WESTERN INSURANCE ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Chris has immersed himself in becoming well-versed in a variety of insurance products, over the years with Western Insurance Associates. His expertise in personal lines such as Home and Auto, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance and supplemental benefits, allow him to provide quality service and meet client's varying needs. Chris strives to be sure that every client is educated about their coverage options and he does his best to fit the coverage needs and does it right the first time. As a sales leader and Agency Manager, Chris has a deep appreciation for Western Insurance Associates and the full range of products and options they provide to help their clients in a variety of situations and to meet unique insurance needs.
Chris's team describes him as energetic, genuine and hard-working. His clients say that Chris brings energy and knowledge to their interactions and that they know he has their best interests in mind. Chris says his main focus is to educate clients and be sure they fully understand their coverage needs.
As a transplant from Western Washington, growing up in Snohomish, Chris has made a home for himself in Spokane after graduating from Eastern Washington University. Chris, his amazing wife Kristen, and two young daughters, may often be seen at local sporting events and other functions supporting the community in Cheney and Spokane.
A little fun fact about Chris, he's officiated multiple weddings this summer, so if you are in need of an ordained minister, he's your guy for that too!
Christy has been a great addition to the Western Insurance team. She started in 2017 after gaining invaluable insurance experience as an Underwriter focusing on Federal Crop Insurance in Richland, WA. Working as an underwriter prepared Christy with a foundation on all aspects of Federal Crop Insurance, helping her now serve farmers in areas of risk management at Western. She focuses on Multi-Peril Crop Insurance, Private Based Peril Products, and Whole Farmer Revenue Protection. Working at Western allows Christy to have a career that matters to others and supports the community. She cares about her clients and realizes the importance of the work she does in protecting their livelihood.
Christy's team members describe her as being passionate about Crop Insurance. She fights for her growers when needed and she has a sense of humor that makes working with her enjoyable. Her clients say that she prioritizes their needs. Her organizational skills make working with her simple and she is always staying up-to-date on the changes in the industry. Christy customizes each policy to fit the individual farm and takes time to educate her clients on how the policy will work. She treats her clients as team members to make decisions that prioritize what is important to them.
Christy was born and raised in Tri-Cities and loves going back to spend time with her family. She enjoys living in Spokane and is thankful for the opportunities she has found to serve here and the relationships she has made. She also enjoys listening to podcasts on personal and professional development, refinishing furniture, and going to the dog park.
Fun fact about Christy: Christy serves on the Spokane Ag Show Board and Emerging Leader's Society Spokane.
Job Titles:
- Personal Lines Service Manager
Dino has been working for Western Insurance since 2018 specializing in personal lines insurance. He enjoys the working environment at Western and the relationships he has been able to build with his co-workers and clients. Starting a career in insurance has been an accomplishment for him, both personally and professionally, by challenging him and creating opportunities for growth. He appreciates the daily task of helping his clients find the best fit for their policies.
Dino's team members describe him as genuine and helpful. He prioritizes the team's success and will do anything to help his co-workers accomplish their goals. His clients say his service is excellent and he is very attentive to their needs. He takes the time to get to know his clients by creating genuine relationships with them so he is able to create custom policies based on their needs.
Dino was born in Goldendale, WA and moved to Spokane, WA at a young age. He went on to attend Eastern Washington University and obtained a degree in Visual Communication Design with a double minor in art and computer science. He got married to his wife, Rachael, in 2019 and has a son named Kingston and a daughter name Gianna. He loves working in the yard and coaching soccer for the 90+ Project soccer club.
Fun fact about Dino: He has 14 nieces and nephews!
Drew has been with Western Insurance Associates since it's inception. He previously worked for Hodgson and Associates. Drew and his team have accomplished a lot in 6 years. Drew served on Allstate's National Advisory Board which he says was an incredible experience. His team also finished in the top 100 out of 10,000 Allstate Agents 3 times, an accomplishment that is not easy. Drew is excited about the opportunities that Western Insurance Associates has to offer. They are able to offer more products and options to their clients and have a vast potential to grow and expand their office and team.
Drew's team members say that he brings energy and momentum to the insurance industry and that he has an ability to really listen to people and learn what is important to them. His clients say that he really listens to their concerns and gives them peace of mind by meeting their insurance needs.
Drew grew up in the small farming town of Dayton, WA. As a graduate of Dayton High School, he went on to earn his Business Management degree with a focus on leadership, from Whitworth University. Drew's commitment to providing his community with prime service is expanded with his lifetime membership in the Leadership Spokane Legacy Society. He is a proud graduate of both Leadership Spokane and Leadership Coeur d'Alene. He has also obtained the highly respected Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) Designation from the National Alliance for Insurance Education as well as an Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) Certification from the International Risk management Institute.
