In this employee spotlight, we’re excited to share three outstanding individuals who exemplify the values and culture that make Jacobson thrive. Learn more about their contributions and the impact they make every day!
Tyler Thompson
Account Manager, 2.5 years at Jacobson
Hometown: Harlan County, Kentucky
Alma Mater: University of Kentucky - My husband and I are a house divided; he is University of Louisville alumni. We don’t talk about it.
Describe Your Role: I’m a recruiter on the executive search team so I do a lot of networking and outreach to industry leaders.
Last Book You Read: Midnight Mom Devotional
One Professional Skill You Are Actively Developing: Client-facing and presentation skills
You Are Happiest When You Are: Making memories with my family and doing anything I can learn from.
Advice for Newcomers to the Industry: Expose yourself to as much as you can and connect with people from different roles in the industry. Building your connections, self-branding and having those conversations will help you in the long run.
What Inspires You to Excel in Your Role? The people are inspiring. Connecting with so many different individuals and helping them land their dream roles, while also witnessing how far hard work and time can take you, is truly rewarding.
Favorite Restaurant or Food to Eat: We have a ton of really good eats locally. I truly just love good food! I can appreciate a local slice of pizza, Thai food, anything with crab or a nice, seared steak. The list goes on.
If You Won the Lottery, What is the First Thing You Would Do? I wouldn’t tell anyone but there would be signs…
Karen Lopez
Recruiter, 6.5 years at Jacobson
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
Alma Mater: National Louis University - Chicago
Describe Your Role: I partner with our clients to provide experienced and tenured P&C insurance professionals - at all levels across, all business functions - on an interim basis.
Random Fact: I once pulled several baby skunks from under my stoop without getting sprayed.
Share a piece of advice for newcomers to the industry: Take advantage of the many insurance networking events to make connections and build relationships.
Favorite Food: Chinese Food
Last Book You Read/Show You Binged: Is it Cake? on Netflix
If You Won the Lottery, What is the First Thing You Would Do? Purchase my dream home!
You Are Happiest When You : Have sorted, purged and organized a drawer, closet, cabinet, or shelf
What Inspires You to Excel in Your Role? A sense of contribution – to my co-workers, to my clients and to my network
Patrick Brennan
IT Specialist, 27 years at Jacobson
Hometown: Born in Chicago, IL and currently live in Frankfort, IL
Alma Mater: Loyola University of Chicago (BA and M.ED), DePaul University (IT Network Certification)
Describe Your Role: I provide IT support across the company, including our temporary employees on client assignments who use Jacobson provided equipment. I also work with our MSP partner to implement and support all of Jacobson's voice and data needs.
Last Show You Watched: Masters of the Air on Apple TV. It's about the Army Air Corps 100th bomber group's European campaign during WWII.
In Your Time at Jacobson, What has Been Your Favorite Project? Being part of Jacobson’s IT systems move from on-premises to the cloud. We are on the verge of migrating the last of our on-premises systems to the cloud. When I first started at Jacobson there was no e-mail or internet! We had a local server-based homegrown CRM/ATS application called Companies & Candidates. Updates were saved to floppy disks and shipped to each branch office to update the local database. The first e-mail system used a 56K modem to dial into the internet to download e-mails every 15 minutes. We also did not have direct dial phone numbers. All calls were routed through an operator.
Favorite Restaurant: Mon Ami Gabi patio seating at The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas
Advice For Newcomers to the Industry: Stay as current as you can on technologies with an eye towards the future.
You are Happiest When You are…: On a beach in South Haven Michigan. Family, friends, drinks, music, bonfires and sunsets.
If You Won the Lottery, What is the First Thing You Would Do? Buy all the eggs!
Who or What Inspires You to Excel in Your Role? I will never stop being impressed and motivated by the hard work and capabilities of all Jacobson staff.
View previous editions of our Employee Spotlight. For monthly Employee Spotlights, follow our Facebook page.