Hub International’s branch manager receives award

By Joan Janzen

If you walk into Hub International in Kindersley, you will likely be the recipient of a friendly greeting from Doug Odnokon, the branch manager. Doug has been in the insurance business for three decades, and he recently received an award for his years of service.

Doug took part in the 2020 virtual convention of the Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan (IBAS), when he was given a 30 Year Service Award for dedicating three decades of service to the insurance brokerage industry. Fifteen people received their 30 Year Service Award.

“The award came as a surprise,” Doug said. “I had spent 25 years on the claim side. Now, in my 30th year, and my first year as a broker I got this award. I thought the email notification I received was spam, but I was assured it wasn’t.”

Doug and his wife moved to Kindersley from Swift Current in January of 2020. Before that they had been living in northern Saskatchewan, where Doug worked as an independent insurance adjuster.

“We wanted to get closer to my wife’s family in Swift Current so we started looking for an opportunity. As an adjuster I did a lot of work with Hub International so when I saw this, I knew it was a good company.” Doug appreciated that even though Hub International was a big company, they still liked to be involved in the community. “That was important to me,” Doug explained.

Doug was familiar with Kindersley and some of the people who live here, from his years of adjusting claims. “I’ve been to all four corners of this province, and got to see places most people won’t get to see,” Doug explained. “I was in Uranium City, and when you fly out there on a clear day you can see the Athabaskan Sand Dunes. They make the Sandhills by Sceptre look small.”

Doug was familiar with the insurance industry since his childhood. “My dad was the manager of a claims centre for SGI for 35 years. He used to fly into places where there was no road access and I got dragged along,” he explained. “It’s an enjoyable industry because no two clients’ needs are the same. As an adjuster I didn’t enjoy it when people didn’t have the coverage they should have had. As a broker I am able to provide people with the service and knowledge they expect. Unlike 30 years ago, there’s way more than four or five companies that are writing insurance in the province, which gives people a lot more options.”

More than anything, Doug says he loves being able to help people, and that appears obvious. Because when you walk in his office, Doug is smiling, happy and courteous, even after 30 years of serving customers.

Photo by Joan Janzen