Insurance agent says industry has changed

Published 3:34 pm Wednesday, June 29, 2016

: Insurance agent and office Manager Donna Yokiel assists farmers through a number of facets. - Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

WELLS — A longtime insurance agent and office manager is assisting farmers in multiple ways with her first-hand knowledge of the area.

Donna Yokiel, 55, began working for Wells Insurance Agency in 2001.

Yokiel is involved with farm insurance, country homes and large farm operations, general farms, small farms, land, crop, automobile, commercial and health insurance.

A Wells native, Yokiel said working in her hometown has given her the opportunity to forge new relationships in a familiar place.

Donna Yokiel stands with Wells Insurance Agency customer service representatives Abby Roberts and Juli Redig and Wells Federal Bank Vice Pesident Chuck Schulenberg. – Sam Wilmes/Albert Lea Tribune

She said she’s had to adjust since she started selling insurance in her hometown by forming relationships with residents that she didn’t know while growing up.

“It’s a nice community to work in,” Yokiel said. “I feel very fortunate to work here.”

Yokiel said her favorite part of being an insurance agent is the wide variety of services she provides and the busyness of her position.

She said farming is still important to Wells, and the younger generation is stepping up to help manage farms.

“It’s quite cool to see,” Yokiel said.

Yokiel hopes customers will leave her office with more information on insurance and the confidence to ask questions and refer a friend to the company.

She said she has grown in her position.

“Now I have a lot of knowledge about insurance, continue to learn and work with a great group of people here,” she said.

Yokiel lives in Easton and has three grown children: Scott, Stacie and Katie.

She said she has noticed changes on farms since her childhood spent on a farm with pigs, cows and chickens.

She said as an insurance agent she tries to keep up with the changes.

“It’s important,” Yokiel said. “We certainly need it. It has changed a lot. It has gotten bigger. Now it’s more of a corporation.”

Yokiel said she is busy with customers and the time most days flies by at the office. She said October through January are her busiest months with health insurance.

Chuck Schulenberg, vice president of Wells Federal Bank, said farming is crucial to Wells and the surrounding area.

“We’re a rural community, and farming is important in our community. … It’s a need,” Schulenberg said.

By the numbers

2001 – Year Yokiel became an insurance agent at Wells Insurance Agency

2 – Locations Wells Insurance Agency has — one in Wells and one in Mankato