Team Member Spotlight: Barbie Younger-Krueger

Happy Holidays! As we wrap up 2020 and look forward to a prosperous 2021, we continue to celebrate the amazing individuals at the heart of who we are and what we do. Learn more about what makes us tick as you get to know our diverse team.

From HR consultants, IT personnel and administrative associates to account managers and sales leaders, our team members are dedicated to client success and community involvement.

This month meet Barbie Younger-Krueger. She has been a part of the McClone family for 19 years and works out of our Menasha headquarters. Barbie currently serves as the agency’s billing specialist, serving as a liaison between a number of client accounts and insurance carriers.

Let’s learn more about her.

What is your role on the team?

My role for the past year and a half has been as the agency’s billing specialist. We have a number of both personal and commercial accounts where we (McClone) bill the insured and then our agency pays the insurance carrier on their behalf. I transact all those invoices whether they are for new business, renewals, endorsements or cancellations.

Prior to that I assisted in the Personal Lines Executive Division with such responsibilities as quoting, processing endorsements, completing renewal summaries and setting appointments. I’ve had my insurance license for a number of years, and I find this line of work to be both interesting and exciting!

What are some of your favorite things about your job?

My favorite part of my job is working with my teammates. This last year I’ve gotten to work with many of our commercial account managers, producers and accounting people, and I love it!

Some of my work allows me to keep my hand in assisting day-to-day processing, so from time to time I still have the pleasure of speaking with clients. Communication is my forte, and I’m thankful for the responsibilities I’ve been given and the flexibility to work a part-time schedule.

Why do you choose to work for McClone?

I have high expectations as a consumer, and therefore, I have high standards about how I want to serve both our internal and external customers. McClone expects high standards, and I appreciate being a member of my likeminded work family!

On a more personal note, I’m thankful for the loyalty and kindness they’ve shown me throughout the years. In the 18 years prior to joining McClone, I had worked in human resources as a benefits administrator and generalist. I stepped out of the HR arena (I thought temporarily) to focus more on raising my three children. Life sometimes throws a curve ball though, and in 2003 my husband Bret Younger was killed in a car accident on his way to work. My faith, family and McClone were an integral part of walking with us through that time and I’ve felt a fierce loyalty to McClone ever since. This company is one that truly cares about its employees and treats us, as well as our clients, with integrity and care!

What are your ambitions?

I always thought I’d be a career woman, but I have no regrets. I’m exactly where I need to be and hope to work another five years at McClone before I retire. I have been blessed that the Lord brought a second wonderful man into my life and I re-married. My husband retired this summer and we look forward to doing some “wintering” in the years to come. Florida will likely be our destination.

What are some of your hobbies or interests?

I love spending time with my family. My three children are grown now and doing well, and I have two beautiful grown stepdaughters. My husband and I have a total of four grandchildren, plus one on the way and the potential for more. I am also grateful to spend time with my mom who moved back to the area a year ago and lives right across the street from me.

My husband and I are mentors in a Parents of Young Children class at Calvary Bible Church, and I also visit the Winnebago County Jail each week to provide a bible study for the ladies.

Additionally, I enjoy run/walking (it used to always be running), having lunch with friends and playing board games.

We live in a crazy world right now, but there’s a lot of good things happening, too. Each day I count my blessings because there are so many reasons to be thankful.