Uplift with Nova Mutual

"When there is an accident, The foremost thing you want to do is make sure you are safe."   Today on this special mini-episode of Uplift with Nova Mutual, we talk to Claims Adjuster Donna Gibbs-White about what to be mindful of in the unfortunate event of an accident. Whether you are at fault or not, Donna shares the kind of exceptional experience you can expect from Nova Mutual.    "The beauty of a smaller mutual in comparison to a large company is you're going to speak to the same person, that person is going to help you, and they are a resource for any questions you may have."   If you are in the unfortunate event of a motor vehicle accident: Make sure you are safe If you are afraid, call the police be mindful of who the other driver is and who is in the vehicle with them Use your cellphone for photos Take photos of the license plates Take pictures of all the damage Take a snapshot of their insurance information, or copy it down. If a tow truck is required and police are on scene - know where your vehicle will go. Report to your insurance company when safe to do so. (Agent, Broker, Representative)   "Do what you can in that circumstance and recognize that you're doing the best you can and know as an adjuster we're here to help you out and along the way."   "I would much rather you call me than stay awake at night."   Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual Family? There are three ways: email sales@novamutual.com to talk to one of our outstanding agents Click on the "Find a Broker" button at the top of our website - NovaMutual.com Check out our careers page; your next opportunity be waiting for you! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters  

How does your team communicate and stay connected? With a corporate culture change in the way we work, emphasizing remote-first - has your workplace evolved with modern forms of communication (Teams, Slack, Zoom, Skype)? Today on Uplift, we are talking to one of Nova Mutual's top talents, Business Analyst Dan Scarrow about removing roadblocks in your workflow and the magic of modern-day communication.   "The older I get, the more experience I get; I realize there is no bad experience when it comes to working...experience will never hurt you."   What is the role of a business analyst in the insurance space?  Dan explains that problem-solving and collaboration are the two crucial aspects of his role as a business analyst. Helping to ensure the team can function as smoothly as possible without technical roadblocks. Through collaboration and relationship building Dan and the IT team at Nova produce practical solutions.   "We're here to help...to move the business forward, whatever that means"   Work culture has dramatically changed in the past few years; many companies are now remote-first. It's always been a struggle to embrace authentic and meaningful communication in the workplace. Nova Mutual emphasizes authenticity in the workplace, understanding that you are essential and there is so much more to you than your job title describes. In this episode, Dan shares how he has embraced modern forms of communication to better his work-life and personal life.   Stay tuned to the end of this podcast episode to hear one of our most Uplifting stories!   Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual Family? There are three ways: email sales@novamutual.com to talk to one of our outstanding agents Click on the "Find a Broker" button at the top of our website - NovaMutual.com Check out our careers page; your next opportunity could be waiting for you! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters  

From ‘the Folk’ to your Folk.     Now that patio season is finally here, it’s time to fire up the grill and get saucy! Joining us today on our Member uplift series is Chad Steele of Norfolk BBQ! Chad dishes on how this passion project got started, his love of local and all that Norfolk County has to offer, and even takes us back in time with some of the history of BBQ.     “Sometimes you gotta make lemonade out of lemons, right? That’s how it kind of started.”    What started as a personal passion grew into a full-blown business after seeing a post from a local retailer – The Barntique. When Chad finally found some time to put into scaling up this project, he also realized a market for it in the community, so he looked for the positive, and started making lemonade, so to speak.     “Be as best of an ambassador to the county as I can, just let people know what we do here, what we produce.”    Located in the heart of Norfolk County, Norfolk BBQ really highlights the area, what it has to offer, and the incredible people and places within it. More than just sauce, it’s a collaboration of community working together to uplift each other. Chad excitedly chats about his many connections from getting his maple syrup at Chambers Maple Shop to locally sourcing his apple cider and apple cider vinegar at Kent Creek Orchards and The Cider Keg, to purchasing strawberry juice from Meadowlynn Farms. He eagerly shares some of the incredible local butchers that allow him to place special orders for specific cuts, like VG Meats, Townsend Butchers, and Vanessa Meats. A quick scan of his mouthwatering Instagram page will showcase many more local stops to add to your ‘must visit’ list.     “I think the great thing about here in Norfolk is we have such an abundance of agricultural products. I wanted to support the local farms as best I could.”    Learn more about Norfolk BBQ and check out their savoury sauces:  https://www.norfolk-bbq.com/  https://www.instagram.com/norfolkbbq/  https://www.facebook.com/norfolkbbq  Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters   

