Episode Details

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives Podcast, Brad Boldt sits down with Andy Priesman, CEO and founder of Cover Desk, and Kelsey Tenallion, Sr. Director of Business Development of Cover Desk, to talk about how Cover Desk can benefit an independent agent. Andy shares the origin story of Cover Desk, from hiring his first virtual assistant (VA) at Greenway Insurance in 2016 to building a 1,700-person operation. He and Kelsey break down what Cover Desk does differently: in-office infrastructure, end-to-end foundational training, and a client success team that supports agencies well past onboarding. They also get practical about the top duties VAs handle, what makes agencies succeed or fail with virtual staff, and their other services that make Cover Desk more than just a VA provider.

Takeaways

• Cover Desk started as a solution to Andy's own staffing problem.
• VAs can outperform local hires when given the right training and support.
• You don't need perfect SOPs to start. Cover Desk will help you build them.
• Training matters. Agencies that don't invest time upfront won't succeed with any hire.
• Cover Desk is more than VAs — shared services, accounting, claims, and automation are all services they offer.
• Treat your VA like a team member, not a task machine.

Learn more about Cover Desk:
https://coverdesk.com/
https://www.facebook.com/coverdesk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/coverdesk/

To get in touch with today's guests, reach out below:

• Andy Priesman (click here)
• Kelsey Tenaillon (click here)
• Brad Kaplan (click here)
• Brad Boldt (click here)

More information about Kaplan Insurance Agency:
https://www.kaplaninsuranceagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KaplanInsuranceAgency
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaplan-insurance-agency-inc-/

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