When her daughter nearly died in a serious motor-vehicle accident in Overland Park a few years ago , Jerri Deardoff , administrative assistant , said it was the Fees who helped her family in time of despair . Fundraisers , gifts and support , Deardoff said , were just a few of the ways the brothers assisted the family . “ Thanks to them , she was able to put her life back together ,” she said .
Industry changes Looking back over his career , Fee said he ’ s seen a number of significant changes in an industry that ’ s altered itself to meet the demands of a changing society .
“ Technology has changed the way we do business , and it ’ s changed the expectations of the client ,” he said . “ It ’ s changed the way companies do business . Speed to market is a huge issue , and it ’ s a challenge .”
Fee said that TV commercials and other advertisements offering customers reduced rates in only a few minutes have helped produce clients who also expect an immediate response . “ So when people call and want a quote , they expect the same thing - 15 minutes - and it doesn ’ t always happen that way depending on what the account is ,” he said . “ That ’ s a frustration more than anything , but the industry has done it to itself . You don ’ t see banks advertise five minutes , and we ’ ll save you 15 percent on your loan . You don ’ t see that , but you see insurance companies advertise that stuff all the time . I think our industry , since it ’ s put that out there , needs to figure out the technology .”
A view from the top Just like his dad , Fee became involved at the state level early in his career . His father , who served as state president and a national director , wanted to get his younger son to be active in the association , and took him to events so he could network and meet other agents .
After being involved in with the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents for more than 25 years , including a term as president , he decided to take it to the next level and began serving on the National Trusted Choice committee . He would later become committee chairman in 2009 . Fee moved on to serve on the national government affairs committee while also representing Kansas as state director for three years .
“ I just got very enthused with what I saw at the national level ,” he said . “ I saw good things happening , and really good people from all over the country . And one of the things about the national association that is so good , is the networking with people from all over the country .”
Eventually , Fee decided to run for the national executive committee and won . “ What this gives me , individually and from our agency perspective , it gives me a great perspective in so many different areas of insurance advocacy for the agent . Every state is different , and has different needs . Hail is a big thing here , and coastal areas have hurricanes . You just learn so many things about the uniqueness of our country , and the uniqueness of the insurance marketplace and the needs around the country .”
As a member of the national executive committee , Fee said it will be his job to advocate and create understanding for what the national association has to offer .
“ There ’ s a lot of great programs and products at the national level that I don ’ t think a lot of our Kansas agents are even aware of ,” he said . “ Having a national executive within the state , I need to make sure I ’ m available to our agents on a regular basis about what we ’ re doing at the national level … I think it ’ s important for them to constantly hear what we ’ re doing at the national level , and it ’ s equally important for me to hear what works and what doesn ’ t work .”
An original company sign was removed from the former agency location . The sign is now on display in the home office .
18 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER | MARCH - APRIL 2016 |