Posted by Lynn Mason-Small on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 01:14 PM
Charles Robinson, President & CEO of Rogers & Gray Insurance recently announced the following additions and changes to the Corporate Officers of the Company.
Following the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, the following were elected:
- Erin Viehl was elected to the corporate position of Senior Vice President
- John Gilligan was elected to the corporate position of Vice President
- Allison Frommeyer was elected to the corporate position of Assistant Vice President
- John Foley was affirmed from his date of hire as Vice President
Rogers & Gray Insurance operates 8 offices in Massachusetts. For more information on the company, please visit www.rogersgray.com or contact:
Lynn Mason-Small
VP, Business Development
508.760.4626
Lsmall@rogersgray.com
Posted by Nick Purcell on Wed, Feb 08, 2012 @ 11:45 AM
With more people looking for jobs today, there is a major problem presenting itself for employers. Employees who are applying for jobs are lying about important aspects of their lives. In most cases, the truth may be a disqualifying factor. To avoid the hassle of hiring an unfit employee, it's important to conduct a background check.
According to the ADP's 2009 Hiring Index:
- 46% of the 1.7 million applicants reviewed had discrepancies in their resume's employment, credentials, education or reference checks sections.
- 37% of applicants had discrepancies traffic violations or convictions.
- 6% of applications had discrepancies in criminal records
While not all applicants lie about convictions, others may fabricate details that make them look more appealing, which is commonly called resume padding. It's important to be able to identify both omissions and lies.
Understanding What Is In a Background Check
Not all background checks are the same, in fact there are hundreds of online services that advertise cheap and fast background checks. But these checks often are found to have
limited data. Due to this, it is best to use state resources.
How To Perform a Background Check
Usually, the office of the Highway Patrol is the best place to begin a search. Some jobs require a prospective employee to manage a budget and handle money. If this is the case, it's a good idea to request a credit check also. It's important to have the applicant's:
- SSN
- Date of Birth
- Any last names or aliases they've used in the past 10 years
Be sure to have the applicant's approval before performing a background check. Social media sites can also be beneficial when researching a potential employee. Though people may make fictitious profiles and claims on social media sites, so this information shouldn't replace what is available on a background check. Only in certain cases will these discrepancies raise a red flag against a potential employee.
Be specific in what information you decide to verify with a background check or credit check, and only perform those checks when there is a direct correlation with job duties. If an applicant will be caring for individuals, it's important to verify that they don't have any past charges of abuse, assault or neglect. Always use common sense to determine which bits of information need to be verified.
Employer Reference Considerations
Verifying employment and inquiring about an applicant's work ethic with a previous employer is important. Look up the number using a reliable source to verify the number. Although it isn't common, sometimes applicants provide erroneous phone numbers that may not belong to the previous employer they listed. Instead, they’ll supply the number to a friend. Once on the call, be sure to ask pointed and concise questions to the applicant's previous employer. The following questions are good examples:
- What are the application's strengths?
- How does the applicant deal with stress and conflict?
- In what ways could the applicant improve?
- How do the applicant's skills with other team members rank?
The best time to perform a background check is after extending an offer for employment. It's always a good idea to state upfront in the job posting that a background check will be performed for qualified applicants. This is usually effective in discouraging applicants from lying on their application. The most important thing to remember is to always obtain an applicant's written permission before ordering a background or credit check for them. This applies to all industries, not just insurance.
Posted by Lynn Mason-Small on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 @ 10:00 AM
I clearly remember my father kicking me out of the car. I was about 17 and he was trying to teach me how to drive a standard...on the steepest hill in our town. I didn't do so hot...and he finally just kicked me out and told me to walk home (we lived close). Nice.
While my dad may not have ranked high on the patience scale, he did teach me some good things about driving. Always steer into a skid. How to use my mirrors. How to avoid hydroplaning. How to pay my car insurance bill on time. How to check the oil.
What he didn't have to teach me: don't text and drive.
We didn't have cell phones back in 1988 when I got my license. It's downright frightening on our roads today. People are more distracted while driving, chatting on their cell and texting their buddies.
