Tag: GEICO

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GEICO has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Companies for Women Technologists by AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit agency that recognizes companies building workplaces where women can thrive.

Using a rigorous methodology that looks at representation, employee experience, programs and policies, AnitaB.org analyzed data from 80 companies. The five companies with the highest cumulative scores in their respective workforce size categories earned placement on the 2018 Top Companies for Women Technologists Top 5 lists. GEICO was recognized for companies with a technical workforce of between 1,000 and 10,000 employees.

Marie Motowylak, GEICO’s director of decision sciences and business transformation, said GEICO is both appreciative and motivated by the recognition.

“We are very proud of the efforts we have made to develop an inclusive environment with a keen focus on training, career-advancement and promotional opportunities for women into leadership roles,” she said. “More and more women are taking advantage of the many IT career opportunities at GEICO, and we will continue to create rewarding career paths for them.”

Even before this latest recognition, GEICO’s efforts to support women in IT had not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, two of the company’s IT associates were recognized by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Women in Technology, and last year, GEICO was the winner of AnitaB.org’s coveted Top Companies for Women Technologists award.

“IT at GEICO plays a central role in creating seamless, innovative and dynamic insurance experiences for our customers. The inclusiveness and the diversity of our team of technologists drives our innovation and makes us a stronger and better company,” said GEICO Executive Vice President and CIO Greg Kalinsky.

© 2018 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO is now hiring up to 400 software engineers, IT architects and analysts for the new IT Center of Excellence at its expanded site in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Career opportunities are available from entry to senior levels.

GEICO’s Center of Excellence seeks to develop innovative methods to better serve customers.

“We are excited about building a strong team that will play an essential role in helping GEICO create state-of-the-art cloud software applications,” said Katie Sauls, GEICO Indianapolis’ director of IT. “We are looking to hire those who can unleash creative ways to use tomorrow’s technology to lead the way to better customer interaction.”

GEICO IT received a prestigious 2017 Top Companies for Women Technologists Award from AnitaB.org for creating a “culture that revolves around promoting diversity and inclusion” and offering “programs for entry level technologists and management that provide ongoing training for continued professional growth.”

GEICO has been named as a “Top Workplace” by the Indianapolis Star for three consecutive years, and is ranked as the top global insurance group in the world based on revenue and as one of Fortune magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies.”

© 2018 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO announced at the ribbon-cutting event that opened its newest office in Lenexa, Kansas that it will add 500 associates during the next five years.

Joining GEICO Chairman Tony Nicely in making the announcement were Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, GEICO’s parent company, and U.S., state, county and local officials.

“Kansas’ business-friendly climate continues to attract innovative, pioneering companies like GEICO,” said Gov. Colyer. “We appreciate GEICO for recognizing Kansas as a state where financial services firms can be very successful. The 500 new jobs created by GEICO’s investment will be a tremendous boost for the Kansas economy, and we are looking forward to the future growth of this partnership.”

“We are very pleased that we’ll have this chance to become a part of the enterprising and highly thriving area in Lenexa and Kansas City,” said Tony Nicely. “When we began looking for a new office, everything we learned about the community made us eager to open a new operation here. We expect to have it up and running close to Labor Day.”

GEICO president Bill Roberts noted that GEICO will begin recruiting soon for sales and service positions in its

GEICO Insurance Agency (GIA) operations in Lenexa. Later the company will be hiring claims professionals.

© 2018 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Insurer GEICO plans to add more than 1,400 new associates–including hundreds of IT professionals–as the company grows its operations in Greater Indianapolis.

The company’s office, at 101 W. 103rd St. in Carmel, will nearly double in size after an expansion that will add an additional 104,000 square-feet.

With the larger space, GEICO Indianapolis will add IT and claims positions to its existing sales, service and emergency roadside operations.

The GEICO Greater Indianapolis office brought more than 250 jobs to the area when it opened in the summer of 2013. Over the years, the office has more than quadrupled its workforce to more than 1,100 associates to become one of the area’s largest employers.

“The support of this thriving community and our growing customer base in Indiana have made this expansion possible,” said Lona J. Montgomery, general manager of the Indianapolis office. “We are excited to bring on new associates to help us continue to offer excellent service to our customers across the state.”

Nearly 350 IT and claims positions will be added this year, with the others slated to be added over the next five years.

© 2018 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Insurer GEICO is adding to its staff in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and expects to fill 500 positions in claims, sales, service, auto damage and the company’s management development programs.

The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company does not require applicants to have previous experience due to GEICO’s extensive training courses.

“One reason we were again named a ‘Best of the Beach’ employer in Hampton Roads is because of our commitment to helping associates develop long-term careers,” said John Pham, vice president of GEICO’s regional operations. “Our associates know we promote from within, which gives them a lot of chances for advancement. It’s not unusual for associates to earn two promotions within the first year of employment with us.”

