By: Catalina Uriarte

I never would have imagined the majority of my work in 2020 would be done in fuzzy slippers from my bedroom desk. State National, like so many other companies across the world, has transitioned and settled into much more of a work-from-home model than ever before. Our company has found ways to continue with business as usual, and in some cases has even used 2020 as an accelerant for change.

One fact that has become increasingly clear at State National throughout 2020 is that we are an unstoppable force when it comes to innovation and reliability. I have both watched and participated in the creative thinking and flexible strategies that have gone into successfully jumping through the various hoops we as a company have had to conquer to continue our business processes and exceptional service levels without hiccups. Our commitment to reliability truly speaks volumes about our company culture and desire to always do right as a service provider.

Even in the wake of unpredictable change, my teammates and I continue to move forward. What’s new with our organization? Here’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With enough food to make you say “forget it” this holiday season, plus lots of quality interaction time with coworkers, in my opinion Employee Appreciation Week (EAW) is one of our employees’ favorite weeks of the year. Even though it will be taking place remotely this year, our Employee Engagement Committee is working hard to bring the fun to us wherever we are.

This May State National conducted a fundraiser among employees for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. As an incentive, our VP of Client Services and Delivery, Charlie Miller, committed to dying his hair in SNC blue and green if employees raised over $8,000. Well, in just one month our generous team raised over $10,000, and with the company match from Markel, together we were able to provide over 190,000 meals for those in need. As promised, Charlie Miller will be sporting his new look later this month!

Virtual bourbon tastings, outdoor picnics, and socially distanced office visits to Filene’s headquarters … these are just a few of the many ways State National’s Regional VPs and Client Executives are continuing to provide interactive support for our partners. We’ve already made insurance fun, and now we are showing the many ways we can make safely socially distanced events exciting as well.

The fact that you’re reading this blog post is a testimony to our constant striving for innovation through technology. This month we launched the 5^th iteration of StateNational.com since its initial creation in 1998. And in August, we also updated and enhanced the lender-facing InsurTrak Online client portal and the borrower-facing MyLoanInsurance.com website — two of our key technology platforms.

If there’s anything 2020 has taught all of us, changes will always keep on coming! To view more past and present State National news, visit the News & Events tab on our website.

Catalina Uriarte is a part of State National’s marketing department. With her tagline “Creative innovation designed to inspire action,” Catalina describes herself as a curious creative who looks forward to taking on new challenges. She earned her B.A. in Public Relations from the University of North Texas and she plays an essential role in planning and executing State National’s corporate client events.