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 |