Mark Davis  is an Insurance Agent at Southern Farm Bureau Insurance Company (SFBIC) in Meadville, Mississippi, and a new NAIFA member.

Formerly a college administrator and professor of history classes at Mississippi College, he became aware of an available position at SFBIC through a friend. After a 5-6-month session of conversations and interviews, they offered him the position.

Since joining the company, Davis has already made an impression through his work ethic and drive for excellence. He participated in Life School 101 training, the first training session that Farm Bureau requires their agents to complete upon starting with the company. Following the course, they track the agents’ production for a set period, and whoever is the most productive receives the “Top Gun Award.” In a class with 26 other agents from several states, Davis earned this title and a yearlong NAIFA membership.

Davis says he was first attracted to the financial services industry because “you get out of it what you put into it. I like the idea that the harder I work, the luckier I get and the better the outcome for my family and me.” SFBIC stood out to him, particularly, because of the expectations that they set for their employees. “They are a client-focused organization that expects all their employees to get to know their clients. We are to sell based on the needs we uncover. I am selling a product that meets my clients’ needs, and that’s a rewarding feeling.” He also joined because “the culture is very community-based, and I wanted to be a part of my local community in a very real and tangible way.”

One of Davis’ most significant takeaways in his career is to “start with the end in mind. You should understand what you want to pull from this, both personally and professionally. If you know where you want to go, it helps you create a road map to be successful. Also, work hard and be ethical. If you build a reputation around being a hard-working and honest person, that’s going to pay off in the long run.”

When asked why he would recommend NAIFA to someone, Davis says, “Professional organizations by default are a great way to connect to other members of your industry. It is good to connect with others and learn how they go about their day. You can ask yourself, ‘Are there things they do that would make me more successful?’ It’s an excellent way to plug in and learn.”

Welcome to NAIFA, Mark!