Drew enjoys volunteering in the community and has served on the Board of Directors for the Chase Youth Foundation. He is a lifetime member of the Waverly Masonic Lodge and is an El Katif Shriner. He says he works a lot and that his wife claims it is his hobby. Drew is married to his lovely wife, Emily, and they have two boys, Cameron and Kaden, who are the center of their universe. When Drew isn't working, he and his family enjoy spending time at their family lake house and attending WSU football games.
Entrepreneurialism runs deep for Drew; he obtained his first business license when he was 10 years old for a baseball card shop.
Gail came on board at Western Insurance in November 2019, after working in law offices as a legal administrative assistant. She earned her Associates degree in Medical and Legal Administration at the Walla Walla Community College Clarkston branch. With a greater understanding of the legalities and needs for insurance, Gail serves her clients with the long term effects of coverage in mind.
Gail is proud to be a part of the well-connected team environment at Western where she continues to learn something new all the time. Her coworkers and clients describe her as friendly, helpful, and always with a genuine smile. Gail specializes in personal insurance, and enjoys going the extra mile to get her clients the information they need.
Although born in Post Falls, Idaho, Gail has lived in the LC Valley most of her life. She spends her spare time with her children, and grandson. When she's not with her family, you can find her volunteering as the President of the 4-H Leaders Council for Asotin County or riding her 750 Honda Shadow Spirit motorcycle with her fiancé, when weather allows!
Katie has been working for Western Insurance since 2019 specializing in personal lines insurance. With a wide variety of work experience including running a summer camp for young equestrians to an IT instructor at a college, Katie has a distinct way of understanding people from different backgrounds and walks of life. Katie describes working at Western like being a part of a family; she knows the team cares for her, her family, and their future. And the company culture is to treat their clients with that same respect.
Growing up on the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA, Katie holds a high standard for herself and is willing to do everything in her power to complete a task or reach a goal. When she decided to finish her MBA before she turned 25, Katie pushed hard and completed her degree just 3 months before her 25th birthday. This driven spirit is complemented by her friendliness, as her team and clients describe her as always keeping their best interests in mind.
Katie is energized by her career, calling her transition from the medical field into insurance "the best decision I could have made." When she's not eagerly serving her insurance clients, you can find this homebody crafting, spending time with her husband and son, playing board games, reading, or baking.
Fun fact about Katie: She's an avid Disney lover, and has traveled to Disney World and Disneyland over 15 times. Her bucket list includes plans to visit all the Disney parks around the world!
Mandi started at Western Insurance in 2019 after gaining customer service skills managing a farm and feed retail store for twelve years. As a Property and Casualty Agent, Western Insurance has been a place where Mandi can cultivate great relationships and provide a world-class experience for her clients, always working hard to help them understand the different aspects of their policy. Mandi's vision for her role is more than selling products, but helping individuals make the right decision for them and their business.
Mandi's team members describe her as being upbeat, enthusiastic, and always willing to learn. She is driven and willing to jump in and take on any task no matter the difficulty. Although she hasn't been at Western for long, she is an extremely hard worker and is eager to learn from her peers. She enjoys the challenge of finding the policies that fit each client's unique needs.
Mandi grew up in Troy, Idaho. She attended the University of Idaho, graduating with a BS in Agricultural Economics with a minor in business, which has helped her during her time at Western Insurance. She loves to be outside spending time with her husband and three boys. She is active in the community as the Treasurer for the Liberty Youth Football League, the Youth Boys Basketball Coordinator, and a National FFA member.
Matt has always been a part of the farming community; he grew up working on his family wheat farm in Rosalia. He went on to attend Washington State University and earned an Agricultural and Food Systems Degree. While attending college, Matt was an intern at a Crop Insurance Company, which sparked his already growing interest in working with farmers. After college, he began working in crop insurance processing and managing crop insurance accounts, which helped him transition from working in the field to working in the office. Matt began working for Western Insurance in 2018 specializing in Federal Crop Insurance, pursuing a career where he could mitigate potential risk for hard-working farmers in his community.
Matt's team members describe him has dependable and consistent. He provides high-quality customer service to his clients and is persistent in finding a policy that is best for them. His clients describe him as being efficient, dependable, and loyal. He is a positive resource, providing clients and co-workers with his knowledge of the industry and thoughtfully answering questions.
Matt is married to his incredible wife Sara. He has two step-daughters and has a baby on the way. He loves spending time with his family going to the lake or working on the family farm. Growing up in, Matt values the small community and actively contributes his time as the President of the Rosalia Volunteer Firefighters Association and a Council Member on the Rosalia City Council.
Fun fact about Matt: He has been to Europe and hopes to travel there again soon!