How do you teach them how incredably dangerous this is? (sidenote: if anyone knows how I can get this through my husbands head too, that would be appreciated)
So when I came on this bit of info, I thought it would be a good one to share Our partners, Safety Insurance, has partnered with Safe Roads Alliance and Travelers Marketing to develop the first "The Parent's Supervised Driving Guide". The guide provides detailed instruction for parents in helping them teach their teens how to drive and will be provided to all operators at the time they receive their learners permit.
It's great and well worth the read. Even if you got your license in 1988.
PS...here are some more tips for winter weather driving.
Posted by Lynn Mason-Small on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 @ 03:19 PM
I had one...and totally forgot it. Really, it was AWESOME and I can't remember a thing about what I wanted to talk about. I'm not even sure it was insurance related. This does not bode well for my aging brain.
So that got me to thinking about organization. How I probably need to make that a priority in my life (clearly, huh?). I feel like good ideas for blogging, social media, marketing campaigns, insurance webinars, enewsletter postings on employee benefits etc...continually fly in my head and fly right out as soon as the next crisis happens, the phone rings or someone comes into the office with chocolate.
How do you keep organized? I've tried some of the suggestions that blogging "experts" have suggested. I put in my calendar a regular "Blog Article" task, complete with reminder that I promptly dismiss as soon as it pops up on my screen.
I also started just sticking my ideas in the "notes" section of my iPhone. That went the way of the exercises my former trainer told me to put in there too (which really is a problem since the above mentioned chocolate bring-ins happen all to often).
I love the "work with a team" approach. That would be so AMAZING (said with a little song in my voice) except that I can't seem to get anyone else interested in blogging (with the exception of my intern Nick - whom I affectionatly call my "cute little intern" - which I'm sure he hates with a passion). And with a marketing & business development dept. of exactly 1.5 staff members in our insurance agency, we're a bit understaffed and stuff is flying at us all the time.
Well, I think I've used enough double quotations for today...any suggestions are greatly appreciated - even if your suggestion is anti-aging games!
Posted by Lynn Mason-Small on Fri, Jan 06, 2012 @ 03:04 PM
Did you see the last blog post from our intern, Nick? He totally called me out for the entire internet to see by challenging me to a blog-off!
You see, Nick has been blogging for us for a few months now...everything from how to heat your house safely in the winter, blogs you should check out, and business networking. He's learning fast, BUT has yet to surpass my highest rated blog post (and in all honesty, it's not like it was a mind-blower) - so Nick decided that he was going to spend his second semester with us, working to "pulverize" my post! Funny kid he is...
So I was thinking about ways that I could step up my game. I've been slacking a bit since Nick arrived...but no more! Like I said, it's on like Donkey Kong...he and I will be blogging away in an effort to show each other up. Good times....Good times.
But before I get into my blogging about insurance topics, I had a great experience last night with some in-person Social Networking. I spent the night at the Cape Cod Young Professionals event at a new restaurant named Red Faced Jacks. It was a good time and saw lots of familiar faces ... but I also met some new ones ... and ones who I had WANTED to meet no less! I love when that happens.
It reminded me that yes, it does pay off to get out of the office sometimes. This coincides with my one (I have many) of my New Years Resolutions - to create more EFFECTIVE business relationships. I think this is one I can stick to..unlike the others which mainly involved depriving myself of all things good - like chocolate!
Posted by Nick Purcell on Thu, Jan 05, 2012 @ 02:38 PM
But I’ve decided to challenge her to a little competition. Well, I guess you could say I’ve challenged a past post of hers. This post was about insurance blogs being boring, with the exception being Ryan Hanley’s blog.
Why this post? It is the most read and discussed post on the blog…for now. With New Year’s only being a few days ago, I’d like to share with all of you my resolution.
My resolution is to beat that post. Scratch that – pulverize that post. That will be my goal over the next few months. I’ll need your help though. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the blog’s feed. That will send you an email whenever there is a new post.
This resolution is a small part of my bigger resolution to create a funnier, more entertaining, and light-hearted Rogers & Gray blog. So, buckle up, because there is way more posts to come. It’s time to put some life into blogging.
