The Bloggers
Hello! Allow us to introduce ourselves. We’re the folks behind the blog, and we’re from all over the COUNTRY family. Some of us are insurance experts. Some of us are financial planning gurus. Some of us are brains about both. And, then there are those of us who work behind the scenes. Email us a question or ask us to blog about a topic that’s important to you.
Aaron Hillebrandt
- Email: aaron.hillebrandt@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Aaron sets home, auto, and farm insurance rates as a Property/Casualty Actuarial Analyst at COUNTRY. He is also a U.S. Marine and an Illinois State University Robert G. Bone Scholar.
In his free time, he enjoys working out, riding his motorcycle, traveling around the world, visiting friends and family, and of course studying for actuarial exams!
Ashley Wilson
- Email: ashley.wilson@countryfinancial.com
- Site: http://www.mynameiscountry.com
- About:
Ashley is a Customer Service Representative at COUNTRY. She is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan who loves watching and attending games, hanging out with friends and family, and visiting Vegas as often as possible! Every day for her is always a new adventure!
Carrie Wait
- Email: carrie.wait@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Carrie is a licensed production assistant for Financial Representative Scott Jackson in Champaign, Illinois. When she’s not in the office, she’s busy being a wife and mom of two little girls. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping on Craigslist and at garage sales trying to find the best deals. She writes her own blog about her shopping adventures at www.simplyadorabledeals.com.
Christopher Brooks
- Email: chris.n.brooks@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Christopher is the admin of the COUNTRY Financial blog and a Media Relations Specialist at COUNTRY. When not in the office, he's overusing his Netflix account, riding his motorcycle and attempting to write the great American novel.
COUNTRY Financial
- Email: mediaintern@countryfinancial.com
- About:
All the COUNTRY news that's fit to blog!
Eric Vanasdale
- Email: eric.vanasdale@countryfinancial.com
- Site: http://www.mynameiscountry.com
- About:
Eric is a Sr. Loss Control Representative at COUNTRY. He is often on the road, participating and speaking at national education conferences. Away from work, he's a house-hunting newlywed who likes to take his boat out on the lake. He's also a rabid Ohio State fan in the fall. GO BUCKS!
Gary Clark
- Email: gary.clark@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Gary is an Underwriting Analyst in Personal Lines Underwriting working with Auto, Home, Umbrella, Mobile Home and Watercraft.
When not at the office he’s a husband, father and grandfather who loves riding with his wife on their motorcycles. Much of his travel has been paid for by the United States Army Reserves, making life a little more interesting than it would have been otherwise!
Guest Blogger
- Email: news@countryfinancial.com
- About:
We often ask guest bloggers to submit posts to the COUNTRY Blog. Want to be one of them? Shoot us an email at news@countryfinancial.com
Hope Hall
- Email: hope.hall@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Hope is a Marketing Business Analyst at COUNTRY, but you might not always see her in the office. She's one of the primary travelers for the Road Trips and Guitar Picks concert series featuring Jason Aldean and Jewel.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, playing hockey, and enjoying the great outdoors by boating, hiking, snorkeling and camping.
Jay Verner
- Email: jay.verner@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Jay is the Media Relations Manager at COUNTRY. Outside of work, you'll find him bashing drums in his rock band, riding his bicycle across the planet or trying out some weird stir fry recipe.
Jim Vasilou
- Email: jim.vasilou@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Jim is an IT Manager at COUNTRY Financial. When he is not managing software developers, you might find him entertaining at a local restaurant with his guitar and vocals. Actually, you may even find him occasionally doing that at work (hmm…another reason he loves this place?)
Joe Buhrmann
- Email: joseph.buhrmann@countryfinancial.com
- Site: http://www.mynameiscountry.com
- About:
Joe is the manager of Financial Security Field Support. In his role, Joe leads the Financial Security Consultants in delivering financial security through client meetings, delivering tangible plans, and client seminars.
Outside of work, you'll find him enjoying his family, including wife, Leta, and two teen-aged daughters. When he's not at an equestrian or orchestra event, you'll find Joe tending to the garden or enjoying a good book.
Kent Sunderland
- Email: kent.sunderland@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Kent is director of ITS Support Services at COUNTRY, but that's only one of the many hats he wears. He's been a member of the Illinois Air National Guard since 1972, currently serving as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the State of Illinois. He's also the chairperson of our military support group, working to keep us all connected with our coworkers serving our country. You can also see him sitting in with our company choir whenever we have an event to honor our servicemen and women.
Kristi Zimmerman
- Email: kristi.zimmerman@countryfinancial.com
- Site: http://www.mynameiscountry.com
- About:
Kristi is an Internet Marketing Consultant at COUNTRY. When she's not navigating the interwebs, she's either participating in a community theater production, running a local race, scoping out new Indie music or playing fetch with her cat, Bruce.
Ruth Ann Potts
- Email: ruth.potts@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Ruth Ann is a manager in the Financial & Brokerage Division of COUNTRY. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading and traveling. She has traveled to all 50 states and parts of Canada!
Sarah Hock
- Email: sarah.hock@countryfinancial.com
- About:
Sarah is a supervisor in Research and Development. When she's not at work, you might find her on the golf course or enjoying a nice walk around the neighborhood during fair weather.
However, when the Illinois weather turns cold, she enjoys spending time in the kitchen creating something from one of her many cookbooks or becoming engrossed in one of the many crime or medical television dramas.
Tom Atkinson
- Email: tom.atkinson@countryfinancial.com
- Site: http://www.mynameiscountry.com
- About:
Tom is a Financial Security Consultant for COUNTRY Financial. In addition to his training and experience as a financial specialist, Tom believes it was his earlier life as a musician, filmmaker, journalist and pizza maker that makes him as well-qualified as anyone else to voice his opinions about pretty much everything.
Troy Frerichs
- Email: tfrerichs@countryinvestment.com
- About:
Troy is an Investment Officer at COUNTRY and manages portfolios for clients of COUNTRY Trust Bank. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has a master's degree in Science in Finance from Saint Louis University.
In his free time, Troy enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, working out, and playing and watching sports, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals and University of Illinois athletics.
Valerie Rogers
- Email: vestelle@gmail.com
- About:
Valerie Rogers is the wife of West Portland (Ore.) financial representative Michael Rogers. Valerie Rogers owns and operates vacation rentals in Oregon Wine country and is pursuing a master’s of business administration at George Fox University. She moderates and contributes to several personal blogs.
Weekly Financial Tips
- Email: CFConnect@countryfinancial.com
- About:
From retirement and college savings to short-term budgeting and financial planning, we're providing you weekly financial tips to help you become financially secure no matter where you're starting from.
