2018 Break Out Awards, South: Glenn Godfrey
Posted On: Jun. 4, 2018 12:00 AM CST
GLENN GODFREY
Associate director
Wortham Insurance & Risk Management
Houston
Age: 35
Glenn Godfrey can thank his lucky Halloween socks for helping him get into the insurance industry. He was in private practice working on tax law after graduating from American University’s Washington School of Law and helping clients such as Wortham Insurance & Risk Management navigate mergers. He was wearing the socks when he was invited to an unexpected job interview, which his Wortham colleagues have never let him forget.
Best-kept secret about insurance
From my perspective, it’s the industry itself. It’s a hidden gem.
Advice to someone starting in the business
Be open — don’t be narrow-minded about what you think you want to do in the industry. There are a lot of different roles. You have to be honest with yourself about what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are. Certainly, try to find a role that plays to your strengths, but at the same time be flexible and don’t get trapped in your preconceived notions about what a particular role is going to be like.
Hobbies and interests
I’m kind of a nerd in that I like what I do, so a lot of my time, outside of family, I spend on insurance stuff. I’m part of the Texas Surplus Lines Association (Inc.’s) legislative committee and the American Bar Association’s (insurance regulation) committee. I am a terrible golfer, and I’m very proud of it. I spend a fair amount of time remaining terrible at golf.
Dream vacation
I was born in Belize and grew up on the beach. For me, it’s just kind of going home. For my wife, that’s an awesome vacation. I spent part of my childhood in Montana and I have not been back since I left, so a dream vacation for me would be to go back to Whitefish, Montana, spend a week skiing and catching up with old friends. Of course, there would be no cellphone service, so they can’t track you down.
Something people don’t know about you
I wear Halloween socks all the time.