2025
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH RECIPIENTS
December
Annette Miller
Annette has been on the Case Design Team more than 15 years, celebrating her anniversary in September. Annette has been a standout since the day she joined DBS. She consistently impresses everyone she works with—whether it’s advisors, teammates, or partners across the organization. People know they can count on her to give absolutely everything she’s got. Even Ameriprise, our largest account, can’t stop raving about her and regularly asks for her to join their meetings to help train and educate their advisors and life specialists.
A couple of years ago, Annette stepped into the Lead role for the Case Design Team, and she’s only grown stronger as a leader since. The team holds her in high regard—not just because she knows our carriers and products inside and out, but because she consistently handles an impressive amount of work without ever compromising on quality. And, Annette is the go‑to person for help navigating Linked Benefits or understanding the finer points of how these products work. She never hesitates to volunteer to help with interviewing and training for new CDAs, to work as a SME when necessary, and to provide feedback to our carriers and vendors when called upon. Annette always strives to be better and is currently working on completing her CLU and the LIBRA Sales Mastery Series.
We heard some fantastic praise for Annette this month, including this voicemail:
“I just want to say thank you and let you know that having you in our corner has been so instrumental. I feel so confident and so at ease knowing that you’re here with your expertise. I really value your feedback, your illustrations, the time and thought you put in, and all your time and effort. I really appreciate all the help. I hope you hear this voicemail and I hope it makes your day.
Annette has been instrumental in a recent large case that required a tremendous amount of work and attention, and she never once lost focus or failed to maintain her professionalism. She is a true asset to DBS.
This is Annette’s 7th Employee of the Month win, which truly illustrates how she continues to go above and beyond for our customers! She was also named the Employee of the Year in 2016.
Congratulations Annette!
November
Allie Munson
Allie joined DBS in April of 2018 as a Case Coordinator. She moved to the Licensing & Commissions team later that year, and has since proven to be a valuable member of the team.
Allie has always been extremely reliable and consistently gives our customers great service. Her positive attitude is a great asset to our customers.
Allie received a strong nomination this month, noting her ability to learn new skills while stepping in to help the Case Coordination team who’s experiencing some planned and unplanned absences. The nomination notes:
“Allie has shown incredible flexibility in helping DBS wherever it is needed most, and always keeps a very positive attitude toward any changes or cross-training that is asked of her. She demonstrates her commitment to helping our customers in whatever capacity is needed.”
On top of being open to learning more skills to assist the Case Coordination team, she often enters all comp that we receive, audits it to ensure that we and our advisors are paid correctly, generates and oversees the bonus payments we make to our various accounts, and answers most questions that come in through email and phone calls!
This is Allie’s first Employee of the Month win. Congratulations!
October
Amy Geary
Amy joined DBS in November of 2008. After spending ten years as a Case Manager, she left DBS to explore other opportunities but after about a year and a half returned ‘home’ in July of 2019. She now leads half of the Case Management team for DBS.
Amy has primary accountability for our JUMBO and Premium Finance cases. That role showcases her top-notch communication skills as she regularly walks advisors and insureds through very complex processes and requirements to place those cases.
Amy is a true professional and always willing to go the extra mile to help our advisors and customers. Amy naturally knows when to pick up the phone and engage with our customers and receives high praise from some of our biggest customers.
Her attention to detail really stands out, and an advisor recently shared the following:
“We were on a very short time frame and Amy went above and beyond to make sure we got the contract in force to save age for the client.”
And, we also heard this from an internal nomination:
“Amy overall is just amazing at her role and keeps everything on track and moving! She goes above and beyond all the time to try to find ways to get requirements waived and push doctor’s offices! She keeps everyone at the carriers, at DBS and the agents on track. I love working with her on a daily basis.”
This is Amy’s 3rd Employee of the Month win. Congratulations Amy!
September
Jason Zwick
Jason, known as “JZ,” joined DBS in May, 2022 as a Case Design Analyst and has proven to be a valuable member of the CDA team. He is known both internally and externally for his excellent customer service.
Jason was actually one of our advisors before joining DBS.
Jason is a strong contributor on the Ameriprise Unit, usually with one of the highest volumes of illustrations and phone calls each month. He is a dedicated employee who cares deeply about the company and the CDA team, and his positivity and pleasant attitude make him well-liked throughout the organization. Jason recently started pursuing his CLU designation and finished his first course, further demonstrating his dedication to his career and the industry.
