1. Interview Presentation by Ray Wilson
Amanda Parish Malcolm
Interview Presentation by Ray Wilson

2. Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University
Introduction
Name – Amanda Parrish Malcolm
Graduated from Mercer University in Macon, GA
Major- Industrial Management
Employer – Georgia Farm Bureau
Occupation – District Underwriter 1
Had no Internships or Co-ops while at Mercer
Did not pursue a Master’s Degree
Has no Lean or Six Sigma experience, but did mention learning about it in Dr. Burtner’s class
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

3. Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University
What classes that you took at Mercer (or other college) are helpful in your job? Engineering
As an underwriter you make decisions and analyze information
The underwriter’s decision process is very similar to the engineering process (Design, Build and Test)
As an underwriter you gather information, identify the alternatives (accept an application as submitted, reject an application as submitted, or accept with modification), evaluate the alternatives, select the best alternative, and implement the chosen alternative.
Other helpful classes mentioned were; Senior Design, organizational behavior, finance, statistics, and Business Law.
*Classes mentioned as not helpful; Religious Classes, Philosophy and Marketing*
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

4. Career Path (First Job)
Started working with a home building company after graduation
The company specialized in Production building, which gives homebuyers complete control over how their home will look and feel
budgeted & estimated the cost construction for houses
Left after two years because of lack of good benefits and competitive salary
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

5. Career Path (Georgia Farm Bureau)
Heard about Underwriter position at Georgia Farm Bureau
After researching on the internet, felt like the position coincided with her studies from Mercer
Has been employed at Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon, GA for 8 months as an Underwriter
Average salary for an Underwriter is about $60,000
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

6. Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University
Georgia Farm Bureau
Georgia Farm Bureau has been representing producers of all major agricultural commodities grown or raised in the state since 1937.
Georgia Farm Bureau has an office in each of Georgia's 159 counties, but our state headquarters office is located an hour's drive south of Atlanta in Macon, Georgia.
Georgia Farm Bureau provides a host of services - from commodity marketing to multi-line insurance products to real estate sales, mortgage services and forestry management. Members receive discounts on Dodge vehicles and hotel stays and low-cost internet and long-distance service.
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

7. Current Job Details (District Underwriter 1)
An Underwriter must be able to evaluate the firm’s entire operation in appraising its application for insurance
Involves a lot of analyzing and decision making
Insurance applications all look the same but everyone is insured differently
Key component when reviewing applications is driving records
Agents also play a part in problems with applications because of unique habits
Information that may be left out is retrieved with a form called a “Return Sheet”
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

8. Current Job Details cont’d (District Underwriter 1)
The state of Georgia is divided up into 10 districts.
District Underwriter is assigned 2 districts
Agents have to call in to get approval before taking money and binding us and the insured to coverage
Benefits -100% paid health benefits including dental, 401K w/ a 6% match, and a salary
Dress Code - Business Casual – no jeans except for the last Friday of the month
Average hours – 37.8
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

9. Normal Day Walkthrough (M-F)
7:45am- Arrive at work
Begin working from our queue from 8 to noon looking over applications that are sent to the home office from the various branch locations, by agents throughout the state of Georgia
After lunch; work on miscellaneous paperwork, such as return sheets, change applications (where an insured is making some kind of change to their account: adding a driver, changing their name or drivers license #, changing their vehicle, deleting a driver, changing vehicle use, etc.), & ordering motor vehicle reports (MVR).
4:30pm- Depart from work
* Two 15 min breaks and one 45 min lunch can be taken at the time of my choice*
* Georgia Farm Bureau is closed on Sunday’s and Saturday’s are voluntary*
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

10. Do you work alone or in groups? Yes and No
Everyone works alone but from the same queue of applications
Part of the Personal Auto team which consists of 5 underwriters.
Can consult another underwriter to get their opinion if we are on the fence about our decision
Most of the work is performed in a cubicle alone
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

11. Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University
Other Questions
Do you have to a lot of presentations at work? No
Do you travel for your work? 3 day conference once a year in Georgia in St. Simons
How often do you interact with people outside of the engineering world? Everyday the job is not really in the engineering field.
Where do you see yourself 5 to 10 years from now? I see myself moving up the ladder with Georgia Farm Bureau. My goal is to one day get into management.
Finally, Have you ever read The Goal? Yes, I really enjoyed the book. I still have my copy and I shared it with my husband, who is the operations manager for Global Parts Distributors.
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University

12. Amanda Parrish Malcolm macandamanda@cox.net
????Questions????
Amanda Parrish Malcolm
11/22/2018
Ray Wilson Industrial Engineering, Mercer University