8 minute read
TWFG Insurance Happenings
SHE Travels Forum
Katherine Nolan at SHE Travels Forum
Travelers Insurance recently hosted their “SHE Travels” forum in Houston, Texas. SHE Travels is a panel discussion that focuses on the development of female careers within the insurance industry and fosters important discussions about female leadership and the empowerment of women in the workplace.
Our own Chief Operating Officer, Katherine Nolan, was one of three esteemed female leaders in the insurance industry selected to participate in the SHE Travels panel discussion. The discussion included topics such as networking strategies, career advancement and modern mentoring.
During the panel Katherine stressed the importance of women advocating for their own careers: “You need to own your career. ‘If I’m not getting where I want to go, how do I do that?’ You need to ask for help sometimes, and that’s okay. You have to own [your career] because no one else is going to.”
With a female employment rate of nearly 80 percent at TWFG’s Home Office, and over 100 female branch owners, our company is no stranger to advocating for females in the industry, but that is not always the case for women in the workplace.
If you know a woman who deserves to be recognized for the amazing work she is doing here at TWFG, let us know. We would love to highlight her in our next issue!
Welcome to TWFG!
JULY 2019
Troy Turner, Majorie Hutchinson, Jose Davila, Lidia Davila, Luis Ocon, Christina Michel, Josh Hutchinson
AUGUST 2019
Brenda Guzman, Kari Wadsworth, Duong Tran, Leslie Castro, Darryl Henderson, Jennifer Nguyen
SEPTEMBER 2019
Michael Soto, Maisha Traylor, Mohammed Hajia, Vu Tran
OCTOBER 2019
Haseeb Khan, Tam Huynh, William Daniels, Dai Duong, Laurel Raub
NOVEMBER 2019
Anibal Moresco, Kennith Young, Maritza Gonzalez, Michael Branum, Steve Mendez
DECEMBER 2019
Linda Ramos, Philip Boyer, Marissa Sweet, Hind Khaldi, Tina Tran, Imee Jackson
New Arrivals
Charlotte James Brenniese
Date of Birth: July 1, 2019
Parents: Katlyn & Andrew Brenneise
Weight: 6 lbs. 1 oz. Length: 19 in.
TWFG Connection: Katlyn Brenneise (Branch Owner)
Eleanor Michelle Sowell
Date of Birth: October 19, 2019
Parents: Jay & Katy Sowell
Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz. Length: 20 in.
TWFG Connection: Tom Sowell (Branch Owner)
Home Office
Janice Zwinggi - Chief Financial Officer
TWFG is pleased to announce the addition of two senior managers to its management team — Janice Zwinggi, Chief Financial Officer and Julie Benes, Chief General Counsel.
Janice is a Texas native that joins us with 20+ years insurance experience with Statutory and GAAP accounting background. She has worked with MGAs and insurance carriers and most recently was SVP, CFO of Hudson Insurance Group in New York City. Janice is a CPA and obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Texas State University. She will be responsible for all GAAP and Statutory financials and reporting as well as planning, budgeting and enhancing TWFG’s internal controls.
Julie Benes - Chief General Counsel
Julie Benes joins us as our Chief General Counsel and has 15 years of law experience. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago. Julie has a diverse background with significant experience representing Fortune 500 companies and large regional companies in litigation. She also has served as general counsel for several closely held corporations providing advice on corporate formation and governance, employment matters, company policies and procedures, and intellectual property protection.
We are delighted that Janice and Julie have joined the TWFG family as they bring years of experience and wisdom along with fresh perspectives to the team. Please join us in welcoming them to TWFG.
Kevin Ivey - Life & Annuity Wholesaler and Manager
TWFG Insurance would like to introduce Kevin Ivey, our new Life & Annuity Wholesaler and Manager!
Kevin is a 30-plus year veteran of the Financial Services Industry. His previous experience in sales, management, marketing, and wholesaling have given him a broad knowledge base regarding agency operations, and vital insights into how to help facilitate growth with honesty and integrity.
Kevin and his wife Brenda are high school sweethearts from Port Neches, TX who have been together for 36 years! The Ivey’s moved to Houston 28 years ago where they raised their two wonderful children, Brandon and Lauren.
Welcome to the TWFG Family Kevin, we’re happy to have you!
