Mission Matters – Janie Geis, CPIA

Growing up in Cuyahoga Falls, Janie Geis was no stranger to the world of insurance. Her great-grandfather, Henry Wichert, founded Wichert Insurance in 1938 after working as a bridge builder, even working on the Golden Gate Bridge. Once he settled in Cuyahoga Falls, he decided to open an insurance agency. Her family’s roots in the community run deep, with her grandfather Harding serving as the youngest mayor of Cuyahoga Falls at the age of 30 before joining the agency. Her father, Tom Wichert, CPCU, ARM, is the current CEO. Janie and her sister, Lauren Miller, who serves as CFO, represent the fourth generation in the family business.

A Journey Rooted in Family and Adaptability

Janie and her husband, Mark, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 19 years. The family, which includes son, Jesse, 12, and daughter, Kendall, 9, spends much of their time around the football field. Her husband is in his 23rd year of coaching football, and her son now plays. “Kendall and I are their number one cheerleaders,” she says. The Geis family are golfers too – every Friday night during the summer the four of them go out and play 9 holes. “If we’re lucky, Kendall will hang for 18,” she added. Though she attended Anderson University in South Carolina, Janie is a die-hard Clemson fan. At the time, Anderson didn’t have a football team, making her allegiance to Clemson less surprising. Although Anderson University’s Trojan football team plays their inaugural season this year, Clemson football will always hold a special place in Janie’s heart.

Janie’s educational journey took an unexpected turn during her time at Anderson University. Initially enrolling as an Interior Design major, she was encouraged by the head of the department to switch her major. “She said she’d never had a student complete her program while participating in athletics. Under the guise of saving me the $2,500 in course materials, she suggested I switch majors,” Janie recalled. Though initially motivated to prove her wrong, Janie ultimately saw the advice as beneficial and changed her major to Business Administration. She spent the next three years at Anderson playing on a Division II golf scholarship.

In the middle of her junior year, Janie’s journey into the insurance industry began somewhat unexpectedly. Her dad called her in a panic when his ‘right-hand gal’ at the office had suffered a medical emergency and needed to step back. He asked Janie what her plan was for post-graduation. “Well, I don’t have a plan B, so I guess insurance is my plan A,” she recounted. This lead to Janie’s transfer to Kent State University, where she graduated with a BA in Business Administration and played on the school’s NCAA Division I Women’s Golf team during the 2004-2005 season. She obtained her P&C License while taking a full course load and worked part-time at the agency during that summer. Starting off as an account manager for small business, Janie gradually worked her way to handling a Public Entity book of business and now ownership in the family agency. Most recently, Janie and Lauren (Wichert Insurance Services, Inc.) obtained certification as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in Ohio.

Happy Employees Equal Happy Customers

At Wichert Insurance, core values are centered around employees and clients. “We strive to put our employees first. Happy employees equal happy customers.” The staff are responsible for placing profitable business with carrier partners while maintaining a customer-centric approach. The agency also emphasizes education and teamwork in client interactions. “We try to manage our clients with a team approach. There will always be someone available to help them, even if their main contact is not available.”

Wichert Insurance’s commitment to the community is evident through their two 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit foundations. The Wichert Insurance Foundation, “a channel for Wichert employees, clients, and friends to personally support charitable causes in their home communities,” is focused on actively working to improve the quality of life within their communities and fostering relationships. Wichert’s Insuring the Mission Foundation aims to support short-term and long-term Christian mission efforts for Wichert employees, families, and clients. These foundations are entirely funded by employees and family, showcasing their dedication to giving back.

When asked about her favorite volunteer organization, Janie highlighted the Green Bulldog High School Football Team and other local football teams in their respective office communities. “I think football is the greatest sport of all time. It teaches young men the value of hard work, determination, discipline, accountability, and respect. It also brings our communities together,” she said. “Any time, resources, and training we can put into the next generation of men in this world is worth its weight in gold.”

Opportunity
Involvement
Advocacy

Janie’s passion for insurance extends to her involvement with Ohio Insurance Agents (OIA). Since her initial involvement with the association in 2003, Political Advocacy has been at the forefront of her volunteer efforts, both at the National Level and State Level. She currently serves on the Political Advocacy Committee for the OIA.

Janie’s advice for future independent agents reflects her belief in the industry’s enduring value. “This is the greatest industry of all time. No matter how much A.I. comes into play, there will always be a need for Independent Agents because insurance is much too complicated for robots. Don’t ever let anyone tell you this is not a relationship business because it is. If you can add to the insurance transaction: your passion, knowledge, products, and people, you will maintain your clients for a long time,” she emphasized.

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