Local recognized for customer service work

TIFFIN --- Nicole Perry was recently named 2023 Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year in Ohio by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Perry, who has been an employee of the Tiffin branch of UIS Insurance and Investments since 2003, said she was nominated by Andy Stephey, vice president of Sales and Marketing at UIS, whom she has "worked side by side with for all 20 years of my career." Following the nomination, Perry said, she was required to submit an essay on the role empathy played during her time at UIS and letters of recommendation. Based on that submission, she said, she was notified of her selection as winner of the award in Ohio. "I was excited to win the state award," Perry said. "I'm proud of what I've done." Perry said she started "at the bottom" at UIS, and worked her way up. She is now equipped with the title Commercial Account Manager/CAM Team Leader, and said she is responsible for the supervision of 25 employees. As she climbed the ranks at UIS, Perry said, "every title I earned," and she is now excited to be a mentor to others. "Now the cool part is about helping others grow," she said. In a press release, William J. Hold, MBA, CRM, CISR, president and CEO of the National Alliance, said, "Nicole was chosen as a state winner for exemplifying the characteristics and qualifications required to be eligible for the prestigious award." According to the release, 27 states named CSR winners, and Perry said she decided to continue to the national phase of the award process. The national application, she said, included submitting a video essay of why she believes she is "worthy of that award." The national winner, when chosen, will receive $2,000 and a scholarship to programming offered by the National Alliance, the release states.