Jason frequently receives nominations from advisors and co-workers alike and this month received a strong nomination from an Ameriprise advisor who noted his tenacity and overall professionalism. Here is what he had to say:
“Jason was constantly by our side over the last seven months as we worked through a recent case. His persistence and professionalism over such a long-time frame are what makes him stand out. We were constantly changing the parameters because of our client’s concerns, so we needed breakdowns and a synthesis of what changes were made and why it was important. After seven months, our client finally agreed to move forward because the case was presented in a way that he understood it was what was best for him. Jason was integral to that success”
Jason was named the Employee of the Month once before, in July of last year.
Congratulations Jason!
August
Katie Swanson
Katie joined DBS in October of 2019 as a FASTerm Case Manager and is currently a member of the Central Case Management Team. Katie continues to shine and has shown time and again that she provides the best experience for her advisors. She has a great rapport with her advisors, which shows in the feedback we receive.
Katie is a strong and consistent presence in the Case Management team. She often goes above and beyond for her advisors and has the perfect balance of professionalism with a touch of cheeky humor.
We received the following great feedback last month:
“Katie has gone above and beyond in assisting me with corporate-owned term life cases. Her expertise in working with the carrier has been invaluable and has definitely helped lessen any frustrations I might have experienced with some of the cases. She is always quick to respond when I need help with something, and I very rarely have to leave her a voicemail because she almost always answers my calls. I am extremely happy working with Katie.”
We also heard about Katie’s great communication and follow up with an advisor stating:
“Katie Swanson does a wonderful job communicating during the entire application process.”
This is Katie’s third EOM win, previously receiving the honor in both November of 2024 and November of 2023! We are so grateful to have her on our team!
Congratulations, Katie!
July
Pete Schulte
Pete Schulte recently celebrated his 16-year anniversary with DBS on August 3rd. As a Senior Case Design Analyst on the Enterprise Unit, Pete has been an invaluable support to 2 RSDs. More recently, he has stepped up as an interim CDA for another regional sales director, all while managing the Northwest region that is currently without a dedicated RSD.
For those who don’t know, Pete grew up around life insurance, working for his dad as a teenager at his Mass Mutual agency in Minneapolis. This experience allowed him to learn and master nearly every role, from case design to policy service. Pete’s positivity and helpful attitude make him a cornerstone of the Case Design Team, and thanks to his background on the Sales Desk at Allianz Life, he’s a natural on the phone—always ready to jump in and walk advisors or clients through product details.
Pete is the go-to person for “just-in-time” training, and new Case Designers really appreciate having him as a mentor and trainer. His co-workers know that they can rely on him for anything, and as one of the late-shift CDAs, Pete often fields calls from across the country after his counterparts have left for the day. His kindness and positive nature make him a beloved team member.
We recently heard this from advisor Brad Rothhammer after placing a large jumbo case:
In my 47 years of working in financial planning I haven’t worked on a more difficult case that lasted over a year, with constantly changing facts, circumstances, and objectives that made it feel like we could lose the client at any moment. This eventually successful effort required careful perseverance over a long period of time by Pete Schulte and many others to finally close this for the benefit of our client. Pete provided illustration after illustration, sometimes well into the evening, to quickly match our products with the clients’ changing objectives. Pete produced a huge number of different illustrations from as many as five different carriers! What’s especially different in this case is that Pete was asked to participate in many on-screen Teams meetings with the client and his in-house advisors to compare illustrations and explain the differences of each.
This is Pete’s 3rd EOM win, also receiving the distinction in August of last year and August of 2020.
Congratulations Pete!!
June
Brian Fair
Brian has been a dedicated member of the DBS team since November 2007. As a Senior Case Design Analyst for the Enterprise Unit in the Eastern Region, he has also taken on responsibilities for part of the Central Region. Brian’s exceptional support extends to three Regional Sales Directors, and he has successfully managed the Northeastern Region without an RSD. Additionally, he handles the RBC account, including running premium finance cases for our Regional POS Director.
Brian’s attention to detail and passion for educating others allow him to excel in the Case Design role. He frequently steps up to educate other departments on products and sales ideas and often joins his CDA teammates to share his expertise on index UL and premium finance with advisors. His creativity and innovative thinking make him the perfect candidate for testing new design tools for Ensight and Insmark, where he provides valuable feedback to these vendors.
An advisor had this to say about Brian:
Not only is Brian consistently proactive and spot-on with timing, but he understands client needs related to product training and education. He is flexible and very friendly too! He offered additional information and his personal philosophy and guidance as well as running competitive quotes without being asked.
