Employee Spotlight - Mandy McKoy

Who are the people that our clients talk to, trust, and work with year after year? Get to know more about our agency by getting to know the people through our Employee Spotlight Series. 

What do you do here at Wells?
I am the commercial lines performance manager. I'm here to help the team. I help to follow the procedures and policies that we have in place, our operating procedures, answer questions, and help with client issues.

What's your background?
Born and raised in Wilmington, probably fifth generation Wilmingtonian. I graduated college from Mount Olive. I finished my degree after I had my first job. So I did the adult business and finished my degree there. This is my second time around. I've been here for three years. I was here for three years before in the early 2000s. I started as a receptionist here and worked my way up to a commercial lines assistant and then into marketing.

When I left Wells, I completely left insurance, but only for a year. I worked for a locksmithing company in Arlington, Virginia. I was a telecommunications person. I helped to schedule calls and things like that, but realized after a year that I really didn't like that and I really missed insurance. I got back into it. I worked for an agency there, moved back home, and now I'm back.

What do you like most about working at Wells?
It's the family. It really is family. I know a lot of people that were here previously when I was here, some have left and come back like I had, but it's really the family atmosphere that makes it the best.

What's the best lesson you've learned throughout your career?
I think the best lesson that I've learned is that there's no time like the present, whether it's in a career move or in life in general, there's no time like now to do what you feel is best.

What's the biggest challenge you've had in your career?
Probably the move back to Wells. I worked a desk for a long time. I was in an underwriting position when I left Hanover, but moving into a management position was new for me. I still have lots to learn. I'm learning every day.

What's the first job you ever had?
I worked at Paul's place just slinging hot dogs all summer long.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had?
Also Paul's Place LOL!

If you could do anything for a living, what would you do?
I would be a nature photographer. I like to take pictures of people, but I love the solitude of nature and finding a quiet spot to capture a bee or capture just an animal and flag or whatever it is, but I really enjoy that.

What do you like to do when you're not working?
I've taught myself to crochet, so I'm learning still. I like to crochet. I like to read. I have a newfound love for travel.

What’s volunteer activity/non-profit do you like to work with/support and why?
I've done Work on Wilmington a couple of times, and I did the Heart Walk with Jess one year. My favorite charity or my favorite nonprofit probably is Donate Life. My mom had a transplant. Having gone through that and living the experience of knowing that someone else gave that gift is just a wonderful, beautiful experience.

What's on your bucket list?
Scotland by next year. It's a big birthday for me, and I want to do it by next year, by next fall.

What's your biggest strength?
I really have a learning core. I love to learn. I love to take the classes.(...) I love to work towards a new designation. I have plans to go get my master's degree. I love to learn. I'm always looking for those opportunities from everyone and every situation that I'm in. I guess that would probably be my biggest strength.

What's your biggest weakness?
Probably my attention to detail. I get a little overzealous in my attention to detail. That's probably my biggest weakness that slows me down sometimes and probably puts too much parameters on myself and others sometimes too.

 What's your secret superpower nobody knows about?
The only thing I can think of is that I am many years past graduating high school, and so I can still recite a poem that I had to learn in the fourth grade. Verbatim have never lost it. That knowing all 50 states in alphabetical order from that song that we all had to learn.

Favorite book?
I'm discovering my love of reading again. I'm kind of cheating because I have a 45 minute drive to work, so I listen to books continuously. My favorite series has been the Outlander series. I've read the entire one and of course have watched it.

Favorite movie?
The Harry Potter series is probably my favorite. I have a deep connection because that's how my son and I connected. It's very special to me, but also the music. The instrumental music in Harry Potter and movies like Lord of the Rings is awesome. It's just so moving and it really puts you in such a different place. I love that about it. I listen to them sometimes just to listen for the music.

Favorite band?
My all-time favorite is Bon Jovi!

How do you define success?
Finding happiness. Success is finding happiness in whatever it is that you're doing. Work, life, love, whatever it is. Find happiness.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Trust your gut. If you feel it, you're probably right. Go with your gut always.

If you have questions about about commercial insurance or looking for career opportunities, feel free to reach out to Mandy at Wells Insurance. Check out the YouTube version of her Employee Spotlight!