Phil Roe and Tom Porter

During his recent visit to Morristown on November 12th, U.S. Congressman, Phil Roe and Strate Insurance Group’s  Tom Porter, Vice President, Employee Benefits, discussed the impact of health care legislation on our economic conditions.

The announcement was made by Dr. William T. Hold, President of the Society of CIC, who conferred the designation on Mr. Metelka in an official ceremony conducted recently in Nashville.

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors is a national non-profit organization dedicated to professional insurance education.  Its continuing education program is conducted in all states and Puerto Rico.  The Society of CIC is a key member of the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research; a leading source of instructive insurance literature and the nation’s preeminent continuing insurance education organization. 

Mr. Metelka and other individuals who hold the CIC designation have demonstrated their professional competence through a combination of experience, formal training, and a series of comprehensive written examination focusing on all major fields of insurance, insurance management, and agency operations.

Tom Strate, President of Strate Insurance Group, said, “We are very proud to have Bob as a member of our team.  His commitment to professionalism and continuing education is in harmony with our business model of Risk Management and Continuous Improvement”

Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, Public Relations, along with a minor in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee in May 2004. Bob resides in Strawberry Plains, TN with his wife, Sally, and daughter, Aubrey.  The family attends St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Strate Insurance Group is a Trusted Choice insurance agency offering Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefit services since 1978.

April is Safe Digging Month!

Why Buy a Renter’s Insurance Policy?

If and when the new law is reinstated it will require all individuals, engaged in the construction industry, including sole proprietors and partners, to procure workers’ compensation insurance coverage on themselves, as well as their employees.

We will keep you informed as soon as the State legislature has determined the final outcome

The intensive training program developed by Chubb begins with basic insurance knowledge and progresses to increasingly more involved details of specific types of coverage.  The program is designed to incorporate classroom instruction, online study, webinar sessions, and mentoring via teleconference.

Metelka reflected, “It was a difficult and challenging course, but the advantages it provided me were well worth the investment. I use the knowledge from the course daily as I work with my clients and develop customized solutions to their individual business needs.”

Bob, a native of Maryville, brought a great deal of Public Relations, Sales, and Marketing experience with him as he joined the Strate team. He has worked as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America where he was active in the growth of the Scouting program in Hamblen, Cocke, Jefferson, and Grainger counties. He was responsible for program development, along with public relations and fund raising events.  During his personal participation in the scouting program, Bob earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, Public Relations, along with a minor in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee in May 2004. He received various honors and was an active member of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). Currently he is a member of the Morristown Kiwanis Club, Mission of Hope and has other professional affiliations.

Bob joined Strate Insurance Group in April 2008 as a Business Insurance Representative.    “We are very pleased to have Bob on our team.  He is a quick learner and has put his new knowledge to work,” said Tom Strate.  The basis of our business insurance model is risk management.                          

Bob resides in Strawberry Plains, TN with his wife, Sally, and new daughter, Aubrey.

Strate Insurance Group is a Trusted Choice insurance agency offering Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefit services since 1978.

Lois Hannold, Benefits Consultant with Strate Insurance Group, Inc., has been designated a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS®) by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Hannold qualified for the designation by passing a series of college level national examinations on employee benefit subjects, and by meeting and attesting to high standards of business and professional conduct.  Hannold is one of more than 11,000 graduates.  She is also a member of the National Society of Industry Professionals.

Tom Strate, President of Strate Insurance Group said, “We are proud to have two Certified Employee Benefit Specialists on our Benefits Team.  Lois Hannold and Tom Porter, our V.P. of Employee Benefits, both now hold the highly regarded CEBS ® credential. We are confident that the qualifications of our Benefits Team give us a real edge in the provision of value to our customers.”

The 2010 National CEBS® Conferment Ceremony will take place during the Annual Symposium of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists in Charlotte, North Carolina in October.