Congrats on Your Promotion!
Kim Snider - Operations Manager
We are pleased to announce that Kim Snider is being promoted to Operations Manager in training and will replace Leslie Nowak who is moving to the Austin area.
Kim has been with TWFG for four years and came to us with 10 years of insurance experience at a Farmers Insurance agency.
Kim currently handles incoming book rolls and knows the majority of the processes in the Operations area, so her transition should be seamless.
Happenings @ Home Office
Walking for a Cure
Alzheimer's Walk vendor tents on Town Green
My family has been walking in the Alzheimer’s Walk since 2010 when my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. For two years, we walked in The Woodlands and then other family members were saying how much they wanted to walk with us, but they all live in New Orleans and couldn’t make it here for just the weekend.
Danielle Woody and family in NOLA 2019
So our third year walking, we started traveling to New Orleans so that we could walk with our family. This year when TWFG decided to sponsor the walk in The Woodlands, I was super excited to fund-raise and walk in both walks. This is such a great cause that affects so many people and loved ones, and I will continue to support it in any way I can until there is a cure.
— Danielle Woody
YMCA Angel Giving Tree
TWFG Home Office loading up the toys for YMCA Angels
This holiday season TWFG Home Office took part in their yearly gift drive through the South Montgomery County YMCA “Angel Giving Tree” program.
The Angel Giving Tree program works to provide Montgomery County children in need with holiday presents. For many of the children served by this program, these are the only gifts they will receive.
Participants are encouraged to take an ornament off of The Angel Giving Tree. Each ornament represents a child in need and includes the child’s clothing and shoe size, as well as a toy they would like to receive.
TWFG was able to provide gifts and clothing items for 27 children in need this year!
Along with their Giving Tree program, the YMCA is also accepting donations for adult members of each family in need. Gift cards for groceries, Christmas trees and decorations are just a few of the many things the YMCA hopes to give to families to brighten up their holiday season.
If you would like to donate a gift or would like more information on “The Angel Giving Tree” program, please reach out to DeAndra Edwards-Stanley at 281-367-9622 ext. 231.
Gordy at Combined Arms Luncheon
Lydia Araujo
Miranda Englishbee's Bingo Night
Meet the Chamber of Commerce
Mike Hodges and Chamber President J.J. Hollie
TWFG Home Office hosted The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly “Meet the New Members Reception” event on October 22. This monthly meet and greet provides new members of the Chamber with an opportunity to introduce their business to other new and existing Chamber members.
During the reception, new members are invited to share a two-minute “commercial” about their local business. This gives new members a great opportunity to share what they do, and how they can benefit other members of the Chamber. After the new members present their businesses, a group photo is taken and is published in the next issue of Business Today magazine.
The Chamber of Commerce provides excellent networking opportunities and is a great tool to grow your business within your community. If you would like to become involved in your local Chamber of Commerce chapter, visit https://www. chamberofcommerce.com/chambers/.
Wear Red Wednesday
L to R: Scott, Kripa, Bhanu, Angelo, Ben and Sumana
Michelle Gibbons and the TWFG Bowling team bowl on Wednesday nights, and to support them people started wearing red polos or any kind of red shirt.
Tie Tuesday became a thing when one of our new developers, Angelo, mentioned he had a lot of ties and wanted to wear them. So, we [the IT Department] decided to start wearing ties on Tuesday.
https://vimeo.com/387974036/d229cecf73
Branch Referral Program
• The first branch referral bonus will be paid at $500.
• Each branch referral bonus within the same calendar year will be increased in $250 increments per branch referral.
» Branch Referral One: $500
» Branch Referral Two: $750
» Branch Referral Three: $1,000
• Branch referral fee payout amounts start over at $500 on January 1 of each calendar year.
• The above bonus amounts do not include taxes.
• The year in which the new branch comes to training and the first day of branch training will be the date/year of referral credit.
E.g. — You refer a new branch to TWFG in November 2019 and the branch owner attends training in January 2020. This branch will be credited for the 2020 calendar year, thus beginning your referral bonus at $500 for 2020.
• The new branch must be active for 90 days from the first day of branch training for the referral bonus to be paid out.
• TWFG will issue all referral bonus payments within 30 days of the new branch’s 90-day mark.