Job Titles:
- Licensed Agent / Hayden Office Manager
Randy joined the Western Insurance team In May of 2020 after working in the insurance industry locally for 34 years at what he describes as two "wonderful" agencies. Randy feels very fortunate to be working with Western after the acquisition of the agency he was working for.
Insurance is in Randy's blood. At just 9 years old, Randy's family moved from Connecticut to Spokane after his father received a promotion and was transferred to Spokane with Aetna Life and Casualty in 1971. After graduating from Mead High School in 1980, Randy obtained a BA in Communications from Washington State University (GO COUGS!) and eagerly hopped right into the insurance business. Randy has always enjoyed helping people understand their insurance policies, working with them closely and building long term relationships, in and out of the industry.
Randy specializes in personal insurance, auto, and homeowners and renters, but also has commercial experience. Randy seeks to bring awareness to what an important "cog in the wheel" the insurance business is and how vitally important the industry and products are to the well being of people and their families, as well as to the economy as a whole.
An avid golfer, Randy carries an 11 handicap and plays in many local golf tournaments in and around Spokane. Randy says if you become a customer of Western and play the game to any degree (he doesn't judge, he actually enjoys teaching) then you may have to take an occasional appointment to the course. On Randy, of course!
Job Titles:
- Commercial Agent / Clarkston Office Manager
Sharon is glad to be the newest member of the Western Insurance team but don't let her short time here fool you - she's been in the insurance industry for 41 years. Sharon has experience working with contractors, agriculture based businesses, and specialized small businesses. Throughout her insurance career, Sharon also personally owned a couple of businesses and farm acreage which provides further background into several industries including construction, trucking, and farming.
Sharon can't imagine doing anything other than insurance - she says there's just too much to learn. She is excited to now be a part of the Western family, describing her new team as energetic, with a great work ethic, and very customer service driven. When it comes to her clients, Sharon has high expectations of herself, striving to always communicate with professionalism and in a timely manner.
Born in Felixstowe, England, Sharon has a desire to see the world and experience all it as to offer. After attending college at the Walla Walla Community College Clarkston branch, her adventurous spirit led her to travel to 14 different countries and every single state in the U.S. When she's not serving her clients, you can find Sharon volunteering with several local organizations in Pomeroy, spending time with her family, or doing anything outdoors; snowmobiling, camping, fishing, ATV/UTV rides, and boating. If it takes gas and oil she probably owns it and uses it regularly!
Fun fact about Sharon: she was a state champion pool player in the 80's. Took two teams to Las Vegas for nationals.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Agent & Broker
- Licensed Agent / Fairfield Office Manager
Tawnya joined the Western Insurance team in 2017 after several years focused on raising three children. Living in a small town has given her a unique perspective in understanding her clients' needs. She specializes in Personal Lines Property and Casualty, in addition to farm insurance. Tawnya enjoys fostering relationships with local families and farmers to educate and aid in regards to appropriate levels of insurance.
Tawnya's team members describe her as being helpful and hardworking for her clients. She is always willing to put the time in to get things done well. Her clients describe her being efficient and thorough. She adds value to her community as the Vice President of The Liberty Community Education Foundation, an organization that supports the education of students in the Liberty School district in Spangle.
Tawnya loves spending time with her family. She is married to a hardworking farmer and they have three children. She enjoys gardening and spending time on Lake Coeur d'Alene. She also owns a fitness studio in Fairfield and teaches fitness classes there a few times a week.
Little known fact about Tawnya: She is a junior high basketball coach!
A new addition to the Western team in the summer of 2020, Tehran is committed to treating her clients like her own family; with compassion for unique circumstances, she goes above and beyond to ensure each customer understands their policies, is protected, listened to, and confident she'll be there to help when it counts.
Tehran found her calling in the insurance industry as she learned about coverages and realized insurance is simply showing her clients how to "prepare for the worst but hope for the best" - a concept she has proudly lived by her whole life. Specializing in auto, home, recreational lines, and umbrella, Tehran's clients describe her as knowledgable, funny, and quick to go to bat for them when required.
The winner of the Safeco SOAR (Safeco Outstanding Agent Recognition) award in 2018 for the northwest region. In 2021 Tehran received the Travelers STAR (Superior Travelers Agent Recognition) which is given to only one Agent per Territory who exemplifies excellence. This recognition comes as no surprise for those who work with Tehran. With a history in the restaurant industry, she has practiced patience, hard work, hospitality, and attention to detail and translated these skills to her insurance client relationships.
Tehran was born in Chewelah, WA, and raised in Blaine. She came back to her roots in 2007 and made her home in Spokane with her husband, Scott, and three children. When she's not serving her Western clients, you can find her golfing with her husband (in a different state every year), boating and camping with family, volunteering at the food bank, or baking all kinds of cookies, cakes, and cake pops for friends and family.