The Smith Sawyer Smith Agency

06/05/2026

Today we are highlighting Lisa Fred, one of our commercial lines customer service agents, who has been with us for 9 years! Read more about her below:

What have you enjoyed the most about your job?
-What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to help clients better understand their insurance policies and feel confident in their coverage decisions. I also appreciate the variety in my daily responsibilities—no two days are ever the same. This dynamic environment keeps the work engaging and allows me to continuously learn and grow within the industry.

What’s your go-to comfort food?
-Pizza and brownies.

What’s a hobby or activity you really enjoy outside of work?
-Outside of work, I truly enjoy spending time outdoors, especially tending to my asparagus patch. It’s something I’m especially proud of—I planted it over 10 years ago, and it continues to produce an impressive yield each season. There’s something incredibly rewarding about harvesting it myself and preserving some for the winter months. It’s a hobby that combines patience, dedication, and a love for the outdoors.

What does your ideal day off look like?
-My ideal day off is spent enjoying quality time with my girls—whether we’re out shopping together or simply relaxing at home. During harvest season, I especially love being in the kitchen canning and preserving fresh produce. From making homemade salsa and pizza sauce with tomatoes to preparing zucchini relish and other canned goods, it’s a rewarding way to see the shelves full at the end of the day.

What’s your favorite travel destination so far, and why?
-Orange Beach, Alabama has been the best trip my family has taken. Close second is Madison, Indiana to Clifty Falls State Park.

06/02/2026

Today we are highlighting Tisheena Ambrose, one of our commercial lines account managers, who has been with us for 1 year! Read more about her below:

What have you enjoyed the most about your job?
-I’ve really enjoyed the family-like atmosphere and how helpful and welcoming everyone has been since day one. It truly feels like being part of a team that supports each other, and I appreciate all the little extras that show how much employees are valued and cared for.

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn?
-Definitely summer!

What’s a hobby or activity you really enjoy outside of work?
-Coaching and playing softball.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
-Teleportation—I’d love to be able to go anywhere instantly, no travel time, just straight to where I want to be!

What’s a fun fact about you?
-My hidden talent is finding great deals—if I say “thanks, it was only $5,” I’m not kidding!

06/01/2026

Today we are highlighting Sheena Bitterling, one of our independent insurance advisors, who has been with us for 7 years! Read more about her below:

What have you enjoyed the most about your job?
-The part I enjoy most about my job is working with people from all over the country and getting to know them and their businesses.

What’s the best food you’ve tried while traveling?
-The best food I’ve tried while traveling is definitely pasta, pizza, and gelato in Italy.

What’s a fun fact about you?
-A fun fact about me is that my family and I are two-time winners of the Campsite Decorating Contest at Mississinewa’s Halloween weekend. We love Halloween and have built up quite a display over the years.

What does your ideal day off look like?
-My ideal day off would be spent camping at one of our state parks- hiking, kayaking, biking, and just enjoying being outside with my family.

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn?
-Definitely Autumn- the colors, the smells, the décor, the leaves, the temperature, the food, Halloween, boot/sweater weather, and just the general feel of the season make it the best!

05/31/2026

Today we are highlighting Megan Semonis, our agency operations manager, who has been with us for 14 years! Read more about her below:

What have you enjoyed the most about your job?
-I enjoy the variety of challenges that come across my desk. Each day is different, and I’m always learning something new. I love the satisfaction of linking together diverse skills, people, workloads, data, and industry solutions to keep our agency moving forward.

Do you enjoy cooking or baking?
-I enjoy both, but baking is my favorite. I love keeping “legacy recipes” alive from many bakers in my church and family, and I enjoy sharing the memories made with friends and loved ones around a full table!

Where did you grow up?
-Bourbon, Indiana is my hometown. It’s a community full of heart and history, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of it. Our agency recently opened a branch office in Bourbon (with a little convincing from several employees that call Bourbon home), and we are so happy to be extending our reach into the Marshall County area to serve the people and businesses that we know and love.

If you could make any one species go extinct, what would it be?
-I know God made everything with a purpose, but my mind has yet to understand the mosquito. Our family loves to be outdoors, fishing and camping, and I could certainly do without those pesky guys!

What’s your favorite travel destination so far, and why?
-Arbutus Lake, Michigan has been a family vacation spot for me always, and it is hands-down my favorite place on earth to visit. There is nothing like the peacefulness of being out on the water, fishing pole in hand, surrounded by sand dunes and coniferous forest, bald eagles, loons, otters, and so many other northern creatures (mosquitoes again excluded) to truly appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and the bounty of a good day’s catch.

05/18/2026

05/14/2026

🎉Today The Smith Sawyer Smith Agency was awarded by Cincinnati Insurance for being in the top 1% in the nation for business placed with Cincinnati’s Management Liability division!

05/01/2026

Some of our employees attended the Women in Insurance Conference yesterday and had a great time together! Pictured is Louise Hagedorn, Ashley Burrus, Hayley Hill, and Maritza Camarena.

03/25/2026

With severe weather season being here, we want to make sure your business is prepared! Take a look at the following tips:
-Before heavy rain comes address issues such as roof leaks, foundation weaknesses, and drainage problems.
-Maintain clear gutters, roof drains, and storm drains.
-Install flood barriers and use sandbags around entrances and critical infrastructure.
-Install lightning protection systems and regularly check them to help ensure they are in good condition and that there are no loose, damaged, or missing connections.
-Trim trees and branches to help minimize the risk of falling debris. Remove dead or weak branches that may pose a threat to buildings and structures.
-Provide employee training on tornado safety. Training should include how to recognize warning signs, understanding the difference between tornado watches and warnings, and emphasize the importance of taking immediate action when a tornado warning is issued.
-Conduct regular tornado drills to help familiarize employees with designated safe areas and emergency procedures.

We have included only a few tips, if you would like to learn more look up the article "Severe Convective Storms: A Preparedness Guide for Business Resilience" by Travelers Risk Control.

03/18/2026

Let's talk about storm chasers. We're not talking about the ones that chase storms — we're talking about the ones that chase your money. When damaging storms roll through and local contractors are booked up, storm-chasing contractors can show up. They may pressure you into hiring them, do a subpar job, and then disappear, never to be seen again. Make sure you research who you hire — the lowest bid isn't always the best option.