Something special happened last night that all the members of the Ramsburg TEAM were proud and humbled to be a part of….Chris and Tim Ramsburg were honored with the Community Impact Award at the Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Leadership Awards dinner.
Sometimes when you are recognized for doing good things, it can feel unsettling – even though you appreciate it. That was evident when Chris Ramsburg accepted the award on behalf of his brother and the agency and commented that he feels much more comfortable in the role of recognizing someone else rather than being the one recognized.
Yet when service has become part of an organization’s DNA and culture, receiving a Community Impact Award almost seems inevitable - especially when you consider some of the role models our agency owners point to.
“Two of my mentors who taught me the importance of giving back was Howard Miller Sr., founder of the Hartville Hardware and Kitchen and my friend Jr. Sommers. They believe in the principal found in Matthew 5:16 that says God often uses ordinary people for his extraordinary work. It is His light shining through our lives that glorifies God and draws others to Him. That example continues in all the Miller family businesses and has been a great example for us to emulate the idea of "Doing Well… By Doing Good.”
In presenting the award, past President of the Lake Chamber, Chip Weisel used two words that made the decision an easy one for the board to select the Ramsburg Insurance Agency as this year’s recipient: Consistency and Intentional. “We know that they are really good at what they do for their clients and in a way, this is what you expect. But then you see how long they have been involved doing so many good things for so many organizations in the community and how willing they are to look for opportunities to give, that has inspired me personally and many others as well. “
Pointing to their volunteer work with Junior Achievement at Lake High School, the United Way’s “Day of Caring” and the financial support of many organizations such as GentleBrook, Lake Township FISH, Lake Center Christian School as well as many churches, para-church groups and community causes, Weisel said it was an award that was well deserved.
Another inspirational leader Chris Ramsburg pointed to was Benjamin Franklin. “It’s not just because he started the first fire insurance company in 1752 , although that’s pretty noteworthy, but Franklin believed that the good life was achievable in direct proportion to one’s contribution to society. He demonstrated that you could be a successful entrepreneur and still have compassion and care for the world around you and that individual endeavor can change the course of history for the better.”
In other words, these types of beliefs and actions have IMPACT. That’s why it wasn’t too surprising to me and all of my teammates who watched our agency owners accept this award. Years ago we closed the office and met offsite to develop a concept called the Ramsburg 360 Experience. It revolved around the importance of consistently providing a strong Client Experience, Teammate Experience and Community Experience. Like a 3 legged stool, each leg is crucial to providing balance, support and strength. We developed committees that have met monthly since then to suggest on how we can improve.
As a member of the Ramsburg Team for the past 30 years, I speak for all us who are proud to work with two owners who are not only leaders but friends that believe and demonstrate the IMPACT of “Doing Well...By Doing Good” in all three areas - every day.
Will Adamczyk is a Certified Financial Planner with Ramsburg Insurance and Financial Services. He focuses on benefit and retirement income planning for the baby boomer generation.