Today on our Member Uplift series we welcome Heidi from Generations Marketplace and Learning Centre. She joins us to chat about her 5th generation family farm and how she honours it’s history while adding her own modern spin. Sustainable living, farm to table freshness, locally handcrafted items, and freshly baked goods – learn about their offerings, and how they also go beyond the marketplace to involve and teach the community.     “We are trying to bring back people into the gardens and knowing where their produce comes from, connecting to it, having a hands-on experience. Also giving them tools and training through our workshops and our classes on what they can do with those items afterwards.”    In the modern world of fast and convenient, Generations is taking the time to highlight the importance of reconnecting with the land, understanding where everything comes from, and how it all works together. They offer a variety of classes and tours including Beginner Gardening classes, Farm Animal and Garden Tours, providing anyone with a chance to explore the farm and learn some tips and tricks.     “We are working with our animals and the fields and the gardens where they grow. We are putting more into enriching our environment than taking away from it. Everything can work hand in hand.”  Learn more about Generations Marketplace and check out their amazing offerings:  https://generationsmarketplace.ca/  https://www.instagram.com/generations_marketplace/  https://www.instagram.com/generations_marketplace/    Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters   

Today on our Member Uplift series, Mark Healy from Dennis’ Horseradish is chatting with us about growing, producing, and processing horseradish, right in the heart of Norfolk County. From his early beginnings as a small boy dreaming of horseradish… or more accurately to discovering a gem that could be grown. He chats about the ways in which they are growing, and the importance of keeping their roots in Norfolk.     “Use all natural ingredients, produce everything locally, make sure that it’s handcrafted. Put love and care into it, you’re going to end up with a much better product than something mass produced in a factory.”    Learn about the ideal conditions for growing horseradish as Mark gets nerdy talking about soil varieties. Once they’ve grown the best product, hear about the importance of partnership and collaboration in working with retailers to bring the product to market.    “We’re on a journey together, we’re going to provide really good service, we’re going to provide quite a bit of education along the way.”    Speaking of that education, that’s a big strategy for the Dennis’ team as they work to appeal to new target markets and to a wider variety of dishes and recipes beyond the traditional ‘Sunday night roast beef’. Listen as Mark dishes on some of the amazing health benefits and possible pairings for horseradish.     Learn more about Dennis’ Horseradish and check out their amazing offerings:  https://dennishorseradish.com/    https://www.instagram.com/dennishorseradish/   https://www.facebook.com/DennisHorseradish/  Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters 

Demystifying Expenses With Karen Howard, Financial Operations Lead, Nova Mutual Keeping track of our expenses can be terrifying - but it doesn't have to be! Today Nova Mutual's Financial Operations lead, Karen Howard, is joining us to demystify keeping track of the costs to do business. While we suggest you always talk to a tax professional, Karen will give you some tips to log your mileage, what you can claim when working at home, meals and entertainment and the secret to being better with your reporting.   "Are you a trustworthy person? Are you an honest person? Don't cheat on your taxes - it's not going to get you very far."   Meet Karen Howard: Karen has a professional background in bookkeeping and management with a passion for uplifting the community through song. After spending 20 years successfully running her own business and five years leading a team, she is entering her 3rd year in the Mutual Insurance industry.    "Accounting is Accounting except in Insurance" Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters 

This week on Uplift, we chat with Brent Roloson, Senior Underwriter on our Agribusiness team. Listen as he talks about the Mutual experience, and then dives into all things Ag.    “The mutual world has always reminded me of smaller community, kind of like a family-oriented workspace. I’ve really taken that to heart throughout the years and enjoy that aspect of the business.”    Learn how he puts an individual focus on each and every policy he underwrites. Everything from small hobby farms, confined livestock, to full fruit and vegetable operations, right in the heart of Ontario’s garden.      “We get to put that personal touch on everybody’s policy. It gets that full review, that outside of the box thinking which really helps when it comes to making the right decision for them.”    Brent talks about collaborating with a variety of partners to ensure our wordings and coverages are kept current with changing technology, including a partnership with PrevTech to help mitigate large losses. With so many different types of coverages, it’s important to customize and fill the void, and Brent is up for the challenge!     “There’s always something different, something special that comes along that interests you and puts that spark in you to kind of want to go a little bit above and beyond to meet those needs of our policyholders.”    Do you have a question, or something you’d like to learn more about from our #AgribusinessUnderwriting team? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for future #AskTheUnderwriter episodes!     Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!     Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual  #ThinkAheadThinkNova  #WhereUMatter  #WorkingTogetherMatters 

