SelectQuote, Inc., a provider of price comparisons from insurance carriers, is adding hundreds of jobs to the 60,000 Kansans already employed in the corporate and professional services sector. That number will likely increase as the state adds more than 7,000 professional services graduates to its labor supply each year. SelectQuote, headquartered in Overland Park, announced in March 2020 that it is opening 1,000 new insurance sales and support associate positions, with a majority coming in the Kansas City Metro area. They will support SelectQuote’s Senior, Life and Auto & Home divisions by providing phone consultations for consumers to match their needs with the right product and carrier.
“During these uncertain times when many Kansas Citians may be faced with sudden loss of employment, we want them to know that SelectQuote is hiring and providing good jobs that offer competitive compensation, benefits and career growth,” said SelectQuote Head of Talent Acquisition and Management Anthony Fasl. “Our associates have a critical role to play in providing customers with fully informed, unbiased consultative services to alleviate the stress of shopping complex insurance plans. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds and are working with state authorities to ensure licensing of agents can continue given the COVID-19 closures.”
Also in Overland Park, the Lewer Agency has relocated its business, bringing 52 new jobs and $3.5 million of new capital investment to the Kansas City suburb. The Lewer Agency is a nationally licensed managing general insurance agency and third-party administrator that assists educational institutions and international student health insurance plans and small-business owners, independent marketers, and corporate executives with employee benefit solutions. Their largest customer is private colleges/universities and community colleges throughout the nation. In 2019, AmeriLife Holdings also relocated its business and expanded its operations in Overland Park. It provides insurance benefits and insurance consulting services.
Lenexa, Wichita Welcome Professional Services Investment
In February 2019, TrueAccord, the tech platform that transforms the antiquated debt recovery industry, announced next door Lenexa for its new shared services operation. The company is investing $1.34 million to expand to over 150 professionals over the next three years across sales, operations and technology functions. The Kansas City metro is home to a burgeoning FinTech industry.
“We chose the greater Kansas City area after a thorough nationwide search,” said Sheila Monroe, TrueAccord’s CEO. “We reviewed factors such as ease of travel, cost of doing business and the local culture. Ultimately, our decision came down to the ability to attract top talent to meet our growing business needs.” Headquartered in Silicon Valley, TrueAccord is a data-driven tech platform that uses machine learning, behavioral analytics and a humanistic approach is designed to improve debt recovery rates and reduce compliance risk, while giving customers the best user experience possible.
In Wichita, Advance Catastrophe Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is building a new $2.89 million, 20,000-square-foot corporate headquarters that will include a national training facility. Christian Wiley, ACT President and CEO, said the company started planning the expansion and new headquarters for some time before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The company provides emergency planning, recovery and reconstruction services to more than 6,000 customers nationwide and in Canada.
“For the past couple of years, ACT has been in a significant growth pattern,” he explained. “It became clear we needed to not only invest in top talent and equipment, but a national headquarters with state-of-the-art training facility to support our future growth.” Wiley said. “This is where it all began 19 years ago. We feel there’s something special about not only keeping and growing ACT in Wichita but showcasing this great city to our nationwide clients.
“We were especially pleased to find a location near the airport that could accommodate the travel of so many to our new facility,” Wiley said. “We like showing off Wichita and the vibe the city has going to clients and employees alike. Even though many of our employees live throughout the country, Wichita is ACT’s home.”
Mark Arend is editor emeritus of Site Selection, and previously served as editor in chief from 2001 to 2023. Prior to joining the editorial staff in 1997, he worked for 10 years in New York City at Wall Street Computer Review, ABA Banking Journal and Global Investment Technology. Mark graduated from the University of Hartford (Conn.) in 1985 and lives near Atlanta, Georgia.