Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce February Luncheon


Thursday – February 24: The Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce held their February luncheon this past Thursday at Kat's Kitchen on Main St. With Chamber President Randy Allmon being in Youngstown to attend a luncheon with the new governor, Board of Directors member, Mayor Joe Surace presided. Paul Blevins gave invocation.

Surace welcomed new member Jan Palmer of the CC Humane Society. He also advised that plans for the Trade Show sometime this spring at the Alumni Center are still pending. A thank you was sent out to Local 396 Business Agent Butch Taylor and members of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union for hosting the Chamber at their Boardman facilities last week. Members & guests of the CC Chamber of Commerce were hosted to a luncheon and tour of Local 396's Training Facilities. Dolly Brophey advised there were approximately 60 people in attendance at that luncheon. See our post dated Sunday, February 27.

Business of the Month is Wellsville SOI Lodge #657. SOI President Rocco DaLonzo was on hand to accept the honor. See below for notes on that.

Guest speakers were District Sales Manager William Mowery & Sales Manager Ellen Clark-McCoy of the Western & Southern Life Insurance Company's (W&S) East Liverpool office pictured here. Mowery said he has been with W&S for 32 years, having started with them at the age of 22. Clark-McCoy has been there for 14 years and has been a Sales Manager for 13 of those years. The East Liverpool office is located on Route 170 in Calcutta.

W&S has been around since 1888. They are a Fortune 500 company and rated the 8th strongest insurance institution financially in the country. Although the economy has been suffering through a recession W&S has not received any kind of bail out assistance. Other than property and casuality they sell all types of insurance.

Mowery reported that his purpose for being there, speaking to the Chamber members, was to get word out that W&S is in the process of hiring sales representative, especially in the Steubenville and Salem areas. He stated he was hoping Chamber members can assist their recruiting efforts by referring anyone they may know to them for those sales positions.

W&S sales representatives start out being paid a salary plus commission while going through their training. A state insurance license is required before being hired. Classes are available on-line and in Ohio the cost is currently $250 for the certification. Once fully trained the representative goes to fully commission pay. Mowery said it can be very lucrative for the person willing to work. Certain products earn up to 112% commission. He advised W&S is a very low pressure sales company. Rather they stress the value of their insurance products and policies.

They teach sales techniques and marketing plans. New representatives are given some established customers but it is mostly cold call soliciting by phone for new ones. Positions are open to people from all walks of life. Mowery said he graduated college with an education degree and Clark-McCoy was in accounting. The benefit package is an excellent one with coverage for health, eye care, dental, prescriptions, group life and disability. They have an excellent 401k plan or the old fashion retirement plan where the employee is fully vested after five years. Typically, agents put in 50 to 55 hours per week and the potential to move into management positions is also excellent. W&S is an EEOC employer. For more information on the sales jobs contact either Mowery at 330-368-3010 or Clark-McCoy at 330-368-3009.

Board member Erin Roberts-Orr reported on the Potter Players Community Theatre's meeting of February 8 concerning the renovation of the old Liberty thearter. She advised they have been receiving lots of phone calls since that meeting. They have two electricians that were to tour the old theater this past Saturday with one of them offering help in setting up some temporary lighting. Roberts-Orr noted that officials of Local 396 indicated they might be able offer some help with some of their apprentices going through the Plumbing & Pipefitting training program. There is an open house walk through scheduled for Saturday, March 19, at 10 AM for anyone wishing to see the old place. The public is invited. Anyone needing additional information can contact either Erin or Bill Roberts at the Roberts Funeral Home.

The March luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, March 31, at theDairy Queen on 3rd Street.

ole nib

No comments: