Helping to Point You in the Right Direction

By Lexie Anderson | Posted: 5/4/2020

 

Featured in our May Newsletter is Kate O’Toole, current Board Member at Large. Kate is the Operations & Agency Management Systems Project Manager at Starkweather & Shepley Inc. located in Providence, Rhode Island. Starkweather & Shepley has grown throughout the years and there are offices currently in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida. While Kate is currently an East Coast girl, she grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where she got her start in the insurance industry. Kate may be considered a New Englander now, but she is a major Pittsburgh sports fan. In her free time she loves to read, specifically biographies of famous musicians. Last year during the Covid-19 pandemic Kate read somewhere around 30 books!

Kate went to college in Pennsylvania and was planning to be an educator. She even told her family, who all help and work at her uncles’ agency in Pittsburgh, that she had zero intentions of falling into the family business. However, like it happens with a lot of people, Kate came back from college and slowly started helping at the family agency. From there she became a part of the surety side of things, issuing bonds and policies, talking to, and servicing clients, and working in the systems. Kate had accidentally fallen into the insurance world and she has not left. 

In 2014, Kate became a NetVU Certified System Administrator for Sagitta, receiving her NcSA which changed the trajectory of her career. After taking the certification course Kate became increasingly involved with NetVU and Vertafore products through volunteering and networking. The people she met in 2014 recognized opportunities for her on NetVU's work groups and committees. Kate dove right in and wanted to learn and be involved in anything and everything. 

Kate was nominated by industry friend and peer Laurie Gillam to be a part of the NetVU Board of Directors. During Kates time on the board she has really focused her energy on helping people realize that NetVU is here and is a resource that should be utilized. Not only does she want to help Vertafore customers realize that NetVU is an outstanding resource, she also wants to help foster a new wave of volunteers. “We need more people, we need more involvement.” While keeping past volunteers and presenters around is great for consistent messaging, the more volunteers we have, the fresher the ideas.” Getting more people involved with NetVU volunteering at a consistent rate will ensure that there is always someone with vast knowledge of the Vertafore System they’re using. Someone who can step up and help. 

Kate can’t stress enough for those new to NetVU and Vertafore products, to get involved. A great way to do that is by joining the conversations on the NetVU Community (NCOM), NetVU’s online discussion forum. Do not be afraid to write a post, ask a question about using your Vertafore solutions, or just introduce yourself. Everyone on NCOM has been in your shoes - with that uneasy feeling of being new and a little shy. Put yourself out there. You will not regret fostering new relationships within NCOM, and you will see how much you learn along the way. Her favorite thing about using NCOM are the NetVU staff and member volunteers involved behind the scenes. “They make you feel comfortable. You don't ever feel like you're asking a dumb question when you go to them. They just help point you in the right direction.” 

Kate’s biggest piece of advice to anyone new to the insurance industry is to find a mentor. Find someone you can talk to and aren’t afraid to reach out to when you need help or advice, who you can throw ideas around with, and someone who will push you when you need it. Finding a mentor is finding a teacher and a friend, wrapped up in one. That special person who is always willing to help.