Danielle Howard describes the attributes to building a successful career in the insurance industry as possessing strong leadership abilities, having good people skills, being a good listener, having strong communication skills, being organized and having a strong support base.
At a time when hundreds of young people are graduating from college and making career decisions Howard, a 2000 Hampton University graduate and a State Farm Insurance Agent since February suggests graduates investigate insurance agent candidate possibilities. “It’s a lucrative and rewarding industry to be involved in,” she said.
The daughter of Grace Robinson, the first African American woman in Pennsylvania to own and operate a State Farm Agency, Howard admits that she was introduced to the business at a young age and had the advantage of gaining first-hand experience since high school.
“My mom started her business when I was four,” said Howard, now 37. Actually involved in the business end of the agency for 14 years, Howard said while in high school she worked as a customer service representative and once graduating from college she became the agency’s marketing coordinator. Under her guidance, the Grace Robinson Agency was recognized by the State Farm Insurance Company multiple times for their professional accomplishments and ability to reach sales goals. Robinson credits her daughter as expanding the market base of the firm and implementing administrative strategies to increase customer retention.
“Under Danielle’s guidance, my agency has reached the remarkable threshold of insuring over 2000 households,” said Robinson.
Now operating her own State Farm Insurance Agency at 1500 Ardmore Boulevard, Howard said her job is to protect her customers’ life style and standard of living. “It took me two years to obtain my licenses and three months of training to get where I am today.” She is licensed by the Pennsylvania Insurance Commission to write Auto, Life, Health, Property and Casualty Insurance and is certified to sell State Farm Bank Products.
Considered the largest provider of car insurance in the United States, State Farm founded in 1922 is a mutual company with more than 65,000 employees and more than 18,000 agents servicing 82 million policies and accounts throughout the U.S. Its mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.
Describing State Farm as all exclusive, Howard explained that the corporation is a family of insurance and financial services companies with many lines of business offering over 100 products. Based in Bloomington, Ill, State Farm offers auto insurance, business insurance, life insurance and annuity products, fire and casualty insurance protecting homeowners, boat owners and many commercial lines. It operates State Farm Lloyds an association of underwriters operating under the Lloyds Plan as provided in Texas law. It operates State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, State Farm Bank, F.S.B which focuses on consumer-oriented financial products, complementing State Farm’s insurance focus on personal lines. Also it offers the State Farm Investment Management Corporation and the State Farm VP Management Corporation.
With the philosophy of being a good neighbor, State Farm advertises that it is commitment to building safer, stronger, and better educated communities. It partners with organizations like the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity and offers Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants and the State Farm Companies Foundation provides support for key initiatives and scholarships as well as associate-directed programs including grants supporting volunteerism and matching gifts to two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Keeping in line with State Farm’s good neighbor thinking and through her passion and commitment to helping young people excel and believing it is essential to “give back” to the community, in 1992 Robinson founded and created a non-profit group called Tomorrow’s Future. Serving as the executive director, Howard describes it as a mentoring entrepreneurial and job-training program for teens 14 to 18. Its mission is to equip young people with the basic communications, employment and social skills needed to compete in today’s marketplace. Servicing Allegheny County, she estimates that more than 350 students have participated in the six week sessions.
With a strong belief in empowering women and minorities, Howard has involved herself with the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania, the YWCA Women’s Empowerment Benefit group, Fair Housing Partnership and Beginning with Books.
She has also received numerous awards and recognitions inclusive of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Make the Connection Award and the Outstanding Sales Presentation Award as well as the Young Achiever Award.
Howard is a graduate of Woodland Hills High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton in Entrepreneurship. Along with being a State Farm Agent she is a licensed real estate agent. While still maintaining her position as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Grace Robinson Insurance Agency, in 2003 she expand her professional capabilities and began a career in real estate with Northwood Realty. Her desire and focus to assist first time homebuyers was a motivating force behind her success at Northwood Realty. As a result she was the recipient of the Monthly Office Sales Leader Award and Office Listing Leader Award multiple times and in 2009 she joined the Northwood Reality Excellence Honor Circle for a Million Dollars in sales.
When advising young people like her Tomorrow’s Future participants, Howard recommends that they stay focused on their education and get involved in positive programs. Remembering when her mom founded the organization she said it was at a time when gang violence was prevalent. “The organization helped many of the participants stay clear of negative activity.”
To older young people she suggests that they expand their horizons by traveling. “When you experience other environments you see that possibilities are endless,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to travel with my mom a lot. It enabled me to see things differently and created a desire for me to want to succeed.”
Howard said that no matter what stage you are in your career or life that having a strong foundation and support base is important. “It does not matter if it’s a teacher, counselor, supervisor, minister or family member.”
