Category: Office Announcements

D&D All Offices: COVID-19 Update

March 23, 2020

A message from Principal Matt DeFendis:

Good morning everyone.

As you know, D&D has implemented a work at home program that is allowing the vast majority of our staff and producers to work remotely. As an essential business in California, D&D remains open for business to assist our clients with their insurance needs. 

Effective at the end of business today, all phones for all offices outside Fresno will be forwarded to Fresno who will in turn forward to your direct dial numbers. Similarly, all mail will be forwarded to Fresno. Should you or a client need to mail anything to us, please send to PO Box 5479, Fresno, CA 93755. Signage will be placed at all offices and will state that due to COVID-19, we are temporarily closed to the public, but remain open for business to assist our clients remotely with their insurance needs. We will ask that they reach out to you by phone , email or our 800 number which is 800-248-8247. The Fresno office, however, will remain open with normal business hours, albeit with a skeleton staff, which will include some of our managers, IT, Accounting, MAID and our receptionist. 

This is a reminder that all people working remotely should send all printing requests to [email protected]. MAID will print and mail out everything that needs to be mailed. The email should include the document and any instruction for printing or mailing. Please do not mail anything  from your home as we want to maintain a record in our system. Faxes will also be forwarded to MAID and attached in EPIC in the normal course. 

I must impress on each of you, that while working remotely at this level is new to our office, maintaining the privacy of our clients is not. To that end, please do not put any Company data or information on any personal device. Lastly, at this time, communication is key. We will continue to provide you with relevant information as quickly as we can. Similarly, communicate with each other and our clients to ensure service in uninterrupted and remains at its highest level. 

Thanks for your cooperation and should you have any questions, please let me know.    

Matthew DeFendis
Principal

D&D’s response to Coronavirus: Town Hall Meeting 3/16/20

March 13, 2020

On behalf of D&D, Matt DeFendis will be attending the Town Hall meeting on March 16, 2020. He will be addressing our response in regards to the COVID-19 and the impact it has on us right now.

If you would like to attend please use this ext. #6890.

If you are outside the office you will need to dial into 559-437-6890 Bridge#1 Password 123456

*Reminder if you’re attending to please mute your phones and please contact Nora if you would like to be included in this call.

Happy Belated Birthday, Matt DeFendis!

March 10, 2020

As we continue celebrating the 60th Anniversary of D&D, we’d also like to acknowledge a very special birthday. 

Happy 60th, Matt DeFendis! We appreciate the continuous support and dedication you bring to the brokerage and value your leadership. Cheers to you! 

March Calendar 2020

February 27, 2020

Please take a look at the updated March 2020 Calendar. Thank you!

D&D Fresno Office: Valentine’s Day Bake Sale

February 11, 2020

Just a reminder that the Valentine’s Day Bake Sale is this Friday! Baked items, gift baskets, or decorative items are always acceptable.

If you’re able to bring items to the office on Thursday, that would be great for the committee. Any questions? Feel free to contact the D&D Project Committee Members. Thanks for spreading the love!

D&D Office Reminder: Baby Shower for Katie Beyerle and Little Asher

February 7, 2020

Join us to celebrate Katie’s Baby Shower on Tuesday, February 18th at 5:00pm in the main kitchen. Details are below:

  • Katie and her husband Taylor are having a baby boy named Asher
  • Their nursery theme is soft greys with pops of darker blues
  • Bring a pack of diapers for a chance to win a prize!

If you are able to come to the party, please RSVP to Dia Mathews,CLCS by Friday, February 14th, and if you have any questions please email [email protected] for more info on Katie’s registry!

Thank you!

Modesto Office: Retirement and Promotions News

February 7, 2020

Congratulations to Ginger Cope who is retiring. Her last day of work will be February 28th. We all wish her well in her much deserved retirement.

We are pleased to tell you that Kara Hippert is being promoted to a full CSR position and will be taking over Ginger’s book of business.  The transition will take place over the remainder of this month.   Effective 2/4/2019 she will be taking over the portion of Ginger’s book that belongs to Eldon Easterday.  Then on 2/19/2020 after Amber Easterday is back, she will be taking over Sandy Sanders’ book of business.  At that time servicing the Hanover HERS Service Center accounts will be moved from Kara to the Fresno office. Ann and Mary will be working closely with Kara on a daily basis to train her in her new duties.

Kara will try and finish up any work that she currently has in process for the CSRs today and first thing tomorrow morning. The rest of her activities will be returned to each CSR tomorrow.  She has been a big help to all of us and I know we will miss her assistance as an assistant CSR.

Kara’ duties will still include relieving GG for her lunch hour and taking mail to the post office at 4:15pm. However, we will all have to take a turn on a rotating basis to relieve GG for AM and PM breaks and also when GG calls in sick or is on vacation.  I’ll have a weekly schedule for breaks made up and sent to you in the next couple of days.

Should you have any questions regarding these changes let Ann or Mary know.

Thanks so much and congratulations to Ginger and Kara!

Personal Lines: Department Update

February 6, 2020

We are pleased to announce that Theresa Avila is transitioning into a management position overseeing our Personal Lines Department.  Theresa has been with us for more than seven years working exclusively in Personal Lines as an Account Manager and has done an outstanding job.  There will be some reorganization to the unit over the next few months so please expect additional information as changes are made.  Nora will be working closely with Theresa through this transition, so please let her know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much, and congrats to Theresa!

Insurance Associates of Fresno: Not So Auction Auction Thursday, February 20th

February 6, 2020

Here’s a note from Darlene Ayala, CISR Assistant to Ronald E. Lamm in regards to this auction.

The Insurance Associates of Fresno will be holding their annual Not So Auction Auction this month. It is a fun event with proceeds going to the Scholarship Fund that is given in May. Please see the attached flyer below and if you are interested in attending please RSVP to Kim Combs who is here in our Fresno office.

Also, we are always looking for donations for this event. Last year I believe we had 49 items auctioned off. If you would like to donate an item or basket that is valued at  least $25 please see me. The higher the value, the more we auction it off for. We have had several of our employees kids win a scholarship the past few years.

Thank you and I hope you can make time in your busy schedule to attend…

Darlene Ayala, CISR
Assistant to Ronald E. Lamm