Jordyn O'Rourke, Author at Vizance

Vizance is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces award for the seventh consecutive year. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional workplace environment, associate satisfaction, and company culture. The Top Workplaces Award celebrates organizations that prioritize associate engagement, growth opportunities, and a positive work-life balance. It acknowledges companies that go above and beyond to create an inclusive and empowering workplace where employees feel valued, motivated, and inspired to achieve their full potential. “We are thrilled to be named a Top Workplace for the seventh consecutive year. This prestigious recognition validates our ongoing efforts to prioritize the well-being and professional development of our associates,” said Sarah Ocampo, Chief of Staff and Director of Operations at Vizance. “We owe this honor to our exceptional team members whose dedication, passion, and ideas continue to elevate Vizance to new heights.” With an unwavering commitment to associate well-being and career growth, Vizance offers a range of benefits and initiatives that contribute to a thriving workplace. These include comprehensive health and wellness programs, professional development opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and a supportive company culture that fosters diversity and inclusivity. The Top Workplaces award is based on anonymous surveys conducted among associates, providing an u

Vizance is pleased to announce the addition of Chad Koehler as Business Development Executive and Risk Management Advisor. Chad is well-known in the insurance industry and brings a wealth of experience, having joined his family agency started by his grandfather in the late 1940’s, then eventually becoming President. His experience, values, reputation, relationships, and community involvement make him an invaluable asset to our team. “From the first moment that I met the Vizance team, I recognized that their culture is their differentiator,” said Koehler. “The associates are passionate about their clients, which in turn, allows us to represent the best insurance companies. It also attracts like-minded agencies who desire to partner with Vizance.” Chad will focus on new business opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, building relationships with clients, and providing exceptional service. With a focus on developing and nurturing long-term relationships, Chad will work closely with our team to identify new opportunities for growth and expansion. “We are excited to have Chad on the Vizance team,” says Tom Schaetz, Chief Operating Officer at Vizance. “With his extensive experience and alignment with our business model, we are confident that he will make a significant impact on our clients and our agency as a whole.” Jeff Cardenas, President of Vizance, echoed Tom’s thoughts. “Chad is a respected community leader, and he knows our culture well,

Vizance was honored as a 2022 SECURA top-performing agency out of approximately 550 agencies in 13 states. SECURA Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company based in Neenah, Wisconsin. This is our second time earning a top-performer award from SECURA. Vizance has represented SECURA since 2019. SECURA recognized Vizance at its annual Premier Agent Conference held earlier this month. To earn this prestigious recognition, Vizance met specific criteria based on our premium volume, profitability, growth, retention, and loss history. About Vizance Vizance is a privately-held company that provides risk management, business insurance, employee benefits, personal insurance, and financial service solutions to companies, families and individuals. The company is dedicated to remaining independent which provides assurance to associates and clients that Vizance is unwavering in its commitment to them and not investors. Vizance associates create an award-winning culture that is focused on values, performance, and fun.

This year, Vizance put an emphasis on giving back to the community. In partnership with The Hanover Insurance Group, a donation was made to benefit the Women’s Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The Women’s Center serves all impacted by domestic abuse, sexual violence, child abuse, and trafficking. They provide a range of life-saving and life-changing programs and services that heal and empower adults and children on their paths to build a future free from violence. Along with the donation, a group of associates from Vizance and The Hanover Insurance Group spent an afternoon volunteering at the shelter. They were able to sort an abundance of donations, assemble holiday food boxes, and helped fulfill holiday wish lists for clients’ families. It was great to spread joy at this time of year and maximize our impact with in-person volunteering. It was expressed that performing the simple tasks of organizing and cleaning frees up time for shelter employees to focus on more important things – which we were grateful to do! Vizance’s launch of the Volunteer Time Off program in early 2022 allows associates one day every year to spend volunteering for local organizations. This event in conjunction with Volunteer Time Off aligns with our company values and has allowed associates from all over Wisconsin to use their time to give back within their communities. If you’d like to get involved at The Women’s Center, visit https://twcwaukesha.org/

Vizance, a leading independent insurance agency serving Wisconsin and surrounding states, recently announced that Tom Schaetz has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Schaetz was previously the Director of Strategy and Growth and is both a shareholder of the company and a member of the agency’s executive leadership team. As COO, Schaetz will focus on accelerating the agency’s growth and business operations, in collaboration with leaders from throughout the firm. “Tom has a proven record of building high-performing teams, developing associates, and integrating new agency partners,” said Jeff Cardenas, President of Vizance. “His ability to consistently deliver strong results has positioned us well for future growth. Vizance is dedicated to remaining independent, and Tom will play a pivotal role in ensuring our continued success.” Prior to joining Vizance, Tom held various leadership positions at Top 100 insurance firms. Tom began his career at Price Waterhouse Coopers, and later consulted with hundreds of insurance firms during his time as Senior Vice President at MarshBerry. His specialties include assisting agencies with their growth goals and objectives, implementing best practices, and assembling strong teams. Tom holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). “I am excited for this opportunity

