classnotes
Perseverance attributed to sales distinction
M
ichael Brown ’84 demonstrated that perseverance is the key to success, resulting in a national award by his employer. Brown, a New York Life agent since 1995, was awarded the Council Vice President honor after his dedication resulted in an unexpected $35.7 million annuity from his client. The Council Vice President distinction is given annually to the New York Life agent who has the second highest sales production out of the company’s 16,000 agents nationwide. “I hadn’t talked to this client for a while, so I stopped by, and he invited me in,” Brown said. “I didn’t have an appointment scheduled or anything. I wasn’t even aware of just how large my client’s assets were. I was just doing a courtesy call, and it’s been quite a blessing.” Brown, whose clients are primarily within a 100-mile radius of his home in Hamilton, had spent nearly 15 years with New York Life before being recognized in 2009. Among his duties as Council Vice President was serving as a motivational speaker at several New York Life executive council meetings across the United States. “I have the wonderful opportunity to work with clients from several surrounding northwest
Missouri towns, including Chillicothe, Cameron, Gallatin, Plattsburg and Maysville,” said Brown, who was a business administration major and all-American wrestler at Northwest and spent 10 years in the banking industry. “Being from a rural community helps provide a common ground between myself and my clients. The close ties within the community provide a certain level of trust. My clients are more like family than anything else.” Perseverance also has played center stage in Brown’s personal life. In early 2006 he was diagnosed with stage-two colon cancer, an occurrence that strengthened his determination. If the worst had happened, Brown was comforted knowing his wife, Lori Eklov Brown ’86, and three children would be financially secure. “Having cancer gave me the opportunity to see first hand the importance of having good life insurance,” said Brown, who is now cancer free. “It gave me a new appreciation for the benefits and reaffirmed my career choice to help others by providing quality life insurance.” n
leader for the bank. She is a member of the board of directors for KC CREW, Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Women, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City and has participated in economic development councils and chambers throughout the Kansas City area.
1998
1999
is the quality assurance coordinator at Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha, Neb. He lives in Minden, Iowa.
is the head football coach at Marshall High School. He previously was the offensive line coach at Missouri Western State University, a player in the Arena Football League, assistant coach at North Kansas City and St. Joseph Central high schools and head coach at Albany High School.
1997
Mick and Eve Mechanic Hoover
have moved to Champaign, Ill. Mick is the director of business planning for Carle Foundation Hospital. Eve is the first-ever physician
assistant at the University of Illinois Student Health Center. They have two children, Chase, 5, and Lael, 2. Christina Pallas Huss
and her husband, Paul, announce the birth of Austin Henry on Dec. 15. He joins Joshua, 2. Christina is office manager at PropertyBanc in Omaha, Neb. They live in Papillion, Neb. Ray McCalla
and his wife, Rachelle, have a son, Knox. Ray said his son’s redshirt freshman season for the Bearcats will be in 2027. They live in Wayne, Neb.
◆ – Northwest Alumni Association Member
Troy Lehan
New York Life agent Michael Brown ’84 of Hamilton displays the Council Vice President distinction he was awarded for his exceptional performance that included a $35.7 million annuity.
Jay Eilers
Jennifer Tinsley Maninger
completed a master’s in occupational therapy in 2004 from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., and is an occupational therapist, working with hands and upper extremities in an orthopedic setting. She and her husband, Kyle, have a daughter, Avery Tinsley, born March 16. They live in St. Louis.
Rita DelSignore Koefod
and her husband, Rodger, announce the birth of Graham Fisher on March 8. Rita is director of development at Northwest Children’s Home Inc. They live in Clarkston, Wash.
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