I’m going to take Ryan Hanley’s more personable approach to blogging. That’s something a lot of businesses need. Stop trying to sell and just enjoy the conversation with your clients or readers.
No one likes a one-way conversation, especially when you’re the one just listening. So it’s a two-way conversation now.
Comment below with anything you want to hear about in upcoming posts. What are you interested in? It’s time to bring social back into businesses’ vocabularies.
Oh, and one last thing. Don’t tell Lynn. Shhhh… I like my internship.
Posted by Nick Purcell on Thu, Dec 01, 2011 @ 12:27 PM
On November 16, 2011, Business Connect took place in Hyannis, Massachusetts at the Resort and Conference Center. This was a giant business to business conference put on by Cape and Plymouth Business. Rogers & Gray Insurance was lucky enough to take part in this event and be featured as part of the exhibit hall.
The beginning of the conference was the exhibitors setting up their tables and putting out their promotional items. The exhibit was filled with all types of industries such as bank, email list managers, and colleges. The energy and excitement in the room was palpable, as people found new ways to improve their businesses.
The Academic Sessions were extremely informational. I went to the Social Media Marketing and Technology sessions. The presenters clearly knew what they were talking about and covered the wide range from beginners to intermediate social media marketers. Everyone picked up at least one tip during these hour long sessions.
The Lunch was great; with the co-founder of Hubspot, an internet marketing tool, as the keynote speaker. This presentation covered everything from starting to write your first content to getting the word out there! As a blogger and social media marketing enthusiast, I ate this up (pun definitely intended).
The day wrapped up with the raffles that each booth had put on. The prize primarily was the iPad, which could help anyone with their business ventures. The ex-New England Patriots player, Troy Brown who is the marketing symbol for Narragansett Beer, was there to announce some of the winners. He brought with him some framed photographs that were also raffled off. Unfortunately, no one from Rogers & Gray Insurance won anything, but a few friends of Rogers & Gray did. Despite not winning any raffle prizes, I would still categorize it as a great day.
I hope that everyone takes the opportunity to go to Business Connect next year.
Posted by Nick Purcell on Wed, Nov 02, 2011 @ 09:14 PM
Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Got to love candy, no matter how old you are!
I have been writing blog posts since freshman year of high school which was 4 years ago. I have been reading blogs for even longer. Along the way I have read tons of content, mostly on Internet Business, blogging, and making money online rather than insurance. But they are helpful nonetheless. These are my top 3 favorite blogs, I hope you enjoy them too.
The Smart Passive Income Blog
The Smart Passive Income Blog is written by Pat Flynn. Pat Flynn got started online with his LEED Exam notes blog called Green Exam Academy. With this blog he created an EBook that ended up making him a few thousand dollars within the first month! After he got laid off from his job, his focus on his Internet Business increased ten fold. He now has a few niche websites, a blog about how to start your own Internet Business, and his LEED exam notes blog. One of his most popular posting series is his Income Reports, where he posts every cent he has earned from every area of his business. His usual posting schedule is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. His posts are always filled with high quality content.
Don’t want to read content? No problem! He is also on Youtube with a ton of very informative videos on topics such as Facebook Fan Pages and Conversion Rates. He also just released his 27th episode of his podcast that is one of the top rated podcasts on blogging. This is one of his best business decisions. He offers so many different ways to consume his content! There is a way for everybody!
Internet Business Mastery
Internet Business Mastery is a blog created by Sterling and Jay. The posts they write have pretty useful tips in them, but their blog is based around The Academy. The Academy is actually called the Internet Business Mastery Academy. This Academy is a membership website that costs $67 per month. Due to the cost, I have never been able to join the academy.
I can’t fully recommend their course since I’ve never used it, but I’ve only heard great things about it. One thing I can recommend is subscribing to their podcast and downloading a few episodes. I listen to their podcast every week and have learned a lot from them this way. They are well over 100 episodes and still going strong. Their great content along with their crystal clear voices make for a great podcast. And here comes the best part. It’s free!
