Madison, Wis. (December 31, 2024) – National Guardian Life Insurance Company’s (NGL) inaugural G.R.I.T. Awards were launched during its December End of Year Celebration. The awards incorporate NGL’s vision for the future, Together for Tomorrow, into its team members’ daily professional lives. Peer nominations recognize and celebrate colleagues for their outstanding achievements and performance.
The awards highlight the winning mindsets that need to be demonstrated for everyone to deliver and successfully achieve NGL’s goals and vision.
There are four distinct categories for the G.R.I.T. Awards:
Growth and Personal Development Award – Oscar Hernandez Tinajero, Technical Support
The recipient of this award sets clear professional and personal growth objectives. They hold themselves accountable for their own growth and NGL accountable for support. The individual also embraces courageous conversations and chooses to stay resilient through challenges.
Oscar was nominated four times for the Growth and Personal Development Award. “Oscar is driven to learn and advance his career at NGL by challenging himself,” shares one nominator. “He joined the IT Customer Service team from a business role, volunteered to join the implementation team for the Data Center moveout weekend, and has now volunteered to assist a more technical team in order to challenge himself and further his career. Oscar continues to show a drive to challenge himself to grow and impresses everyone around him with his ability to succeed at those challenges.”
Resilience and Accountability Award – Jen Hatton, Senior Commissions Administrator
This award recipient is resilient and perseveres. They believe in holding themselves and others accountable for actions and outcomes. Commitment to results and follow through is a basis of their work ethic.
Receiving five nominations from her colleagues, Jen was awarded the Resilience and Accountability Award. One person who nominated Jen says, “She sets an amazing example of resilience and accountability on the Commissions team. Jen’s continual commitment to finding solutions and generating new ideas, even in difficult situations, is a testament to her resilience and perseverance. She also leads by example by keeping herself accountable. She freely admits mistakes, along with learning from them, while frequently helping our own team and even other teams identify and overcome challenges in order to succeed.”
Initiative, Drive and Execution Award – Jessica Miller, Assistant Vice President, Financial Planning, Payroll and Disbursements
This award is for the NGL team member who takes initiative with a bias for effective action. They ask for help when needed and look beyond daily tasks to effectively execute plans.
Receiving three nominations for the Initiative, Drive and Execution Award, Jessica incorporates initiative, drive and execution into each of her projects at NGL. “Jessica has worked tirelessly to improve key processes. She drove the implementation of a new accounts payable software which enabled better workflow, tracking and automation of disbursements coding. She overhauled the budget process and has worked collaboratively with every budget owner throughout NGL to help them understand their costs and plan accurately for the coming year. Jessica executes on every task she takes on and has a true drive for excellence. She is a team player and does her best to provide one-on-one customer service to the organization, no matter how busy she is.”
Trust in Each Other Award – Lisa Warner, Claims Adjudicator
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated trust in themselves, peers and leaders. They empower others, is empowered and delegates, as well as fosters open communication by giving and receiving constructive feedback. Collaboration within and across teams is paramount to their work.
“Lisa is always available to help deal with complicated claims or to help train newer members on different types of claims. She has been the point person on several complicated claims this year, some of which have involved multiple beneficiaries who have unique needs and questions. She also has a wonderful personality and adds so much to the team.”
NGL is a life and health insurance company specializing in individual and group products. We offer a suite of innovative insurance products for life’s journey, giving our customers financial stability, careful guidance and peace of mind. With 115 years in the insurance industry, we take pride in being there for our customers when they need it most.
About NGL
Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.
National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.
