Anne Michelle De Lara 

Protector Plans

Anne is always available to train and support her teammates. Her knowledge of every program is endless. 

Anne has been our go to, ever since she started working with our team. Having Anne on our team immensely impacted our team dynamics, thanks to her dedication, skill, hard work and solutions. 

I enjoy working with Anne. Anne has played a crucial role in our successful transition to the UA team we have today. Anne’s efforts in strengthening our team are noticed by everyone. 

The UA team has always been able to rely on Anne. Anne is a good listener when it comes to questions that occur in the workplace; and an even better mentor with solutions, when those same questions arise. 

Anne always treats everyone with the same respect and positive attitude. Anne makes me feel secure and understood in the workplace environment. The UA team and I have grown so much over the past year thanks to Anne and her mentorship.

Nominated by Alina Trujillo & Channelle Gayle

Christine Sharkey

Arrowhead Commercial Earthquake

Not only is Chris a wealth of knowledge, but she also wants to share her knowledge, is approachable, patient, and kind.  No matter how busy she is with her own book of business, she is always willing to help anyone who wants to learn.  

She is always available to help!  She goes above and beyond her duties to ensure that her teammates are provided with the knowledge they need to be the best they can be.  She always has time for us even though she really doesn’t.  She is exceptional!

Always available.  Her experience is invaluable.  Able to talk through difficult placements with her and find winning solutions.

When you search for the definitions of a great mentor, you will find Chris possesses them all. She is an active listener, she is respectful, and provides honest feedback. She is an expert in her field. I am honored to know her for many years. She has helped me to be where I am today.

I am still learning from her on a daily basis. She has a big book of business, but she is always ready to help and guide all the teammates in our division.  She is available and her door is always open. To sum it up, she is a life coach! She not only counsels and encourages on matters having to do with careers, but also personal challenges. She will be there for you.  

Nominated by Elaine Lamb, Tess Jimenez, Garreth Germono & Farzaneh Samie

Connie Wallis

Wright Public Entity

Connie is a well seasoned and experienced Risk Management professional in the K-12 Public School space.  She is well respected by her peers and is a “go to” teammate for solving difficult challenges.  Connie is a collaborative teammate who freely shares her experiences and wisdom.  She has a tremendous “can do” attitude.

Connie provides mentoring to our newer teammates.  While these professionals have experience from other jobs, understanding and being able to apply those to the K-12 public school space can be a difficult transition.  Connie is able to aid these teammates in bridging these experiences for success with our members and the Risk Management Team.

As we build our succession plan for the future, Connie is instrumental in preparing several teammates for future growth.  She coaches them in their writing assignments and in furthering their understanding of the many nuances in Public School Risk Management.  Through this coaching and mentoring, she is preparing them well for the future.

Connie is a subject matter expert [SME] with animals.  Connie and her husband run a small farm and she raises miniature goats.  This unique expertise is invaluable with our members who are developing more programs around animal science and with understanding service animals and therapy dogs.  Her expertise has led to the development of excellent guidance for Therapy Dog Programs.

Being a mentor is second nature for Connie.  She is always ready to lend a hand and help teammates along their varied career paths.  She embraces being a mentor.  Connie would be an excellent recipient of this award.

Nominated by J. Brett Carruthers

Daren Eiri

Arrowhead Programs – Data & Analytics

Daren is the definition of an Esteemed Mentor. He is extremely knowledgeable, patient and willing to help anyone.  He has had multiple years where his entire team nominated him for this award and he hasn’t won. This has got to be the year!

Daren is knowledgeable, approachable, patient, and solution oriented. He excels at providing the “why” behind decisions so we can see behind the curtain. Partnering with Daren on establishing a Go-To-Market function has been super exciting. His approach to data-driven strategy and the way he brings others along on the journey is inspiring. 

Nominated by Jimmy Curcio & Katie Davis

Jill Horine

Arrowhead IS

Jill has been a member of Arrowhead Information Systems’ Database Development team for at least as long as I have been here, and then some 🙂 During that time she has stepped up to become a manager and has become a fantastic mentor for her team. She has helped members of her team, for example, develop the communication skills to match their technical skills so they can better explain solutions to their customers; and to develop their technical skills so they build self-confidence and can make progress on the path to being the best they can be. She possesses highly developed skills in these areas herself and shares her experiences candidly and freely to help us all avoid past mistakes and do things better. For example, she identified a potential issue with duplicate data very early on in a project I am currently managing – this allowed us to address the problem early, otherwise we could have gone for months without realizing the problem which would potentially have resulted in a lot of rework and project delays. I always feel more confident when she is on my project team and I believe she embodies many of the principles of radical candor – being honest from a place of care and love to help those around her be the best they can be.

