Horace Mann names Settles 2019 Employee of the Year

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (February 28, 2020) – Horace Mann named Kimberly Settles of Springfield its 2019 Employee of the Year. Horace Mann President and CEO Marita Zuraitis presented the award to Settles, who is a Senior Rate Filing Analyst, at the company’s annual employee meeting. The company, Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945 in Springfield, is celebrating 75 years in business this year.

Settles was selected as one of 12 Employees of the Month among Horace Mann’s workforce of more than 1,300 non-agent employees. She has been with the company for five years. Before Settles began working at Horace Mann, she was an administrative assistant for Jamar Scott, Hazel Dell Elementary Principal and the 2019 Horace Mann Administrator of the Year. Nearly 24 percent of Horace Mann employees and agents were educators or worked in the education system.

“I was a late comer to the insurance world, but I made it my business to start learning as much as I could,” said Settles. “I believe that who you choose to surround yourself with matters and I am choosing to surround myself with individuals who can strengthen my mindset, better develop my skillset and build me into a better person along the way.”

Settles personifies one of Horace Mann’s core values: approachable. “Kimberly is the embodiment of what Horace Mann represents,” said Julie Rachford, Actuarial Director for Property & Casualty. “She has a unique perspective, working alongside educators in her prior role to now working to protect and support those same educators in her current role here at Horace Mann. Her first-hand knowledge of the challenges educators face drives her to excel in any task she takes on. Improving our educator’s day-to-day is always her priority.”

“Kimberly is impeccably well-organized, a must in her role which involves managing scores of regulatory filings every year,” said Chris Skorcz, Senior Vice President. “In addition to handling adeptly the filing process, she diplomatically and cordially works directly with her counterparts in many departments of insurance to keep our filings progressing toward approval as timely as possible.”

Settles was selected for Horace Mann’s pinnacle award after being named the April 2019 Employee of the Month. As Employee of the Year, Settles will receive various awards and represent Horace Mann at community events throughout the year.