Vizance, a leading independent insurance agency serving Wisconsin and surrounding states, recently announced that Rita Napieralski is joining the team as Regional President of the Racine Region, overseeing locations in both Racine and Kenosha. Rita comes to Vizance with a strong background from various roles in the insurance industry. Her career started in claims, then soon after shifted into sales for over 7 years, eventually becoming the Director of Sales at Wausau Signature Agency. Her experience in sales allowed her to develop strategic selling skills and execute sales development plans while managing her own book of business. In 2010, Rita moved to the carrier side of the business at Erie Insurance, where she supervised a Risk Management Region. She then became the Senior District Sales Manager managing relationships with multiple agencies and was first introduced to Vizance. Rita moved into the Wisconsin Vice President role, where she was responsible for the growth, profitability, and distribution strategy for the entire Wisconsin territory. Most recently, she worked as the Brokerage and Alliance Sales and Service Director at American Family Insurance. “I am thrilled to join a visionary agency such as Vizance, because of the commitment to independence and strong focus on associates,” said Napieralski. “When I considered this opportunity, I felt that the ability to join a team that I know and trust was something that I could not pass up. I am excited

Erin Konkol, Risk Management Client Service Advisor and Team Leader, has been chosen out of 1,500 service professionals to be Acuity’s CSR of the Month. What makes her stand out is her focus on delivering the best experience possible to her clients, and that shows in every interaction she has with them. “Vizance gives me the opportunity to do what I do best. I am here to give clients peace of mind by knowing that they have the right coverages they need. Forming relationships with clients and learning more about them on a personal level is something I also try to accomplish.” “Erin’s professionalism, knowledge, and attitude are outstanding. She has consistently shown a desire to grow as an insurance professional, while displaying exceptional enthusiasm and delighting her clients. Erin truly demonstrates Vizance’s values, and I’m proud to have her on our team,” says Jeff Cardenas, President of Vizance. In her over eight years with Vizance, she has taken on more responsibility and now leads a team of Risk Management Service Advisors. “I have learned so much from our leaders, which has helped me become a better leader for my team.” “I’d like to thank Acuity for choosing me to win this award. This is definitely an inspiration to keep doing what I’m doing and only get better.” Congratulations to Erin on this major accomplishment! We are very proud to have you on the Vizance team!

The “Best of” lists are yearly lists published by large cities and counties in Wisconsin, based on the votes from residents of that city. Sparks Insurance, a Vizance Company, and Chris Antonneau, Regional President at Vizance both won Hometown Favorites for their respective categories. Each community nominates their favorite places in categories like dining out, professional services, arts & entertainment, and more. Only the top 5 businesses with the most votes from the nomination round make it to the final voting round. Then, the top three winners are announced as the best in their community. With three agencies coming together in Kenosha, Vizance had a good chance of snagging a spot in the voting round for Best Insurance Agency. One of the Kenosha-area agencies, Sparks Insurance, joined Vizance in 2018, and is a true partner to the Kenosha community for their ongoing support and involvement. Sparks Insurance, a Vizance Company, took home the Hometown Favorite award. Racine county participates in the “Best of” lists as well. Chris Antonneau, Regional President at Vizance, was nominated in the Best Insurance Agent category, and was awarded Hometown Favorite of Racine county. Chris was an agency principal at David Insurance, which became part of the Vizance family in early 2021, and they have been a valuable partner in the Racine area. We are thankful to have the

The Milwaukee Business Journal published their annual list of the Best Places to Work, and Vizance is ranked in the medium-sized business category. This award recognizes the region’s best workplaces. Winners are selected from the highest rankings based on surveys where associates rate their company on various topics through an online survey. All winning companies in different category sizes were recently featured in a special section of the Business Journal and honored at an awards event. We are very proud to receive this award for the 7th year in a row. We would like to thank all of our associates for their participation and for being the reason behind this award!

The Milwaukee BizTimes published their list of 2021 Notable Women in Insurance, and Brandy Enger is on the list, along with her story. The BizTimes regularly publishes lists of top executives and notable women for a multitude of industries, including HR, education, manufacturing, and more. This year, they created a new notable list for Women in Insurance, featuring women in the Milwaukee area that hold senior level positions at their agencies. Brandy Enger, Vizance’s Director of Personal Lines, received recognition on the list. With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, her accomplishments in elevating Vizance’s client experience and developing the next generation of leaders have catapulted the Personal Lines practice to new heights. In addition to her Director role, Brandy regularly speaks to students about the benefits of careers in insurance, and serves at the Vice President of the Volunteer Service Club of Pewaukee, helping to raise funds and supporting organizations that help women and children. Brandy is a valuable member of the Vizance team and we can’t thank her enough for her contributions in moving us forward.

Author: Jordyn O'Rourke

Vizance Receives Top Workplaces Award for the Seventh Consecutive Year

Chad Koehler Joins Vizance

Vizance Named One of SECURA’s Top-Performing Agencies

Vizance Gives Back

Vizance Names Tom Schaetz Chief Operating Officer

Rita Napieralski Joins Vizance as Regional President

Erin Konkol Awarded Acuity’s Outstanding Service Professional of the Month

Winners in Best of Kenosha & Best of Racine

Vizance is Voted a Milwaukee Business Journal Best Place to Work

Brandy Enger Receives BizTimes Media Notable Women in Insurance Award