Nominated by Jess Jones

Jodi Aguilar

Orchid

Jodi’s mentoring and coaching skills have made a significant difference in the team’s development. Her guidance and support have helped her teammates grow into more efficient underwriters. She is encouraging and ensures absolute understanding as a trainer. Ultimately, her positive reinforcement is a crucial element in the mentoring process, as it builds a foundation of confidence from which teammates can explore new challenges and pursue higher levels of achievement. Great Work Jodi!

Nominated by Kelly Hughes

Kumau McWilliams

Clear Risk

I started here back in 2020. I came in with some background knowledge in insurance, but claims was a new area for me, the operating system was new, and I was often overwhelmed by what I didn’t know and to top things off we were remote due to Covid. Kumau was quite busy with his own claims load, but I never would have known that based on how he treated me. He was patient with me, never made me feel like I was a burden and continued answering my calls when it seemed the knowledge needed was never-ending. He would randomly reach out to me through Teams to see how things were going and see if I needed assistance or if I was feeling overwhelmed. These days, I don’t have nearly as many questions and things are coming a bit easier.  I can say that without a doubt my experience coming into this role would’ve been so much more stressful, my knowledge wouldn’t be what it is today and that I am a better asset to this team because Kumau was willing to go above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable in my role. His choice to go beyond to be a leader and mentor when he was not required, was everything in those early days and I am so thankful for his continued support.  

Nominated by Chelsea Chase

Lauren Reiter-Schmid

Arrowhead Programs – Business Analyst Team

Over the past two and a half years, Lauren has been an exceptional coach and mentor to me. She is incredibly approachable, patient, and a great listener. Lauren’s guidance is always thoughtful and empowering; she offers suggestions and considerations, yet leaves the final decision to me, fostering my growth and confidence. 

Her positivity is infectious, and her feedback is always delivered with kindness. Lauren begins with highlighting strengths before addressing areas for improvement, providing clear examples and resources to help me succeed. Her supportive and constructive approach has been invaluable to my development. Additionally, I have witnessed her coach others and am always impressed with how motivating and uplifting her feedback is, especially for those who are more sensitive or need a confidence boost.

Nominated by Beverly Eckman

Regene Richardson

Proctor Loan Protector

As the Quality Manager for the Payee Adds, Regene has truly been the epitome of a great leader. From day one she has made me feel welcome and supported within the company. Whenever I have an issue, she always makes time to address it with full attention and when needed walk through the whole process, ensuring full understanding before it is resolved. This has made my onboarding both smooth and enjoyable. In addition, Regene has shown clear trust in my ability to perform my job. This has given me confidence in my day to day duties and empowered me to take action on difficult tasks that may arise. She has fostered a work environment that promotes trust in myself and my team which in turn empowers me to work on my goals and growth. In summary, Regene has been an invaluable mentor, and I am confident she will continue to inspire all of her team.

Regene has been an incredible mentor since I started at Proctor. She gives great feedback both positive and critical, which is appreciated immensely coming into a new role. Her knowledge of the ins & outs of this company are admirable and expansive. I would like to nominate her for so many reasons but I think these are truly star qualities! 

Regene is my go-to person. She is extremely positive, caring & knowledgeable. She takes the time to explain & show examples regardless of her busy schedule. Regene finds the time to listen to any of our questions or concerns. We can always rely on her to assist in any project, questions or training. Regene is the Best… manager, supervisor, teammate & friend.    

Nominated by Emma Adams, Kat Myers & Maria Castro

Sarah Norfield

SRIM

Sarah is a mentor that has always put her people first. She leads in a way that lets teammates learn, make a mistake and grow from it. She is knowledgeable and honest if she doesn’t know the answer, but will always help to get the answer. Sarah has always been future focused and this has helped to prepare myself and others to take on the roles we have and want to pursue. By sharing the “why” behind decisions, pulling the curtain back and having those harder conversations, addressing topics with openness, care and a solutions focused approach we have all grown into the leaders we are because of the leader Sarah is. She champions our culture, celebrating teammates and inspiring others. 

