premiums for many years, any claims should be covered, not understanding the exclusions.”
David Mininger ’74 // Auto & home insurance // Weaver Insurance & Financial Advisors // Waynesboro, Virginia
“My enjoyment comes from helping clients get the coverage that is needed for the risk that they are exposed to at the optimum cost. I find that many prospects are underinsured, and are exposed to risks that aren’t adequately covered.”
John Eshleman ’64 // Insurance broker // Jennings & Associates // Ontario, California
“I have worked for a number of insurance companies and have handled all aspects of insurance claims .… I have worked for companies where ethics and honesty were not part of their beliefs or business practices, and I have worked for companies where ethics and honesty are stressed as the only way of doing business.”
Dale Ressler ’84 // Litigation specialist // Nationwide Insurance // Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
“When I got into the insurance business right out of college, it became quickly apparent that [it] had a bad reputation for over-promising and under-delivering. The reason I joined LD&B was because their reputation was different.… I wanted the client to know that they were going to get what they saw.”
Jonathan Coddington ’02 // Employee benefits division manager // LD&B Insurance and Financial Services // Harrisonburg, Virginia
“EMU provides a healthy atmosphere of learning that tends to put people first rather than just numbers or statistics. Integrity and honesty in the business world are very important.”
Luke Drescher ’57 // Independent life & health insurance agent // Harrisonburg, Virginia
