Administrative Services

Name Anthony     
Education Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Department/Concise Job Description/Years Spent at State Farm Administrative Services Superintendent/ 8 years with State Farm
Location Illinois   
Career Path Summer College Intern, Lincoln, NE
Management Trainee – Administrative Services, Lincoln, NE
Supervisor – Administrative Services, Lincoln, NE
Supervisor – State Farm Payment Plan (SFPP), Lincoln, NE
Team Manager – Auto Underwriting, Lincoln, NE
Superintendent – Administrative Services, Bloomington, IL Corporate Headquarters

I was lucky enough to arrive at State Farm through an encounter I had at a career fair during my senior year at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.  Based on previous work experience, a State Farm recruiter thought that I would be a viable candidate for a summer internship.  However, to be eligible, I would have to delay graduation for a few months.  Needless to say I did just that and it was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life.  I was offered a position as a Summer College Intern and was then hired for a full-time position after graduation.

Prior to working at State Farm, my knowledge of the organization was based on my relationship with my State Farm Agent.  I thought that everyone at the company sold insurance!  However, I quickly realized that there is so much more that goes on throughout the company to assist our Agents and policyholders including Human Resources, Auto Underwriting, Claims, Purchasing and Distribution, Finance, Public Affairs, Investments, and much more. 

To me, State Farm is different from other companies in many ways.  I feel that the way the organization values the development of its employees is what truly sets us apart from our competition.  As an employee at State Farm, you have every opportunity to develop your capabilities and position yourself for future advancement through programs such as the tuition assistance program if you wish to pursue formal education. By earning a Certificate in General Insurance, I was then eligible to pursue a master’s degree in management.  I have completed approximately 90% of the program and State Farm has paid for 100% of my tuition, books, and fees.

State Farm also encourages and supports the participation of its employees in many different volunteer opportunities especially if they are intended to support youth educational development. In Lincoln, Nebraska, I volunteered as a mentor through the Teammates Mentoring Program for over three years. Through this program, I had the distinct honor of meeting with a young man to assist him with his homework and discuss the challenges he faced at home, at school, dealing with peer pressure, etc.  This was a very rewarding experience as I was able to watch him grow from a boy into a mature young man.

I have often been asked to give advice and share my experiences with new Summer College Interns because I started my career with State Farm in that same role. The three most valuable pieces of advice I would share are to find a mentor, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be willing and able to take risks because you can always erase mistakes but you cannot revisit opportunities.