Lois joined Strate Insurance Group in January as a Benefits Consultant. She began her career over 20 years ago in the insurance industry with experience in customer service and underwriting.  She then held the position of Benefits Consultant at a national Professional Employer Organization where her focus was the area of employee benefit compliance and administration for over 20,000 client employees.?
Lois was also awarded the designation of Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) from the International Foundation and the Wharton School through additional studies offered by the CEBS® Program. 

Before relocating to Tennessee in 2008, Lois was an Employee Benefits Administrator for a prominent international law firm headquartered in Chicago, IL. She and her husband, Bruce, currently reside in Newport.

Strate Insurance Group is a Trusted Choice insurance agency offering Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefit services since 1978.

Gary Gregg joined Strate Insurance Group, Inc. in March 2009 to provide additional services to customers, especially seniors, seeking a variety of individual insurance products.  Gary is licensed as a life and health agent by the State of Tennessee and is certified to offer Medicare Supplements and Long-Term Care products.

Tom Strate, President of Strate Insurance Group, remarked “Although we have long provided fully-integrated life and health benefits services for employer groups, we recognized an increasing need to provide a similar level of specialized service for individuals. We are proud to add a person of Gary’s character to our team to fill that need.”

Gary is a native of Morristown. He graduated from Morristown East and The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.  Gary and his family are members of the First Baptist Church., Morristown, TN.

Before joining Strate, Gary worked in manufacturing for 30 years holding positions in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Supervision and Purchasing. He has been involved in many community organizations including The Great Smoky Mountain Council Boy Scouts of America, Junior Achievement, and youth athletics. Gary was an Assistant Coach for several youth softball leagues and served four years as an Assistant Basketball Coach for Hillcrest Elementary.  He is currently a member of the Noon Rotary Club.

“Gary takes his current mission very seriously.  He understands that in all the different stages of life, people need someone they can trust, someone who has the experience and knowledge to advise them, and someone with whom they can develop an on-going professional relationship,” added Tom Strate.

In addition to your grief at a time of personal loss, you may also have financial worries you’re not prepared to face alone.  You’ll feel better knowing that the ones you love will be able to continue their lives without unnecessary financial disruption. Life Insurance gives you that peace of mind.

No one plans to be disabled, but if you are, it is important to have a plan that provides you an income until you can return to work.

Long-Term Care goes beyond medical care and nursing care to include all the assistance you could need if you ever have a chronic illness or disability that leaves you unable to care for yourself for an extended period time. Even a young or middle-aged person who has been in an accident or suffered a debilitating illness might need long-term care.

Individual Health Insurance needs vary from person to person. That is why at Strate Insurance Group we represent several Individual Health Insurance carriers to meet the needs of our customers. For seniors, the decision to purchase either a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement policy can be confusing.

Gary is ready to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the products mentioned above and find the plan that best suits your needs.

Strate Insurance Group is a Trusted Choice insurance agency offering Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefit services since 1978.

Debra Robinson, Claims Manager for Strate Insurance Group, Inc, recently earned the designation of Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP).
Robinson, who also holds the designation of Associate in Claims (AIC), successfully received this additional certification from the School of Labor and Industrial Relations at Michigan State University.  This course of study is recognized as a premier national program and consists of classroom lecture, discussion, group exercises, and a final exam.

To be eligible to receive this designation, Robinson had to demonstrate an established proficiency in Workers’ Compensation and the knowledge and skills necessary to be recognized as a professional in this field.
The comprehensive course work included Principles of Disability Law, Claims Management, Safety and Disability Prevention, Medical Issues, Insurance and Self- Insurance. 

“Debra is a great advocate for our customers during the claims process”, said company President Tom Strate. “We are very proud of Debra’s accomplishment and know that her knowledge and experience is a great benefit to our customers”.

Robinson is a member of the Business Insurance Team at Strate Insurance Group where she expedites the management of claims and coordinates safety consulting services for their clients. She has been a member of the Morristown Area Safety and Environmental Professional Association (MASEPA) for the past five years.
Strate Insurance Group is a Trusted Choice insurance agency offering Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefit services since 1978.