Allen People

Stephanie Griffin

Allen Insurance and Financial is pleased to announce that Stephanie Griffin has passed the Maine State Property & Casualty Producer licensing exam.

Griffin, of Camden, joined Allen Insurance and Financial in late 2010 as a receptionist in the company’s Camden office.

A native of Appleton, Griffin is attending the University of Maine in Augusta, working toward a bachelor’s degree in public administration. She has already earned a certificate in human resource management from UMA.

Griffin, who had not worked in insurance prior to joining Allen Insurance and Financial, participated in the company’s in-house education program, where employees who want to become licensed insurance producers in Maine attend class for four hours each week, then study and prepare for the state licensing exam on their own time.

Scott Carlson

Carlson studied for the state exam through the Allen Insurance and Financial’s in-house education program, passing the exam on the first try. He joined the company in December 2010.

The Allen Insurance and Financial education program is run by Gene McKeever in the company’s Camden office. Staff attend classes on company time as they prepare for their exams. Since the state also requires 30 hours of continuing education over every two-year period for those in the insurance business, Allen Insurance and Financial sponsors those classes, as well.

This kind of investment benefits both Allen Insurance and Financial employees and the company’s customers, said Gil Fifield, company president. “We see payback every day — our people receive support and the most up-to-date information and in turn they offer superior service to our clients,” Fifield said.

The state-issued study guide for insurance licensing is 400+ pages. The state exams are comprised of 150 questions drawn from a pool of 2,400 questions on a complete range of subject areas, including business and personal insurance, workers’ compensation, maritime insurance and Maine insurance law.

Allen Insurance and Financial is an employee-owned insurance, employee benefits, and financial services company with offices in Camden, Rockland, Saco and Southwest Harbor.

For more information call 236-4311, or visit AllenInsuranceAndFinancial.com

Scott Carlson

Scott Carlson of Camden has joined Allen Insurance and Financial.

Previously, he was a partner and client consultant at Links Online Marketing, a website development and Internet marketing business in Bangor. He has also worked as a division manager and design director at Moss, Inc.

A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Carlson has a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in information systems engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York University. For his first months at Allen Insurance and Financial, Carlson will be without a specific job title as he participates in the company’s comprehensive in-house insurance education program.

“Scott’s background in design, manufacturing, engineering, project management and technology provides him with a solid foundation for providing creative solutions to challenging problems, as well as effective management of people, projects and more,” said Gilbert Fifield, president of Allen Insurance and Financial. “We are looking forward to Scott’s applying these skills to our work here, providing quality products and services to our customers.”

Carlson and his wife Donna live in Camden with their two young sons. He is a member of the Camden Rotary Club and the MCSA Youth Hockey board. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing, hiking, biking, music and spending time with his family.

Theresa A. Kavanagh of Owls Head has joined Allen Insurance and Financial as a group benefits associate.

Based in the company’s Chestnut Street office in Camden, Kavanagh will be working with Allen’s group benefit specialists to serve clients all over Maine.

A native of Vermilion, Ohio, Kavanagh is a graduate of Denison University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. After college, she sailed along the eastern seaboard and in Europe and the Caribbean. She settled in the Midcoast nine years ago; she was previously administration director at VillageSoup.

Outside of work, Kavanagh splits her time between gardening and working with her husband John to convert the former City of Portland fireboat to a live-aboard cruiser.

“I am thrilled to join Allen Insurance and Financial and become part of a team of professional and well-respected community members,” she said.

Allen Insurance and Financial has promoted Jean Dutch of Belfast to senior operations manager.

Jean Dutch, CIC

In her new role, Dutch will be in charge of processes and training throughout the company, and at all locations, in Camden, Rockland and Saco. She was previously head of operations for the Allen Insurance property & casualty divisions.
Dutch has more than 25 years experience in the insurance industry. She holds the Certified Insurance Counselor designation from the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, the nation’s leading continuing education for insurance professionals.
“We are so pleased to have Jean in this newly-created position. Her experience, enthusiasm and attention to detail are vital to both our day-to-day operations and our planning for continued success in the long-term,” said Gil Fifield, company president.
Dutch lives in Belfast with her husband Tim. She is based at Allen Insurance and Financial’s Camden location.