Mark Boggs, a claims manager, can attest to that. “I started as a claims adjuster just three years ago. GEICO gives you the tools and support to be successful, and with consistent hard work and dedication, there’s really no limit to how fast you can move.”

John Pham added, “We know that many people come to GEICO for a job. They think they’ll stay a year or so. What we do is surprise them with a career. Many of our associates have 10- , 20-, and 30-year careers with GEICO, some even longer.”

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO, the nation’s second largest and fastest-growing auto insurer, recently earned the prestigious Top Companies for Women Technologists award.

The award recognizes companies committed to building workplaces where women in technology careers can thrive. This year, the presenting AnitaB.org organization evaluated dozens of U.S. companies representing 574,000 technologists across a variety of industries.

AnitaB.org evaluated nominees on the basis of representation, employee experience and programs and policies.

GEICO earned the highest total score for a company with a technical workforce between 1,000 and 10,000. AnitaB.org cited GEICO for a “corporate culture that revolves around promoting diversity and inclusion” and “creating several rotational programs for entry level technologists and management that provide ongoing training for continued professional growth.”

“GEICO has always made diversity a top priority by promoting an all-inclusive environment that emphasizes leadership, training and career-advancing roles for women in IT,” said Marie Motowylak, GEICO director of decision sciences and business transformation. Motowylak accepted the honor on behalf of GEICO and added, “It’s important that we continue to create these opportunities that lead to successful and rewarding career paths.”

GEICO Executive Vice President and CIO Greg Kalinsky said, “Our commitment to innovation and our role in helping GEICO use technology to delight our customers has created incredibly dynamic technology opportunities for our IT associates. They tell me they are more successful and having a bigger impact than they ever dreamed. They are having unexpected careers that they find very rewarding. That’s what we love to see.”

Kalinsky noted, “We think the company’s success in all things digital – from its award-winning website to its best-in-class mobile app – has been aided by having a diverse and committed workforce and presenting associates with dynamic career choices. Our focus on modernizing all systems that support our associates and customers is a testament to the critical role IT plays in our success. I am truly humbled and thrilled for all GEICO associates to be recognized as a Top Company for Women Technologists.”

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Few companies are able to stand the test of time and maintain an outstanding financial performance spanning nearly three decades.

GEICO has notched a spot on Ward Group’s 2017 list of 50 top performing insurance companies. GEICO is one of only a few companies to have earned a top 50 designation for 27 consecutive years.

“The ability to remain in this position for more than two decades is a remarkable achievement in our company’s history and demonstrates a high-level of trustworthiness from our growing customer base,” said Bill Roberts, GEICO president and chief operating officer. “We are proud to be recognized by The Ward Group as a top performing insurance company.”

To develop its annual top 50 list, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 3,000 property and casualty insurance companies domiciled in the U.S., and identifies the top performers over the previous five year period (2012-2016).

Jeff Rieder, partner, head of Ward Group mentioned that low investment returns, rising loss costs, and competitive market conditions continue to impact financial returns for the industry. “In selecting the Ward’s 50, we identified companies that pass financial stability requirements and measure their ability to grow while maintaining strong capital positions and underwriting results,” said Rieder.

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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GEICO’s Catastrophe Response (CAT) teams are now on the ground in Florida.

The CAT teams include auto damage adjusters, supervisors, managers, and IT personnel that are ready to assist policyholders in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee adjusters are also ready to assist in those areas.

GEICO is staffing drive-in claims centers throughout Florida. At the same time several hundred associates around the country are taking loss reports and answering incoming calls. As roads open and areas become more accessible GEICO adjusters are expected to see several thousand vehicles through the week.

Berkshire Hathaway’s GEICO is the top auto insurer in Florida, and has the most at risk with Hurricane Irma possibly headed for landfall on the state’s east coast.

In 2016, GEICO had a 20.68% market share of all auto policies in Florida.

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s GEICO is the top auto insurer in Florida, and has the most at risk with Hurricane Irma possibly headed for landfall on the state’s east coast.

In 2016, GEICO had a 20.68% market share of all auto policies in Florida.

The Category 5 storm. which has been leaving a trail of destruction through the Caribbean, could hit Florida in the early morning hours of Sunday.

The magnitude of the hurricane has Florida Gov. Rick Scott warning that the damage could be greater than 1992’s Hurricane Andrew, which caused 65 fatalities and $26.5 billion in damage.

“I want everybody to understand the importance of this. This is bigger than Andrew,” Gov. Scott said.

GEICO will be sending its Catastrophe Response (CAT) teams to Florida. The CAT teams include auto damage adjusters, supervisors and managers, and IT personnel.

Last week, GEICO sent CAT teams to Houston in the wake deal with the estimated 50,000 vehicles the company insures that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.