Mashable
Mashable isn’t really a blog, but it also includes great content. It’s all fresh and high quality. They have five different main categories of content. They are split up into Social Media, Technology, Business, Entertainment, and U.S. & World. Content is added throughout the day by the writers of Mashable. There are often great tips for your business or website. Along with great ideas on how to improve your Social Media profiles. I like to check on Mashable’s new and top stories once a day or once every day. There are always great articles to recommend to your followers on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Google+ pages.
Wrapping it Up
Those are the three blogs that I read the most online. Although they are not insurance blogs, they give great information. Time is valuable so make sure you are only reading high quality content that has a purpose. Obviously leave time for entertaining articles that you may enjoy. But when you are looking for content to help your business make sure it is all quality.
What websites, insurance related or not, do you enjoy to read? What do you think of these blogs? Tell us below in the comments!
Have a Great Week Everyone!
Posted by Nick Purcell on Tue, Oct 11, 2011 @ 12:30 PM
Heating can be your best friend in the winter, keeping you warm in a blizzard or just a cold day. But heaters can also be extremely dangerous when used wrong or neglected. These heaters whether it is a fireplace, a wood stove, or a portable space heater cause thousands of fires every year. Make sure that you take proper action to make sure that your family isn’t in jeopardy. You wouldn’t want to have to kiss that retirement plan good bye due to an avoidable accident.
Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Say, you are going out to buy a new wood stove or fireplace. What is something you might want to ask the salesperson that is trying to get you to buy a certain model? One question that comes to mind is whether it was approved by an acceptable testing lab. Obviously you want to have something that can be so hazardous to be tested. Make sure you ask! When you are installing it, make sure that you FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. The directions are there for a reason. They make sure you are putting it in safely and effectively. Once you already have your wood stove or fireplace you should make sure you get it inspected on a yearly basis.
Once you get it set up correctly make sure you only burn seasoned hardwood! Make sure that sparks are contained by a metal or glass screen. Also make sure that anything flammable is away from the stove at all times. When putting out your fire, make sure you keep the damper open until the embers are cold.
Portable Space Heaters
When you are choosing your Portable Space Heater, make sure you choose one that automatically turns off if it is tipped over. When you are choosing a place to put it, make sure it is away from any materials that can burn. This includes furniture. Before you go to sleep or leave the house turn your space heater off to prevent a fire. It's all about fire safety. Don’t use your space heater to dry your clothing.
Summing it Up
Having a Wood Stove or a Portable Space Heater is a comforting luxury, but you must be careful. You need to make sure that your heater is in a safe place and has been inspected. If you are just buying a heater for the first time, make sure it has been tested and, more importantly, approved. Following these tips can help keep you safe this winter.
Posted by Nick Purcell on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 @ 12:20 PM
Hello, Rogers & Gray Community! I am Nick Purcell. I’m joining the Business Development Department as an intern. I go to the South Dennis Office from 12:45 until 2:00.
I am a senior at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. My top choice for college is Northeastern University, because of the choices they provide and their Co-Op program. If I don’t go there, I would like to go to another school in Boston. I’m thinking possibly Suffolk University or Boston University. And yes, I do have car insurance with Rogers & Gray! (Sorry Sales Department!)
My main goal is to absorb as much knowledge as I can during my stay at Rogers & Gray. I am working more specifically in Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and the Rogers & Gray blog. During my stay, I hope to work with those and enhance them to the best of my abilities.
I do have some experience with Social Media and business online. I had a blog that I wrote in my sophomore year that was originally at sbforeveryone.com. But I dropped the domain, so it is no longer there. My more recent blog was simplylearnbusiness.com. I plan to start a new project, most likely a blog, once I get some more funds to my Paypal Account. I may also team up with my friend on a project, but nothing is "set in stone".
So, I’m very excited to be doing the work that I am truly passionate about. It’s nice to get help, as I have done all of my blogging in the past on my own. I hope to be able to help out Rogers & Gray as I learn. Thank you all for the opportunity.
Leave some feedback if you have any questions for me. Or if there is anything in particular you would like me to blog about.