PIMA MarkeTTech Award!

Congratulations IdeaStar! Our client site unionsecure.com won a Gold Medal award in the Professional Insurance Marketing Association Marketing Methods competition. The annual contest highlights the best work in the insurance marketing industry and recognizes excellence in marketing materials.

Mike Wise, VP of Insurance Technology, attended the conference, held in Pittsburgh November 13-15. He was happy to accept the award on our behalf and to squeeze in a Browns-Steelers game while he was there - at least from his hotel window!

"I am really pleased with this award because it gives IdeaStar and our client positive recognition. Union Secure has processed over 6,000 insurance applications since its site launched in March 2005," said Mike.

Next challenge...A chance to win the Best of PIMA at its annual meeting in Naples, Florida in March.

Members of the IdeaStar development and design team who made it happen! (L to R: Graphic Designer Dave Mottram, VP Mike Wise, Project Manager Jane Hudeck, and Developers Phil Hall and Dale Cassidy)

Mike Wise and friends from USI Affinity at IdeaStar "Headquarters".

Copyright © 2005 IdeaStar Inc.

Same Major Doesn't Guarantee the Same Path

Our employees have a variety of background experience and education. We know that makes for an interesting and creative workplace. The two employees highlighted in this post are perfect examples. They both majored in graphic design, but have had tremendously different experiences since. A testimony to our checkered pasts.

Susanne Svette, General Manager

What college did you attend? Bowling Green State University (The best thing I got out of college was my husband!)

What was your major? I majored in Graphic Design and Marketing.

What was your first job after college? Chiropractic Assistant, XRay technician & Office Manager for a Chiropractor. Before IdeaStar I worked as a Customer Relationship Manager for a manufacturers representative.

How many times have you changed jobs? How about careers?
Since college I've changed jobs twice, but have always been on an office management/customer management path. With IdeaStar I've been a Business Manager, Account Executive, Salesperson and General Manager (multiple personalities).

What job was your favorite and why? My current job is my favorite because my role changes each day. I have opportunities to deal with customers as well as employees, internal and external technology, and business planning. I don't have time to get bored.

If you were forced to choose any other job than the one you currently have what would it be? Full time mom ;)

Dave Mottram, Graphic Designer

What college did you attend? Youngstown State University.

What was your major? Graphic design.

What was your first job out of college? I worked for the Ohio Metroparks as a designer and was responsible for printed materials, advertisements, and special event materials.

What did you do before you started with IdeaStar? I worked at Penton Media, Inc. as a Web and graphic designer.

How many jobs have you had total? How about careers? I've had eight jobs. I've had other careers (in past lives) working in a grocery store and moving truckloads with a forklift.

Do you have a hobby that you ever considered making a career? Illustration. I really enjoy drawing, and I can see myself illustrating children's books.

What job do you think would be the best?
If I could drive a forklift, bulldozer, snowplow or bobcat, that would be sweet!

If you could choose to have any other job than the one you currently have what would it be? It would be great to do character-design/art direction for videogames or movies. It is a great field to be in right now.

Copyright © 2005 IdeaStar Inc.

Our Checkered Pasts

It is always exciting to write about current and future goings on, especially at a growing, changing place like IdeaStar. But what about the past? I was curious about what people did before they became members of this team. So I asked them. Over the next few posts, their pasts will be revealed.

Christy Svette, Business Manager

What college did you attend?

Miami University (of Ohio)

What was your major?

I majored in Political Science and minored in Economics.

What was your first job after college?

Customs broker. I assigned tariffs to items coming into the country so that they would pass through customs. Before I started with IdeaStar I was a Regulatory Affairs associate for a company that developed drugs used in surgery. I made sure the FDA was happy and all forms were processed correctly.

Do you have a hobby that you ever considered making a career?

Archaeology. I love looking into past cultures, especially Egyptian. I hope to visit Egypt some day.

What job was your favorite and why?

Honestly IdeaStar has been the best. Not trying to suck up, but I am happy here.

If you were forced to choose any other job than the one you currently have what would it be?

Definitely archaeologist.

Mary Fisher, Marketing Manager

What college did you attend & what was your major?

I majored in Journalism at Kent State University.

Your first job out of college?

News Reporter for the Record Courier

What did you do before coming to IdeaStar?

I was the Editor for e2grow, a series of community-based news and merchant Web sites.

Of all your past jobs, which was your favorite and why?

Lifeguard. I got to sit around in the sun all day and twirl a whistle.

If you could choose to have any other job than the one you currently have what would it be?

Ice cream taste tester! Yum!


Copyright © 2005 IdeaStar Inc.