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 a client advisor in the downtown branch at Wells. I help insurers take care of their policies, handle renewals, work with producers.
What's your background?
I'm from a small little country town in South Carolina. Immediately out of high school, I landed a job in insurance, and I've been doing it ever since. I was actually working as a bartender and a server at Mellow Mushroom and one of my tables had two guys talking about dividing into two separate companies and one of gentlemen said, 'I need a CSR, I'm getting backed up".
It was just him and at the agency, so I said, "I'm a quick learner. I am willing to learn anything you need me to. I like people."
And he said like, okay, well, let's do an interview on Wednesday of next week, I was hired on the spot, and I've been doing it ever since.
After leaving the Mom and Pop Agency, I went and worked for two years at another agency, then moved to Wilmington last year. I then found Wells. I wanted something closer to home and Wells just seemed to fit better into that. When I had my interview, it was just more grounding and family oriented.
What do you like most about working at Wells?
I like Wells because the family, the people, and it's a good culture to be in. It makes work life balance easy.
What's the best lesson you've learned throughout your career?
The best lesson I've learned is that resilience and perspective matter more than circumstance. I think that's the best outlook to have.
What's the biggest challenge you've had in your career?
The biggest challenge I face is probably relocating along with my seven year old son in the middle of things, big world changes. So new agency, new schools. Whenever it comes to relocating to a new state, let alone a new city, also new guidelines, new companies, different people you're working with, it's all a big change. I think that comes with its own hurdles. It's been a little bit difficult to navigate, but it works out.
What's the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?
Being able to navigate a career and build my career along with raising my son and show him, try to be a super mom.
What's the first job you ever had?
My first job was babysitting. Two little girls and they were so sweet. I would ride the bus home with them while their mom was working for a few hours and just stay there and I still talk to them to this day, so.
What's the weirdest job you've ever had?
The weirdest job I've ever had was I was 17 and I volunteered, which I actually ended up getting paid for to set up booths at the county fair. It was fun, but the people were characters, carneys. You learn a lot, different interesting people.
If you could do anything for a living, what would you do?
Something creative, adventurous...maybe a travel food blogger.
What do you like to do when you're not working?
When I'm not working, I'm at the beach, I'm going over landing,(...) any hikes, trails we can find, any adventure that me and my kiddo can get into, we're gonna try it at least once. Skydiving's been my favorite recently, so I've done it twice already.
What’s volunteer activity do you enjoy the most?
My favorite nonprofit that I like to volunteer with support is both the Humane Society for one, and then the Women's Shelter, helping out domestic violence survivors and their children.
What's on your bucket list?
My bucket list would be just to travel anywhere, everywhere, meet all kinds of cultures, experience all the cuisines. I love languages also, so just being able to travel and experience all that.
What's your biggest strength?
I think my biggest strength is being able to see the bright side of any bad situation, no matter how bad, I'm a glass half full kind of person.
What's your biggest weakness?
My greatest weakness is delegating. I like to be in control and to handle everything. However, sometimes I take on a little bit too much.
What's your secret superpower nobody knows about?
So my secret talent is I'm actually a very good mechanic. So I have a 97 Toyota Land Cruiser. I'm really handy with fixing all my problems and I change my oil, my brakes, I can take out an alternator and replace it on the side of the road. My friends call me whenever they
need help.
They call me Barb the Builder! LOL!
Favorite book?
My favorite book is American Star by Jackie Collins.
Favorite TV Show?
My favorite TV show is How I Met Your Mother. Actually, it's a tie, How I Met Your Mother and New Girl. Those are my top two, I love them.
Favorite movie?
My favorite maybe to this day, ever since I was a little girl has been Matilda.
Favorite band?
Pierce the Veil.
How do you define success?
I define it as being happy. But being happy, I think is being successful. When you're happy with your work, when you're happy with your life, that is success.
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Best advice I was ever given was don't dim your light to make somebody else feel comfortable. My Papa Joe said that even though he didn't call me Ronna, he called me Pete. He'd say "Pete, don't dim your light to make others feel better about themselves."
If you have questions about about Commercial Insurance feel free to reach out to Ronna at Wells Insurance. Check out the Youtube version of this Employee Spotlight.
