Local American National expands with new agents

by Art Pulis, Business Advocate

American National staff is (left to right) Bruce Barteau, Carla Wicks, Carl Linscott, Cheryl Fite, Marty Byrne, and Melissa Brinkman

Wickenburg’s American National Insurance agent Carl Linscott recently announced a major expansion in his office with two new agents. Linscott’s sister Carla Wicks merged her existing Scottsdale office into Wickenburg and newly licensed agent Marty Byrne joined the staff.

American National agency manager Bruce Barteau joined Linscott in welcoming the new agents to the office.

“We are excited about the growth in this office,” said Barteau. “Carl and his team have done a wonderful job serving their growing list of clients, and are destined to serve even better with this expansion.”

Linscott said that the expansion was a direct result of the growth of the office and the need to expand to serve the customer better.

“By combining with Carla’s office we have the advantage of additional resources translating into more efficiency and better service for the customer,” said Linscott. “Melissa Brinkman will be working with us now full time and getting her license, creating an environment with more skilled office staff and agents alike. The key to our service is having the best and most knowledgeable people, both on the phones and in the field, serving the clients.”

Wicks grew up in New Mexico and spent 22 years in the Air Force until her retirement. She then entered financial services and has operated her own American National agency since 2003. While she has extensive experience in life and long-term care, she is a multi-line agent.

“I love insurance because I love taking care of my clients,” said Wicks. “I love taking a personal interest in people and then protecting what they value most all the way from their life to their toys.”

“Recently I had an experience that made me realize why I love this business,” continued Wicks. “While conferring with clients who wanted to switch to me, I made a strong case for insuring their home to the correct value. They were reluctant and wanted a lower number, but trusted my judgment. Eight months later their home burned to the ground and they lost everything. Soon after the client called thanking me in tears telling me that the adjuster said she should kiss her agent because the policy was written correctly and she would recover everything with no loss. That’s the reason I love my work.”

Byrne joined the staff as a licensed agent to work primarily in the ranching and agribusiness areas. Byrne has extensive experience in ranch management having worked in the industry for the past 20 years in Arizona. He knows most of the ranchers throughout Arizona and keeps in contact with them through ranching organizations and through his favorite hobbies of roping and rodeo.

“Ranching in Arizona is totally unique and specialized, and I believe that serving this industry requires specialized knowledge,” said Linscott. “Marty has done it and experienced it. He understands the needs of the rancher and will be a great asset in serving that market. Arizona ranchers grow up with a traditional value system of hard work and integrity and we are excited about having that for our clients.”

“I’m excited about being on the American National team,” said Byrne. “We have a great bunch of people in this office and they serve the clients well. I’ll be happy to represent them with the ranching industry that I love.

American National Insurance Co. is a multi-line financial services company serving personal, commercial, and ranching clients. The office is located at 579 West Wickenburg Way and can be reached at 684-5115.

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