I am excited to nominate Sarah Norfield for this award. She never overwhelmed me with too frequent check-ins and detailed oversight. She has a more hands-off approach, which allowed me to work independently, fostering me to become a confident member of the team. She is knowledgeable, approachable, and patient, always willing to help me learn. She shares valuable experiences, listens actively, and empowers me to find solutions. 

Nominated by Cassidy Rae O’Connell & Sadhvi Suri

Shain Rybarczyk

Arrowhead Manufactured Housing

I am writing to nominate Shain for the Esteemed Mentor Award. Shain has been an exceptional mentor to me, and I believe she truly deserves this recognition.

Shain consistently goes above and beyond in her role. She is always willing to answer questions, teach new concepts, and innovate solutions. Her ability to make others feel valued and confident is remarkable. Shain’s patience, honesty, and sense of humor make her a joy to work with. She often brings a light-hearted and positive atmosphere to our team.

Personally, I have learned a great deal from Shain. Her guidance has been instrumental in my professional growth, and I am grateful for her support and mentorship.

Thank you for considering Shain for this award. She is a truly deserving candidate who exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding mentor.

Nominated by Carissa Davis

Tamara Martin

Protector Plans

Tamara embodies the essence of a true mentor, consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to our team’s growth and success. Her approachability and knowledge make her the go-to person for both professional guidance and personal support.

Tamara’s dedication to mentorship is evident in her availability and genuine care. She has played a pivotal role in my personal development, imparting lessons that go beyond the workplace. Her ability to share experiences, including those that teach us what not to do, are invaluable. As a mentor, Tamara listens intently, provides solutions, and more importantly, coaches us in solution-finding techniques that foster our commitment to excellence.

What I find most impactful is Tamara’s transparency in sharing the ‘why’ behind decisions. This insight not only deepens our understanding of the business decisions but also enables the team to take the ownership for seeking out the why. Her mentorship is a gift that keeps on giving, as it empowers her team to grow, learn, and lead.

On a personal note, Tamara has been a pillar in my career. Her encouragement and wisdom have helped me navigate challenges and celebrate successes. I am truly grateful for her unwavering support and the confidence she instills in all of us.

For these reasons and many more, I believe Tamara is the epitome of the ‘BE a Mentor’ ethos and is most deserving of this recognition.

Nominated by Angela Goldyn

Terry Pritchard

Wright Flood

Terry is awesome! He is willing to explain whatever you need no matter what your level.    For example, I had to discern information from an engineering report.  I was unsure of some of the verbiage and how it related to policy coverage and the claim.  I like how he will ask me questions to help me get to the answers with the knowledge that I have; then when I am stuck, he will teach me what I don’t know.   That is what he did in that situation.  

He is patient and appreciates when he is asked questions.  He makes you feel comfortable when talking with you and always encourages learning.  He will help everyone and anyone whenever he is available.  He will always speak directly to insureds when I don’t have an answer and it is more complicated.  He has so much knowledge to share.  Last week he sent me a copy of a handout he had on the basics of building buildings because he thought I might find it handy, which I very much did!  

He is a great mentor and deserves this award.

Nominated by Melanie Grenet

Tiffany Poletti

Arrowhead Tribal

Tiffany has been an outstanding individual and organizational wide mentor through her own outstanding commitment to leadership and service across the breadth of our organization. She embodies exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to mentoring and guiding others in their career development. She is a consummate advisor and confidant to all levels at our organization from seasoned leaders to aspiring young professionals. She is a role model in our organization, she has consistently gone above and beyond to support and empower her colleagues by organizing opportunities for aspiring and current leaders to connect though her leadership tribe initiative. Tiffany openly shares her knowledge and expertise with patience and enthusiasm, and often shoulders many burdens of organizational mentorship that come her way through her servant minded mentorship. 

Tiffany’s guidance has been instrumental in helping many individuals among us in planning and achieving their career goals, in addition to helping others navigate challenging situations with confidence. Her strategic thinking, strong communication abilities across all mediums, and her collaborative approach make her a remarkably exceptional mentor deserving of recognition for her outstanding contributions to the professional growth of teammates. I wholeheartedly endorse Tiffany Poletti as “Esteemed Mentor” as she embodies the qualities of an exemplary mentor who inspires our teammates, individually & collectively, to reach their full potential.  

Nominated by Cameron Fan