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Donahue named 2015 Vermont Customer Service Representative of the Year

Duane Donahue, a 26-year employee of Union Mutual of Vermont Companies, was recently named the Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year for Vermont by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.

Duane Donahue

Donahue is now eligible to become the National Outstanding CSR of the Year. This prestigious award, regarded as the foremost national award of its kind, recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry.

“We congratulate Duane on this tremendous honor,” Union Mutual President and CEO Michael Nobles said. “Our philosophy of ‘Service Second to None’ is more than just words to Duane, he embodies the phrase each and every day. Union Mutual was founded with the promise of neighbors helping neighbors, and Duane has helped keep this promise to our insureds and agency partners for the last 26 years.”

“The Outstanding CSR of the Year Award recognizes the annual exemplar for exceptional customer service representatives across the nation,” said Danielle Janecka, Senior Vice President of The National Alliance. “Through their essays, contributions to their agencies, and their letters of recommendation, every one of the state winners helps to raise the standard for personal and professional excellence.  We honor them for their clear contributions to their colleagues, teams, and organizations.  They are the face of customer service for our whole industry.”

Each state winner receives a framed certificate and is eligible to compete for the national honor, which carries a $2,000 cash award, a gold and diamond pin, $1,000 cash award for the nominator, and a scholarship for the recipient’s employer to any program offered by The National Alliance. The award will be presented in November.

Union Mutual Regional Vice President of Marketing Carolyn Ix said of Donahue, “Often our partners, as well as me, look to Duane for his billing expertise and support when accounts become complicated due to payment matters.  He understands the difficulties people sometimes encounter, using flexibility when appropriate, but is diplomatic when he knows he needs to protect the agents and Union.”

Jeff Turnbaugh, President of Turnbaugh Insurance Agency, said Donahue’s “level of service he has provided myself and our Agency with has always exceeded my expectations… He makes every effort to make logical decisions, which, if possible, create wins in both the carrier-to-agency partnership, and the agency-to-insured relationship.”