Also, we heard this from one of his coworkers:
I want to take a moment to recognize Brian Fair for his unwavering support, professionalism, and dedication. Despite navigating the personal challenges surrounding his father’s illness, Brian continues to show up for his colleagues with generosity and grace. Recently, he took the time to do a deep dive with me and an advisor on index products and the available carriers. His insights were not only incredibly helpful but also delivered with patience and clarity. Brian’s depth of knowledge, willingness to educate, and consistent readiness to assist—no matter the circumstances—make him an invaluable resource to our team. Thank you, Brian, for your resilience, kindness, and commitment to excellence. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are deeply appreciated.
This is Brian’s fifth Employee of the Month win! Previous wins include June 2014, January 2017, and May 2019, and June 2020.
Congratulations Brian!
May
Abby McPeek
Abby joined DBS in September of 2024 and currently serves as a Case Coordinator in the Central team.
Abby has made a significant impact on the Case Coordination team since her arrival. She has taken full ownership of the AppVantage program, developed detailed operational guides to enhance team efficiency, and led three critical training sessions during the transition of term issue responsibilities for the Case Management team.
Her proactive approach to professional development is evident in her consistent pursuit of knowledge and her ability to ask thoughtful, high-impact questions. Abby’s initiative, precision, and professionalism—combined with her ability to foster a positive team dynamic—makes her a key contributor. Her work not only strengthens our current operations but also supports long-term organizational goals.
Abby is the constant professional and always willing to go the extra mile to help our advisors and customers. Abby recently took a call on an iGO submission, and the CLIENT had the following feedback:
“You are one of the most professional women I’ve spoken to. You have that little lilt in your voice that you are kind and professional, and I can tell that you know what’s going on. That makes me as a customer feel peaceful.”
To add to this, an advisor who frequently works with DBS said:
“Please let everyone know, all the way to Senior management, that Abby is wonderful and knows her stuff well!”
We also heard this recently from an internal nomination:
“Abby consistently goes above and beyond in her role, not only by processing a high volume of work each day and assisting the team with agent inquiries, but also by proactively creating resources that support our team’s efficiency and collaboration. For example, she developed an EP report guide, and prior to leaving on her honeymoon she created a detailed out-of-office chart that categorized cases by status, NIGO cases, APP Vantage cases, and other in-progress matters to help us keep track of her workload while she was out. Most recently she took the initiative to create an E-issue guide to assist Case Managers on a forthcoming protocol. Abby continues to be an invaluable asset and a go to resource for our team. Her initiative, organizational skills, analytical thinking, years of experience, and her overall dedication to excellence makes her a pleasure to work with.”
This is Abby’s first Employee of the Month win. Congratulations!
April
Terri Getman
Terri, DBS Vice President of Advanced Markets is extremely well deserving of this honor, playing a key role in helping advisors navigate complex solutions for their clients. She tirelessly works through questions, tax and legal scenarios, and helps facilitate additional issues during the application process.
Terri’s contribution to the team is extremely valuable. She is a nationally recognized expert in life insurance planning, estate planning, and executive benefits with four decades of experience advising financial professionals and business owners on the strategic use of life insurance in estate and business planning.
Her background is impressive, with an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her JD from Drake University School of Law. Terri has served on numerous boards and committees over the years, and in fact was instrumental in establishing the Financial Connextion Program, designed to bring college students into the financial profession. Now in its 11th year, the program has grown into an important initiative as part of the FINSECA platform, fostering the next generation of financial professionals.
Terri’s excellence in leadership and problem-solving earned her an impressive nomination last month from an advisor who highlighted how Terri welcomed him from day one, mentored him, and worked closely with his clients’ attorneys and CPAs to resolve complex tax challenges. The nomination spoke about Terri’s value, noting,
“It is very hard to find a gem within an enterprise who works above and beyond her call of duty to help. She is a rare find in the organization.”
The advisor further explained the expertise displayed during a complex case situation. After securing application approval, the client’s attorney halted the process due to trust restrictions. Rather than allowing the sale to fail, Terri meticulously examined the trust documents and found a solution – recommending a trustee change and utilizing a trust protector to modify the beneficiary definition. Her intervention saved the deal, ensured the proceeds remained outside the insured’s estate, and eliminated unnecessary tax exposure. This large case would not have moved forward without her knowledge and quick thinking.
Terri received an additional nomination last month from another advisor who noted,
“It is a pleasure working with such a professional.”
This is Terri’s 3rd Employee of the Month award. She previously earned the distinction in July 2018, and December 2021.
Congratulations Terri!
