On September 25th, the entire Donegal team came together for the 2023 All-Employee Meeting. This gathering took place at various locations to accommodate our diverse workforce, with some team members meeting in-person at Spooky Nook, while others joined from regional offices or remotely from different locations across the map.

The theme of this meeting, “All Systems Go,” perfectly encapsulated the spirit of our discussions. We kicked off the event with opening remarks from Donegal’s CEO, Kevin Burke. Providing insights into our current status, future direction, and mile stones we’ve already accomplished, Burke likened Donegal to a high-performance car, ready for action and emphasized the need for drivers to steer us forward. The tools are in place, the foundation is solid; now it is time for execution.

Highlighting the event were five hand-picked employees who embody Donegal’s values. They shared their personal motivations for working at Donegal, offering a glimpse into their journeys and what drives them.

Natasha Romero

VP of Internal Audit

Romero joined Donegal in 2018 after a demanding job in public accounting. Her decision to transition was driven by the people at Donegal. Romero acknowledged that while Donegal might not be perfect, its commitment to doing what’s right and caring for individuals stood out. Romero’s mantra has always been never say no to two things: a good challenge and ice cream. “As long as I see my coworkers and leaders continuing to say yes to challenges and work collectively to achieve greater success, I’ll continue to choose Donegal,” says Romero.

Krista Root

Regional Product Manager – Commercial Lines

Root, a “boomerang” employee, returned to Donegal after a brief hiatus in 2016. She initially worked in Personal Lines before rejoining the company, this time in the Commercial Lines department. Later, she ventured into the new Product team, initially doubting her skill set. However, with the encouragement of her work friends, she accepted the challenge and it turned out to be the best decision of her career. “The Role is evolving and I want to be here to see it through,” Root said.

Brandon Bauer

AVP – Commercial Lines

A recent addition to the Donegal team with five months under his belt, Bauer brought 14 years of industry experience to Donegal. He joined Donegal with a few requirements, “I needed to be at a place where the work that I did was meaningful and impacted the results,” he said. Bauer’s “run through the brick wall headfirst” mindset promises to help propel Donegal forward in the industry.

cent addition to the Donegal team with five months under his belt, brought 14 years of industry experience to Donegal. Bauer joined Donegal with a few requirements, “I needed to be at a place where the work that I did was meaningful and impacted the results,” he said. Bauer’s “run through the brick wall headfirst” mindset promises to help propel Donegal forward in the industry.

Eric Barnes

Production Underwriter – Commercial Lines

Stationed in the southwest region at Mountain States Insurance Group is Production Underwriter, Eric Barnes. Specifically working the state of Utah, Barnes described the difficulties of the highly competitive environment with low rates in all lines of business. He emphasized the importance of the One Team approach to stay ahead, involving everyone from sales and marketing to underwriting and loss control. Despite being 2,071 miles from the Home Office, Barnes has found that his team is a shining example of collaboration.

George Ripley

Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Manager 

Ripley and his team work diligently behind the scenes to combat insurance fraud. Comprising mostly of ex-law enforcement officers, this group aims to mitigate the impact of fraudulent activities. Ripley’s transition from criminal to civil investigations was an easy one, and he praises the company for its positive atmosphere, flexibility, education opportunities, and teamwork. When asked why Ripley chooses to stay at Donegal he responded, “I like it here, it’s as simple as that.”  

The meeting concluded with Dan DeLamater, Senior VP of Field Operations & National Accounts. He began by explaining our challenges aren’t behind us. “Every mission launches with things to be completed in flight. And every mission encounters obstacles along the way,” DeLamater said.  He encouraged employees to reach out and ask for help, reminding everyone that leadership is there to provide the resources necessary for success. 

ALL SYSTEMS – GO.

– Admiral Alan Shepard