Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Wiest. They and their team shared their story with us below:
I graduated from Minnetonka High School, MN in 1995 and was captain of the tennis and softball teams. After spending 2 years at St Thomas University and I finished my Marketing Degree at Mankato State University in 2000. I have spent the last 20+ years working in marketing, operations, management, accounting, HR, PR, and administration. I’ve enjoyed a varied career, learning from and working with amazing entrepreneurs. I’ve worked in industries ranging from home builders to a food distributor in marketing and purchasing; ran a real estate company, managed a weather and technology company, helped start a 24-hour TV Weather channel, and managed an HVAC business. These varied roles over the years have made me wear many hats, even as a fill-in cooking teacher, which is hilarious to Cory and anyone who has seen her cook. Even odder was my role as the project manager for a 100 m tall meteorological tower at a nuclear plant. It’s a weird combo, I know!
These roles have allowed me to understand the many hats that have to be worn by business owners and the other folks who keep the wheels on the bus. And even more, I understand the importance of keeping those wheels moving forward. There are more challenges and opportunities than hours in the day, typically. This is precisely why I’ve always loved working with small to medium-sized businesses. The grit and determination to succeed is invigorating. After the death of my father-in-law, Dave, I decided to take my talents and experience into the family business. With my husband, Cory, we strive to help small and medium-sized business owners navigate employee benefits.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all, which I think is typical for most people who run a business. I had 9 majors in college because I could never figure out what I wanted to be. Thankfully, I failed out of the first college and had to beg my way into the next. This allowed me the opportunity to try again and eventually graduate with a 3.8. Out of that, I walked away with some of my best friends and an unmatched sense of accomplishment.
There has always been a constant battle to know who I am and what I want from life. Each role I have had has either solidified what I don’t like or what I know I am meant to do. Thankfully, it has all been 1000% worth it to be able to do what I do now. I love working with my husband, Cory! Not only is he my best friend, but we both have a well-balanced skill set that makes us an excellent team. We aim to help business owners and individuals navigate the confusing insurance world. It is like teaching, advocacy work, marketing, and technology skills all wrapped up into each day.
Each step, especially the missteps, brought me to the exact spot in life I was meant to be in.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My husband Cory and I have a bit of a secret sauce going on. With his 25 years of Insurance experience with employers, individuals, families, and Medicare folks, paired with my 25 years of filling the utility role in small to medium-sized businesses, we just get it. We run a small business and have been surrounded by all the challenges, obstacles and opportunities that all small businesses go through.
Technology is fantastic, but it needs to be paired with a real person to count on. Ensuring that our clients, big and small, have the tools to manage it easily while remaining in compliance is paramount for us. However, at the same time, we ensure that owners, employees, and individuals know they can contact us for help directly. Each business we work with knows to have their employees call us if they have questions. We don’t expect them to have the answers and we ultimately fill that role for them. Having been that person myself in a company, I wish I had someone to lean on more. So, we decided to become that person for others.
In addition, we know how expensive, complex, and truly annoying insurance can be to most people and businesses. It is a necessity, but only some people actually enjoy dealing with it. Most people truly don’t understand how their insurance works. We don’t blame them; it is complex and confusing. Nothing is more important than ensuring that businesses, their employees, and individuals seeking our help feel comfortable and are truly covered for their unique situation.
When someone decides to make a call to us, they get us. Our years of experience, our years of connections, our knowledge to handle any situations that may arise, and they pay us zero. Most people need to understand that using the services of an agency or broker costs them nothing. Many continue to go to the carriers themselves to select plans and put their package together. They do this at the same cost they would experience when adding a level of expertise and advocacy that a great agency or broker can provide.
The name EMEX, let’s be real, is confusing. What does it mean? How do you even pronounce it? Cory’s father, who started the agency in 1986, named it EMEX to focus on EMployers and EXecutives. He, very wisely, knew that insurance would only get more complicated and expensive, and that for our small businesses to be able to continue to thrive, they needed an advocate in that space. Thus, the name EMEX won’t be going away anytime soon. It is pronounced Eh-Mex, but we don’t get too picky if people get the name wrong. Usually, once they meet Cory and myself, they will remember us. We impact people in a way that they know they can always count on us for support. From medical (every type of plan and carrier possible), dental, vision, long and short-term disability, life insurance, travel insurance, and Medicare, we have the expertise to help guide each person through the process.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
We saw the landscape for employers change dramatically, especially in retail and more blue-collar settings. Attracting and retaining great people to apply and show up has been much more difficult. They have been forced to turn down jobs, cut hours of operation, or owners and remaining employees are exhausted with all of the extra work.
We’ve seen the hiring process and communication become much more important. Having the systems to find people is one thing, but to land that applicant and have them appreciate what employers offer them has become paramount. Employee benefits are a great foundation to accomplish that.
Employers in many industries are discovering that what they offer must keep up with industry trends. They are finding that onboarding and smoothing out the process is important. They also realize employees need to fully understand what is being offered, for true appreciation. Turnover and open positions can be combated, in part, with a decent employee benefits package that is complete enough to suit the needs of all or most employees. Adding ancillary coverages such as dental, vision, disability, and life insurance costs pennies on the dollar compared to medical insurance. It offers more protection for employees and their loved ones and can create a robust benefits package that bolsters appreciation.
Pricing:
- Our services are FREE.
- The benefit management platform we use is accessible to our clients, with the addition of ancillary group sponsored or voluntary coverage for their employees.
- Our training, support, and advocacy – are FREE.
- A few laughs are included in all encounters. Insurance doesn’t have to be stressful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emexbenefits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emexbenefits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmexBenefits
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emexbenefits/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmexBenefits
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7qa2BF8eeaI3MZWH4amNoA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/emex-benefits-systems-saint-michael?osq=emex+benefit+systems
