You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Or in this case an old Colley new tricks. Debbie Rogers won’t be very happy that I seem to be referring to her as being old and if you know Debbie you also know that in her case age is truly just a number. I wish I could insert the video we have of her sitting at her desk singing, very badly, at the top of her lungs and you would understand what I mean. Many of you will know that Debbie recently celebrated her 25th anniversary at Colley Insurance. It’s hard to believe but she is part of a growing group. Anniversaries are very important but #25 is a big deal and we like to do something extra special for those who reach this milestone.

I hadn’t come up with what we were going to do for Debbie’s anniversary yet when she approached me with something that she had clearly given a lot of thought to. She came into my office, closed the door and set herself firmly in the chair across from me. I started to get nervous. Debbie looked anxious and I was worried about where this was going. The last time she looked this seriously at me was when she was negotiating for the right to wear open toed shoes in the office. I fought hard and managed to get a heal strap requirement in the agreement but in the end toes won the right to freedom at Colley Insurance. When she collected her thoughts she advised me that she had the perfect way to celebrate her anniversary. At first I felt a wave of relief come over me, she’s not leaving. Then I started to think, how much is this going to cost me? After a few more seconds of fidgeting she advised me that she would like to get her license as a Registered Insurance Broker!

Debbie started with us as a data input Clerk and because of her knack for computers, ability to remember lengthy lines of code and then her love for teaching her the best way to use our brokerage management system she was promoted to her official role as Master of the Digital Universe. We had approached Debbie a few times over the last 25 years to get her license but the time was never just right for her.

There was a bit of a catch to Debbie’s request. She felt that in order to be successful on her broker exam she would need to go to Toronto for a two week course which also meant she would have to stay in a hotel during that time. After a quick discussion with my brother we agreed to what we feel is one of the most fantastic things we have ever been asked for.

This would not be easy for Debbie. She hadn’t written an exam in over 30 years and didn’t remember being very fond of them even then but she was determined to give this her all. Debbie recently returned from her course pumped up more than I have ever seen her and that’s saying a lot. She had worked hard, studied hard and was confident that she had passed. As time went by and we hadn’t received the results for her exam we all became a little nervous. Everyone but Debbie that is. She was sure they just needed a little more time to engrave her name on the trophy. A few days later the results came in and Debbie had passed with flying colours. At the ripe old age of whatever age Debbie says she is, she is starting on the next leg of her journey working in the insurance industry.

I recently wrote about the two young people who joined Colley Insurance and the exciting things they have to look forward to in the insurance industry. Debbie may not have had her license for the last 25 years but she has had a front row view of what it’s like to work for Colley Insurance as an insurance broker. She has seen the exciting, the mundane, the challenging, and the satisfying parts of the business. We are thrilled that even after knowing everything she’s getting into she has the confidence to embark on a fantastic new journey.