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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, November 1, 2007 Page 5 Business Notes Insurance is her business, helping others is a major part of her life When Bunny Girt started the Cornelius office of State Farm Insurance in April of 1984, there were a lot of things miss- ing. Among the missing ele- ments were a desk, filing cabi- net, employees and clients. Technically, she didn’t even have a business. A little history will explain that situation. Girt has worked for State Farm for 39 years and was their office manager in Beaverton, when she was asked to open a new office in Cornelius. While she wanted to do something different, taking on the job of establishing an insurance office in a community where she was unknown would be a daunting task for most people. Before she could even hang a sign for the office, she had to have the names of at least 1,000 people who would let her give them a quote on an insurance policy. Bunny Girt’s laugh is as in- fectious as her smile. In rented space, with nothing but phones and folding tables, Girt, assisted by family and friends, started cold calling – by phone in the evening and door- to-door on weekends. About ten weeks later, she had 1,000 potential clients and the office was officially open. Continuing that same work ethic, Girt saw clients in the evening or on weekends, and not just in Cornelius. She drove to Banks or Buxton or Vernon- ia, wherever and whenever was convenient for her clients. Today, she has two full-time and two part-time employees. From 1984 until this year, she stayed in the same rented office, then moved across the street and down the block to 1229 N. Adair, into a nicely re- modeled, 2-story building that was once a residence. Having her own office building is the fulfillment of “a dream” for Girt. Now, in addition to bright, spa- cious offices, the second floor includes a large conference room that she opens for a Thursday morning Bible study group, or for other community gatherings. Outstanding work honored at 9-1-1 awards event Columbia 9-1-1 celebrated outstanding contributions of public safety partners and staff at their annual recognition cer- emony at the District facility on September 18, and on October 10, at a District staff meeting, for those staff members who could not attend the recognition reception due to illness. Operations Manager Lee Knowlton was recognized for 20 years of service to the 9-1-1 District, and Communications Specialists Deb Franklin and Nathan McCallum were pre- sented 5-year service certifi- cates. Outstanding communica- tions support during a multi- agency response to a knife fight at a bar, a K9 track that re- sulted in a suspect being taken into custody, a residential struc- ture fire in which all residents and the family dog were safely rescued and relocated to shel- ter provided by the Red Cross, a multi-agency response to a shooting, and a successful mul- ti-agency search and rescue of two children garnered 2006-7 Critical Incident Awards for Communications Specialists Trish Hilsinger, Deb Franklin, Nathan McCallum and Supervi- sors Terri Levie and Tracy Edinger. Two incidents in which the 9-1-1 call taker provided CPR instruction to revive a baby who had stopped breath- ing due to an obstructed airway earned two Lifesaver Awards for Communications Specialist Trish Hilsinger. Public Safety Partner awards were given in apprecia- tion for assistance provided in the selection of a new commu- nity outcall notification system to Mike Cave from Dyno-Nobel in Columbia City, Diane Dillard from Boise in St. Helens, Ver- nonia Police Chief Mathew Workman and Columbia River Fire and Rescue Chief Jay Tap- pan. Special recognition was given to Alicia Little of Dyno- Nobel who also maintains the contract for the system in part- nership with Columbia 9-1-1 and the Columbia Emergency Planning Association. Herb Schroeder and Scott Miller, service technicians with Qwest, were presented Public Safety Partner awards in ap- preciation for their expertise and good humor under pres- sure during technical conver- sions, upgrades and repairs to the emergency call reporting system. Columbia County Deputy Sheriff Scotty Davidson earned the Public Safety Partner award in appreciation for his supportive good nature and professional approach in spite of extreme pressure of many calls and callouts from home. Employees of the Year, se- lected by Columbia 9-1-1 staff and presented as a surprise at the end of the ceremony, were Communications Specialist Tr- ish Hilsinger, Operations Man- ager Lee Knowlton and Admin- istrator Sally Jones. Hilsinger was recognized for her ability as a new employee trainer, is quick to help others, is highly competent, shows a great deal of compassion with callers and makes a complex job look much easier than it is. Knowl- ton was recognized for setting a standard of integrity for all employees, for his sound ad- vice, patient coaching, meticu- lous record keeping and fair- ness. The event was followed by a chicken, ribs and salmon bar- becue prepared by Board Members Henry Heimuller, Dee Wooley and Wes McMahan. On the personal side, Girt grew up in Cedar Hills and at- tended Linfield College on a music scholarship. After gradu- ating from Linfield, she moved to Los Angeles where she lived with an aunt who was a vocalist and voice teacher. But Girt de- cided that the performing life was not for her. She went to work for a large insurance agency and found that insurance was a perfect field for someone who loved people and math. Along the way, she returned to Oregon, married, divorced and raised two daughters. She still enjoys music, es- pecially playing piano in retire- ment homes. She has also been an active volunteer in ef- forts to promote her adopted home of Cornelius. That ac- tivism was recognized when Girt was named Cornelius Chamber of Commerce volun- teer of the year in 1997 and cit- izen of the year in 1998. If you are looking for insur- ance - life, auto, health, fire, business, liability - and don’t like a high pressure approach, you’ll be comfortable with the people in Bunny Girt’s State Farm office. The phone number is 503-357-3131, or see their ad in The Independent .
