An Interview with Sylvia Wilkins, from the Home Office

You’ve been with the company for a long time. What’s changed since you started? I’ve been with Chan for over 19 years—20 in October. I started out with Mining Insurance Markets and have watched as the company changed and grew. When AMIC started, it was just 5 people and now, it has grown to 56 employees.

Automation and technology have made huge changes to the insurance industry. That and, of course, September 11 and Katrina. State and Federal regulations are always changing, plus we now have to deal with disasters and terrorism on a much bigger scale than before. Health insurance is another big and growing concern within the industry as a whole.

Automation and technology have had a big impact on AMIC too, but just the growth of the company has been the single biggest change since when I started. It has just continued to grow each year. And, with so many more employees, there are so many more things to do in terms of insurance, some areas of human resources, and even the size of the building. We’ve moved several times, and each time, it has been to a larger building.

What’s your average workweek like? In my job, I get to do lots of different projects. Recently, I’ve been getting quotes on all our insurance—disability, life, health and dental and more—to make sure that we’ve got the best coverage and that we’ve also got the best premiums. I get to work with both Chan and Dom, and that’s always fun. I take care of the group health, dental and life insurance and I keep up with the day-to-day operations of the company (such as obtaining leasing on all CGH copiers within the company, and the leasing or purchasing of Postage Machines, making sure our overnight packages make it to the branch offices, and dealing with all different types of vendors). And, of course, lots of communications with all the employees—that’s what I like best. We’ve got such a good group of people working here that I really enjoy talking with everyone.

I’m also responsible for AMIC’s agent appointments in all the various states and the contracts with agents who work through Mining Insurance Markets (MIM).

What do you do after work? One of my favorite work-related pastimes is the work I do with the Birmingham Association of Insurance Women. I’ve been involved with them for longer than I care to talk about! But I can say this much: that’s how I came to work with Chan at MIM almost 20 years ago. I had taken a year off working to be at home with my son Shane and found out about the opportunity with Mining Insurance Markets through the Insurance Women’s group. The group concentrates on professional education and safety and is also a great way to network in the industry. When I moved to Birmingham, I didn’t know anyone except my husband who also works in insurance.  Actually the group helped me to meet people. As a result, most of my friends are people that work in the insurance industry.

We do several charitable projects—we recently worked with the Dolly Parton literacy program, we went to Montgomery for a cystic fibrosis walk and we often donate reading material to local nursing homes and school supplies to children in need, among other things.

How about your family? What do you enjoy doing together? We’ve recently picked up a new hobby as well—fishing. Or, I guess I should say that our son Shane picked it up and my husband and I have been doing it too. Next month, we’re going to the North Georgia Mountains for a fishing trip.  We’ve rented a cabin along a river in north Georgia near the Tennessee line and we’re going to spend some time fishing and just enjoying our family. Shane likes to fly fish, but that’s not what I’ll be doing! My mother is turning 83 soon and still lives in Tennessee. I talk to her every day just to check in on her. We’ve also been going to my grandson’s ball games lately, and, of course, I love to read.