Today on our Member Uplift series Adam Liefl from Groundswell chats all things coworking, collaboration and community! An idea and business plan born out of a local contest, he explains what coworking means, and how it brings people together, independently.     “If you can lean into your power, and then collaborate with others to bring in their powers, everybody goes farther faster.”    Learn how Groundswell Coworking enables its members to foster friendships and working relationships to create a web of freelancers connecting all across different places and industries. It’s all about finding the commonality and inspiration around you and lifting each other up, based on everyone’s unique strengths. Groundswell sets itself apart as a coworking space by approaching everything with a human first perspective, offering expertise, support, and encouragement.     “Productivity, energy, health, professional development, community – doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, everybody needs those things. Every career needs that feeling and that sense of belonging.”    Being located on one of the busiest intersections in the heart of Simcoe, Groundswell has immersed themselves in the downtown core and the community as a whole. The location has become home, or a happy place for a lot of people, and has brought 50 plus different business to downtown Simcoe. Groundswell actively advocates for the community and is at the forefront of the revitalization of the area, with a ground level view watching it all unfold.     “That’s an amazing success to us when we can bring people together, not only to have a fun, energizing, productive place to work but to allow people to lift their own businesses, and especially right here in our community.”    Learn more about Groundswell Coworking and check out their amazing offerings:  https://groundswellcoworking.com/ / https://www.thegroundswelleffect.com/  https://www.instagram.com/groundswellwork/    Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you! Read more Uplifting Articles: https://www.novamutual.com/news/ Join the Nova Mutual Team: https://www.novamutual.com/careers/ Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual #ThinkAheadThinkNova #WhereUMatter #WorkingTogetherMatters  

Are you a team player? Is it your way or the highway - or are you open to a new perspective? This week's remixed episode of Uplift is all about the art of collaboration and how we can go from great to awesome together. You will hear from 4 different perspectives on how working together increases results. Effective collaboration comes in various forms; you will listen to how Nova Mutual's brand, employee experience, and claims teams collaborate differently. Team Nova shares their thoughts on: What are the values of a great collaborator? What produces negative results when working in a group? Collaboration Misconceptions Why reflecting on projects, good or bad, is essential. How to find a fantastic collaborator The behind the scenes collaboration that happens for a policyholder How Culture encourages Constructive Collaboration: Nova Mutual has a flat structure with self-led teams. The leadership team's role is to remove roadblocks, not create them. Not being burdened by micromanagement - the Nova team can collaborate freely and openly with confidence. Having a brilliant IT team, using the newest tools available and understanding how individuals interact with each other in 2022 (instant messaging and video meetings) give Nova the perfect playground to collaborate safely.   Trust over Ego: If you've listened to this week's podcast episode, you would have heard unanimously, the key characteristic that makes a quality collaborator or team member is trust. Before you can brainstorm the next excellent idea, you need to put confidence in your team's ability, views and opinions. When you stop trusting and start believing your perspective is the best, you've stopped collaborating and let your ego come out to play. It's important to trust yourself; being fearful of sharing is the other side of our ego not allowing us to be our best. The best ideas are always a remix - make your mixtape.   Perspectives featured in this episode:   Rachel Bennet, Accident Benefit Adjuster When you get in an accident, Rachel is the superstar to help get you back into your condition before the incident. A lot happens behind the scenes quickly and effectively among vendors and you during these challenging times. Rachel is there to make this process easy and frictionless.    Shane Drever, Digital Media Specialist Nova's resident visual storyteller, Shane, is the art director behind Nova Mutual's Brand. With a knack for listening to a group of ideas and effectively telling that story through art. Murals, animation, paintings, interactive media - Shane is limitless.   Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you! Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual #ThinkAheadThinkNova #WhereUMatter #WorkingTogetherMatters Steph Gruhle, Member Experience Director Recently added to the team, Steph works closely with Nova's Creative Crew to uplift our policyholders through modern media. Steph has a professional background in advertising and compelling copywriting.   Sue Rivard, Employee Experience Director One of Sue's skills is finding the perfect team member to join Nova Mutual. Knowing and understanding the existing unit and how they work together, whether any of our teams, from claims to finance, Sue sources top talent that will naturally fit.

This week on Uplift, we meet one of our talented agents, Holly Vallee. In this episode, you will learn how Holly transitioned her career path and understand her why. From working in the public sector to now directly supporting the community.   Plus we are going to answer some important questions:   When is the best time to change my insurance provider? What types of insurance does Nova have to offer? How can I contact a Nova Agent?   Do you have a question, or something you’d like to learn more about from our #AgencyTeam? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for future #AskTheAgent episodes! Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you! Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual #ThinkAheadThinkNova #WhereUMatter #WorkingTogetherMatters