Yolanda Kidd-Steelberg
Crystal Lake,IL
Summary
Astute Insurance Professional with success in handling multi-million-dollar book of business and overachieving new business goals. Expert in Personal and Commercial insurance and highly skilled in negotiating coverage, price, financial terms, agency management and service delivery. Prepared to take next career step as Business Development Support Specialist.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Underwriter/Agency Management
Founders Insurance
Des Plaines, IL
08.2012 - 03.2026
- Create and maintain high-quality agency plans to achieve direct written premium, profitability, and new business goals.
- Deliver product, underwriting philosophy, appetite, and system training to support retention and new business development.
- Utilize analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret territorial data, driving increased production and profitability.
- Oversee independent agents throughout Ohio, managing a $45M book of business and constantly meeting loss ratio targets under 60%.
- Underwriting an extremely profitable homeowners product for 12 years, exceeding the written premium and maintain a loss ratio under 35% in the state of Illinois.
- Underwriting a profitable commercial auto book of business while exceeding sales goals of $10M and loss ratios under 40%
- Successfully assisted with the new homeowners automation product. Conducted training sessions while assisting agents with sales and support.
- Weekly meetings with marketing partners to collaborate and discuss production goals.
Account Manager, Inside Sales
Adamjee Insurance Agency
La Grange, IL
07.2007 - 05.2011
- Agency Management System: Implemented Tam Applied Systems for agency. Set up company codes, emails, employee system clearances, user codes, basic accounting usage and added additional agency form letters. Trained full staff to use new system. Reduced agency paper usage by 40%.
- Cross selling auto, renters, boat, motorcycle and homeowners insurance to current commercial clients.
- Writing new business and obtaining quotes for general contractors, subcontractors, commercial auto, property, special events, liquor liability, restaurants, gas stations and other hard-to-place risk.
- Providing certificates of insurance with review of current coverage to prevent E&O exposure.
- Heavy contact with company underwriting for quote review and negotiation of premiums.
- Assisting customers with company audits for workers compensation and commercial package policies.
- Assisting customers with claim reporting.
Personal Lines Underwriter
Affirmative Insurance
Bedford Park, IL
01.2006 - 12.2006
- Issuing and following up on all SR22 policies and updating them for renewal offers.
- Answering questions for insureds and agents on a direct phone line up to 75+ calls per day.
- Processing quotes on existing auto policies.
- Writing and documenting letters of experiences, upon the request of policy holders on all existing policies.
- Knowledgeable of company underwriting guidelines.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with agents to facilitate effective underwriting decisions.
Senior Customer Service Agent
Community Insurance Center
Chicago, IL
05.1998 - 05.2005
- Providing insurance services for customers via e-mail, walk-ins, referrals, telephone and appointments. Writing 10+ new business policies daily.
- Assisting producers and brokers in obtaining quotes and submitting applications.
- Processing renewal and account maintenance. Cross selling auto and homeowners policies.
- Setting up and providing finance contract for customers with and updating payments and providing
payment arrangements. - Processing certificates of insurance and Evidence of property for property closing, contractors, etc.
Senior Typist
Royal Insurance Company
Chicago, IL
05.1997 - 05.1998
- Typed and formatted various documents, ensuring clarity and accuracy.
- Managed incoming correspondence, prioritizing urgent requests for timely processing.
- Utilized office software to create reports, enhancing document presentation and consistency.
- Reviewed completed work for errors, maintaining high standards of quality and precision.
Customer Service Agent
Community Insurance Center
Chicago, IL
05.1995 - 05.1997
- Same as above
Underwriting Analyst
Affirmative Insurance
Des Plaines, IL
04.1992 - 05.1995
- Same as above
Education
Associates in Human Services -
Kendall College
ILSkills
- Training and mentoring
- Analyzing data
- Risk evaluations
- Relationship building
- Sales and Support
- Attention to detail
- MS Office
- Agency Management
- Problem solving
Certification
AINS - Associates in General Insurance
Timeline
Senior Underwriter/Agency Management
Founders Insurance
08.2012 - 03.2026
Account Manager, Inside Sales
Adamjee Insurance Agency
07.2007 - 05.2011
Personal Lines Underwriter
Affirmative Insurance
01.2006 - 12.2006
Senior Customer Service Agent
Community Insurance Center
05.1998 - 05.2005
Senior Typist
Royal Insurance Company
05.1997 - 05.1998
Customer Service Agent
Community Insurance Center
05.1995 - 05.1997
Underwriting Analyst
Affirmative Insurance
04.1992 - 05.1995
Associates in Human Services -
Kendall College