Women in Insurance and Financial Services (W.I.F.S)
Local Chapter Now Formed
Local Chapter Now Formed
Women in the insurance and financial services industry now have a group to call “home”
Women in Insurance and Financial Services (W.I.F.S.), solidified the long-awaited formation of a Utah Chapter at an event attended by the national organization’s president-elect, Kathleen Godfrey of Buffalo, New York. President-Elect Godfrey expressed from personal experience how this organization can bring solid solutions to women by offering training, education, mentoring, and overall support on a local level.
Thanks to the grass root efforts of Renee Tribe, LUTCF, and Amber Dixon, the kick-off luncheon was held Wednesday at the Market Street Grill in Cottonwood. Over 30 women attended the event and learned about the local and national organization. As the organization’s name implies, it is focused on women who hold a variety of positions and licenses in the insurance and financial services industries.
Renee Tribe, the new chapter president, and Amber Dixon, the chapter’s public relations and marketing executive board member, started this project with the support of their general agent. In February, an initial exploratory lunch was held, and based on favorable responses at that meeting; the official kick-off was scheduled. “Women need to support women,” stated Renee Tribe. She added, “The financial services and insurance industries are tough, rewarding, ever-changing, and essential. For these reasons, it is highly important to be a part of a support group such as W.I.F.S. – so that in the entrepreneurial world of finance and insurance, you work for yourself, but are not by yourself.”
President-Elect, Kathleen Godfrey, spoke about personal experiences that led her to this career and how interacting and learning from other women in this profession helped her succeed. Ms. Godfrey stated, “Although there are many national organizations, this one is unique because it is focused specifically on women in the financial and insurance industry. It is not a network group, but a support group armed with tools and solutions that can help advance and encourage the success of women.”
The local chapter plans on meeting quarterly and offering CE credit at least once a year and is currently compiling feedback from members and members-to-be for additional options offered to members. The annual dues are $40 and each event is a pay-as-you-go fee.
Coinciding with the kick off lunch, new members of Utah W.I.F.S. donated clothing to the Utah-based Turning Point Center. Turning Point is a center for personal and career development and is a community resource. The Professional Clothing Source portion of the center offers clothing to women who are returning to school and/or the work force and do not have the resources to build a wardrobe. Local merchants and individuals donate clothes that are then made available at no cost to the women in the program.
The Board members would also like to thank Mr. Todd Reid, general agent with Intermountain Financial Group/MassMutual and Mr. Roger McQueen, the general agent with Northwestern Mutual for donating money towards the kick-off luncheon and helping make it a success.
For more information to get involved with the new Utah Chapter contact Amber Dixon, Interim Membership Committee Chairperson, at 801-453-2274 or email her at adixon@finsvcs.com; and visit the national W.I.F.S. organization’s website at http://www.w-wifs.org/_. We are also on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
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About W.I.F.S.:
Women in Financial Services is a national organization of women in the insurance and financial services industries. The organization was originally formed in 1936 as the Women Leaders Round Table (under NALU, now NAIFA) and in 2000, expanded to include all areas of financial services. Financial organizations use W.I.F.S.’ Fortune Academy and Mastermind teleconference monthly programs as an economical way to expand women’s meetings. The organization provides an avenue where Financial Services Professionals can network, learn from others in the business, and give back to the next generation. Chapters are located throughout the country, and the organization holds bi-annual conferences.
Thanks to the grass root efforts of Renee Tribe, LUTCF, and Amber Dixon, the kick-off luncheon was held Wednesday at the Market Street Grill in Cottonwood. Over 30 women attended the event and learned about the local and national organization. As the organization’s name implies, it is focused on women who hold a variety of positions and licenses in the insurance and financial services industries.
Renee Tribe, the new chapter president, and Amber Dixon, the chapter’s public relations and marketing executive board member, started this project with the support of their general agent. In February, an initial exploratory lunch was held, and based on favorable responses at that meeting; the official kick-off was scheduled. “Women need to support women,” stated Renee Tribe. She added, “The financial services and insurance industries are tough, rewarding, ever-changing, and essential. For these reasons, it is highly important to be a part of a support group such as W.I.F.S. – so that in the entrepreneurial world of finance and insurance, you work for yourself, but are not by yourself.”
President-Elect, Kathleen Godfrey, spoke about personal experiences that led her to this career and how interacting and learning from other women in this profession helped her succeed. Ms. Godfrey stated, “Although there are many national organizations, this one is unique because it is focused specifically on women in the financial and insurance industry. It is not a network group, but a support group armed with tools and solutions that can help advance and encourage the success of women.”
The local chapter plans on meeting quarterly and offering CE credit at least once a year and is currently compiling feedback from members and members-to-be for additional options offered to members. The annual dues are $40 and each event is a pay-as-you-go fee.
Coinciding with the kick off lunch, new members of Utah W.I.F.S. donated clothing to the Utah-based Turning Point Center. Turning Point is a center for personal and career development and is a community resource. The Professional Clothing Source portion of the center offers clothing to women who are returning to school and/or the work force and do not have the resources to build a wardrobe. Local merchants and individuals donate clothes that are then made available at no cost to the women in the program.
The Board members would also like to thank Mr. Todd Reid, general agent with Intermountain Financial Group/MassMutual and Mr. Roger McQueen, the general agent with Northwestern Mutual for donating money towards the kick-off luncheon and helping make it a success.
For more information to get involved with the new Utah Chapter contact Amber Dixon, Interim Membership Committee Chairperson, at 801-453-2274 or email her at adixon@finsvcs.com; and visit the national W.I.F.S. organization’s website at http://www.w-wifs.org/_. We are also on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
# # #
About W.I.F.S.:
Women in Financial Services is a national organization of women in the insurance and financial services industries. The organization was originally formed in 1936 as the Women Leaders Round Table (under NALU, now NAIFA) and in 2000, expanded to include all areas of financial services. Financial organizations use W.I.F.S.’ Fortune Academy and Mastermind teleconference monthly programs as an economical way to expand women’s meetings. The organization provides an avenue where Financial Services Professionals can network, learn from others in the business, and give back to the next generation. Chapters are located throughout the country, and the organization holds bi-annual conferences.
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