Rachel DeGrand January 28, 2020 8 min read

Employee Spotlight - Suzanne Templin, Office Manager

Welcome to our 2020 Employee Spotlight blog series! Today you'll get to know a little more about Suzanne Templin, our Office Manager.

What’s one thing that has surprised you about working here?Suzanne Templin 2

When I first started working at HJI, I was surprised at how fun it is to work here! I thought working in insurance would be boring and the people would be dull – thankfully, I was wrong on both counts!

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?

    • I think in general people don’t realize how much work goes in to any kind of administrative position and how much of that work falls into the category of “other duties as assigned.” Unless you’ve done it yourself, admin work may look pretty simple from the outside, especially if it’s being done well (as it is done here at HJI 😉).  In my role as the Office Manager, I am beholden to the needs and requests of about 100 associates in our office and in our sister office, BSG.  When you’re just one person voicing a need it’s easy to forget that there may be other folks with concerns of a higher priority that need to be addressed, and it’s my job to make sure everyone feels heard and their needs are taken care of as efficiently as possible.

      Suzanne - 2

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

I am working on approaching questions & concerns with curiosity & patience. It is my nature to feel the need to answer or a respond immediately when people come to me with questions or concerns, and I’m finding that I am far more effective in my role when I allow room for others to come up with their own ideas for how to address a problem.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within our organization, whose job would you want and why?

I would switch with my husband, Jon Templin, but just for a week. I’d like to see what it would be like to be an expert in the field of property & casualty insurance.  I’d also like to experience the immense trust his clients put in him to help them make important insurance decisions that have profound effect on their businesses – he plays such an important role in the lives and financial well-being of his clients.  He’s so good at building trusting relationships with his clients and with the folks here at HJI.  I’d just like to take a walk in his shoes for a little bit.

Now, for some fun facts...

What’s one of your favorite memories from the past year?Suzanne - Dogs

At work, when we did penny wars to benefit the American Family Children’s Hospital and got to pie Jim, Barry, and Pat in the face as a result.

At home, when my husband and I adopted our 2 dogs, Sterling in March & Max in September and all the ridiculous, hilarious, and adorable antics that ensued the rest of the year having 2 rambunctious boxer puppies running around.

What’s your favorite place to eat around here?

Sardine for brunch, RED Sushi for lunch, Tornado Steak House for a nice dinner with my husband, and Hubbard Avenue Diner for any meal.

What’s something you’ve done, but will never do again?

In my early days as a manager, I did not trust my gut when it came to hiring a new employee. I have good intuition and should have listened to it – I won’t make that mistake again.

If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?

Somehow I ManageSomehow I Manage with a picture of me shrugging on the cover.  Okay, that’s a reference for all you fans of The Office.  If I wrote a book, it would be called None of Us Know What We’re Doing And You Can Too!  I think it’s really common to look at people in roles of authority and assume that they have all the answers or have some sort of grand master plan.  And then you get into a position of authority and realize that everyone’s just muddling along as best they can, and the best authority figures don’t have all the answers, they just know where to look for them.

What’s your favorite TV show—the one you’re always watching on repeat?

The Office, Parks & Recreation, Arrested Development, and the Planet Earth & Blue Planet series.

 

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Rachel DeGrand

Rachel joined Hausmann Group in 2015 and became Manager of Marketing Operations in 2018. In her role, she develops and implements marketing and advertising campaigns, oversees strategic events, and supports business development. She also organized the formation of the Community Impact Team at HG, which focuses on company-wide volunteering and community giving. Rachel has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Grand Valley State University. She enjoys running year-round and participating in road races. She’s a member of the Business Volunteer Network and regularly volunteers for organizations such as United Way, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Ironman Foundation. Her favorite volunteer work is helping organize the annual fundraiser hosted by HG – Melody’s Hope for Children Tailgate.

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