March
Mary Moore
Mary has been part of DBS since January 2009, recently celebrating her 16-year anniversary with the company. She currently serves as a senior case manager on the East Coast team.
Originally a member of the “Term Team,” Mary quickly rose to the position of Team Lead. She later transitioned to (what was referred to back then) as the “Trad Team,” where she began managing permanent cases.
Among her many responsibilities, Mary is one of the dedicated team members handling the RBC Insurance Link process. Additionally, she excels at training new case managers on processing permanent business.
A recent trainee of Mary’s had this to say:
“Mary was incredibly thorough, very patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. She is very good at explaining the process and explaining it so a newbie can understand the reasoning for the process. She is an incredible trainer!”
An advisor remarked recently:
“Every conversation I have with Mrs. Moore is exceptional. She is always very helpful, knowledgeable and easy to work with too. She focuses on solving problems and keeping customers first.”
Mary’s supervisor added this:
When doing case and call audits, listening to Mary’s phone calls with her advisors is always so fantastic. She answers every call with enthusiasm, provides clear answers and you can tell her advisors truly love working with her. She ends every single call with “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
This is Mary’s 4th Employee of the Month win, also being named in September 2020, October 2017, and September 2015.
We are so thankful to have Mary on the DBS team. Congratulations!!!
February
Kristin Dolan
Kristin has had quite a year already! She roared into 2025 spending New Year’s Eve in New Orleans with Prudential at the Sugar Bowl, attending yet another DBS Carrier Partner event focused on new opportunities and cases already in play for 2025. Thankfully, she was in for the night well before the tragedy on Bourbon Street.
Just a month later, nominations for Kristin boomed with her participation with advisors at Osaic’s W Forum, preceded by a Women’s Elite Advisor Study Group in Palm Springs alongside DBS and carrier representatives.
Kristin’s commitment, professionalism and ability to communicate the DBS value proposition effectively was praised with the following nomination:
“Kristin was incredible throughout every single event. She was completely engaged with the attendees and focused on getting to know as many of the advisors as possible.”
Kristin is not only cultivating case opportunities from advisor attendees in her region but is also aligned with several new women advisor recruits outside of her region which reinforces DBS’s commitment to the women’s market.
Kristin has become a motivational force of positivity and results for the sales team and across all of DBS. In fact, she’s been described as a “true cheerleader for DBS.” She is already on pace with her ambitious sales goals, and she works with her dedicated Senior Case Design Analyst to provide excellent service to her region.
A two-time Spirit Award winner in 2022 and 2024, Kristin demonstrates a high level of collaboration and partnership with all teams across DBS from case management to underwriting.
During a recent advisor event, Kristin stood out with the numerous in-person testimonials from advisors praising her passion, persistence, and dedication to solving their clients’ insurance needs. Her persona, skill set and decades of experience make her the best choice for serving their Life, LTC and now annuity needs.
Congratulations, Kristin!
January
Zach Goodermont
Zach began his journey at DBS as a Marketing Media Specialist in August 2019 and has consistently proven himself to be an invaluable member of the team. His dedication, creativity, and hard work continue to shine through in every project he tackles, enhancing DBS’s reputation and success.
Zach is an expert in video editing, and he contributes to a variety of projects, including those for the sales team, internal and advisor training, and broader marketing initiatives. His work extends beyond the office, earning him praise from external partners.
With a strong command of graphic design, social media strategy, email campaigns, and account engagement, he’s well-versed in multiple platforms and tools. He’s driven to continually elevate his work, so he actively seeks out new techniques and isn’t afraid to experiment with fresh ideas to improve projects. He also shares his knowledge and expertise by training others.
Zach’s ability to manage a diverse array of marketing requests on a daily basis—along with a high volume of incoming tickets—is nothing short of impressive. His organizational skills and efficiency are key in keeping the team running smoothly.
Here’s something we heard about his exceptional work last month:
“Zach did an amazing job during the annual Sales Meeting and Awards Show dinner. The level to which he delivered was amazing and we heard from multiple partners that the professionalism and program flow was outstanding and created an unforgettable experience for attendees. Zach was there for virtually every aspect of all events and ensured that everything went smoothly. Without his work, neither the meeting nor the awards show would have been the same.”
He also played an important role in the virtual holiday gathering.
Friendly, diligent, and consistent, Zach embodies all the qualities you’d hope for in an employee. More importantly, his passion for DBS and its marketing initiatives is evident in everything he does and helps to elevate DBS and its reputation.
Congratulations, Zach!
