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2018 Women to Watch: Jessica Getman

Posted On: Dec. 3, 2018 12:00 AM CST

Jessica Getman

Jessica Getman
President
Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance
Portland, Oregon
Age: 40

For Jessica Getman, the path to becoming president of Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance began when she was hired as a producer in Brown & Brown Inc.’s Denver office in 2006.

She found that she liked insurance. It’s a “pretty complicated subject matter,” Ms. Getman said. “I love being able to bring strategic solutions to the table to help companies.”

She became a leader of the Denver office and was asked in 2012 to run the Portland, Oregon, office, which included working with Brown & Brown’s Bend and Medford offices in Oregon and the Seattle office.

Ms. Getman oversees all elements of the Portland operations. “I have nine department leaders who I work very closely with,” she said. “I still have a book of business, so I still work with some clients and also work with other offices.” This involves helping with retention, bringing on new clients and thinking about creative solutions, whether from the insurance or risk management standpoints, she said.

One of her biggest challenges was dealing with Brown & Brown’s acquisition of Beecher Carlson Holdings Inc. in 2013. The acquisition more than doubled the size of the brokerage’s Portland office, as Beecher Carlson had a large retail footprint in the area.

She said that “the feeling that we currently have running through the Portland office is we’ve got a culture that drives us, helping clients and each other.” That culture pays off today, with revenue increasing 8.8% in 2017.

“I’ve been very impressed with her,” said Andrew Schpak, co-managing partner at Portland law firm Barran Liebman LLP and a client of Ms. Getman. He calls her a “great ambassador for Brown & Brown.” He said she cares a great deal about seeing her colleagues and friends succeed. “She stands out in her efforts to mentor and support others.”

“None of this could have been without the support of my family,” said Ms. Getman, which includes her husband Brian and children Presley and Nash.

NEXT: Susan Gildea
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