Mary’s path to the agency side of the insurance industry was anything but a straight line. Her academic training and professional experience honed her IT and project management skills. Yet it was happenstance or karma that led a native Floridian to head up marketing and technology for a growing independent insurance agency based in the Seattle area with several branch locations.
Armed with IT degrees from the University of Florida (B.S) and Rollins University (M.S.), Mary began her career with large technology and consulting firms. Eventually she joined CNA’s Florida office, where she spent seven years, and then had stints as marketing consultant and project manager at Premera Blue Cross, Microsoft and Western Washington University.
Her journey to Empire Insurance Brokers came by way of a personal relationship. Her husband Ryan founded the agency ― but it was seven years after they met that the growing needs of the successful agency intersected with her skill set of marketing, project management and IT. So, in late 2020, Mary rolled up her sleeves to lead marketing and technology, harnessing the agency management system, telephony platform and social media to expand Empire’s digital marketing footprint.
While many agency staffers come from an insurance background, Mary’s IT and project management experience made her a quick study of the agency “tech stack.” When Empire began to add locations, Mary joined NetVU as an avenue to seek input from other insurance professionals dealing with similar challenges. In fact, she is a regular user of the NetVU Discussion Boards.
As a tech expert, Mary confirms that a critical component of technology implementation is “change management.” As she puts it, “It makes no sense to implement a technological solution if the staff won’t use it.” As a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), she understands how to ensure successful adoption of innovative technologies and how important the user experience is in the equation.
She volunteers for Seattle Children’s Hospital, Toys for Tots and other charities that Empire donates to quarterly upon receiving referrals. Mary also raised funds for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation by completing a half-marathon.
Mary and husband, Ryan, are the proud parents of three children, Corbin, Ariana, and Collin. The couple recently joined the RV owners club, so they can travel yet keep up on work.