Van C. Kitt
Sidney
Summary
I am a driven and successful businessman and entrepreneur with a solid track record of starting, growing and expanding businesses. I have successfully started companies from scratch via raising private capital and forging into new markets as well as taking over new or struggling businesses and reviving them. I find opportunities and build teams and processes to capitalize on them. This ability has allowed me to increase sales when others could not. I surround myself with talent by building teams of competitive, competent and reliable people who feed off my leadership and find ways to get the job done. I am always looking for the next challenge to combine my talents and skills with a reputable and rewarding organization and produce results. Simply put, I am a leader, a driver and I produce results.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Insurance Agent
American Family Insurance
Sidney
01.2015 - Current
- In December of 2014 I became the owning agent of the American Family Insurance agency in Sidney, NE
- This was the smallest agency in the district and one of the least productive in the state of Nebraska
- I retooled and re-staffed the office which now includes 2 full-time employees
- We accomplished 39% year-one revenue growth and have averaged double digit growth for 9 years
- We have continuously been one of the top producing agencies in the district, the state, and also entire company nationwide
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Nebraska Rookie Agency of the Month – March 2015, April 2015
- Nebraska Agency of the Month – April 2015 & Sept
- 2023
- Top 10 Agency in the Country – #8 in April 2015, #10 in September 2023
- Peak Harvest Award for being Nebraska’s #1 Farm/Ranch Line Leader of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023
- All-American Life Insurance Award – 2015, 2018, 2022
- AFLIC Award – 2015, 2018, 2022
- District Agency of the Month – May 2015, Jan
- 2016, Feb
- 2016, Sept
- 2023
- District #1 Commercial Agency of 2015, 2016, 2023
- #1 Commercial Agency in the state of Nebraska – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023
- #2 Commercial Agency in the state of Nebraska – 2018, 2021
- Top 15 Commercial Agency in the entire company/country 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023
- Top 25 Retention in entire company/country - 2023
Insurance Agent
Farm Bureau Financial Services
Ogallala
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: Leading provider of home, auto, life, health, commercial, crop and farm insurance
- Managed an insurance agency in Ogallala Nebraska as a producer agent
- I took over a stagnate, 26 year old agency in Ogallala, NE in Feb
- Of 2010, turned it around to double the book of business within 30 months
- From my central office in Ogallala, my team serviced customers throughout Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Doubled Property & Casualty Premium
- Added $1M in crop insurance sales
- Top P&C sales agent in both 2010 and 2011
- Manage $2.5M book of annual renewal business
- Fastest growing Farm Bureau agency in the state of Nebraska 2010-2014
- Maintained 90% customer retention
- Effectively researched, lobbied for and implemented a company-wide rate change for commercial, farm/ranch policies
- Leading provider of home, auto, life, health, commercial, crop and farm insurance
Vice-President of Sales and Marketing
Marshall Engines, Inc.
Kearney
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: (Privately held $25M manufacturing company) A leading producer of remanufactured engines for commercial fleet, marine, high-performance and automotive after-market industries
- Managed a team of outside sales reps based on market verticals and inside sale/customer service reps that sold remanufactured engines to the automotive aftermarket via mass merchandisers such as AutoZone, NAPA and Advance Auto
- I also directly sold the marine engine vertical and all international sales
- Designed and edited all advertising and organized all trade show appearances
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Restructured national sales team by market vertical and reduced selling expense by $350K in first year
- Increased sales by $5M during first two FY’s
- Increased marine product sales by 30% in FY07/08; an increase of over $600K
- Increased mass merchandiser sales by 676% in FY07/08; an increase of $1.2M
- Increased international sales by $1.0M in FY07/08
- Worked with inside sales and customer service team to increase sales efficiency and improve customer experience
- Produced the two most profitable and highest grossing fiscal years in company’s 27-year history
- (Privately held $25M manufacturing company) A leading producer of remanufactured engines for commercial fleet, marine, high-performance and automotive after-market industries
Co-Founder, EVP of Sales and Marketing
Game Plan Technologies
Lincoln
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Company Overview: (Private technology, Start-up Company now known as Hudl) Privately held Technology Company providing technology solutions to athletic programs from high schools to the NFL
- Co-Founded the company and effectively created, ran and managed all facets of sales and marketing
- Raised $1M in private capital to start this software company
- Within 2 years we had annual sales of $3M and were working with the nation’s top collegiate and professional sports programs
- Hudl, a subsidiary of this company recently received a $75M cash infusion following its most recent market valuation
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Developed, positioned and introduced the Game Plan suite of sports technology products into the market and successfully grew annual revenues to $3M
- Recruited, trained and managed a national sales team of eight representatives as well as an inside sales/service team of six to work in conjunction for best market penetration
- Orchestrated and produced the company’s first web-based sales and training presentations to significantly reduce selling expenses
- Created an on-line advertising and interactive product demonstration program
- Developed company branding, marketing, web-site and all sales material
- Recruited, trained and managed both inside and outside sales teams
- Developed team-selling strategy between inside and outside sales teams
- Negotiated all contracts with clients’ counsel
- Simply put; I raised capital, found business, grew the company, built the sales team and closed the deals
- (Private technology, Start-up Company now known as Hudl) Privately held Technology Company providing technology solutions to athletic programs from high schools to the NFL
Account Executive, Talent Acquisition and Assessment Division
Kenexa Corporation
Lincoln
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Company Overview: (Formerly NASDAQ:KNXA, acquired by IBM in 2012) Human resource management company with over $150M in annual sales providing talent assessment, acquisition and retention solutions
- This was ‘Sales 101’ where I prospected, cold-called, set appointments and presented product/services to decision makers
- Equally as valuable were the mentors I learned from and continue to learn from to this day
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Identifying and developing sales leads through market research and cold calling
- Began as a cold-calling sales rep making 25 calls/day and setting up appointments
- I was the highest producing inside sales rep during first year and was promoted to an outside sales role in second year
- Built relationships with HR Directors and Executives from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies to identify and sell the best practices, products and services from our HCM portfolio – Talent Assessment, Acquisition and Retention Solutions
- At the time of my departure I was managing the inside sales team where I began my career
- Sold over $4.5M in company products and services during tenure
- Accounted for 17% of the Assessment Division’s annual revenue
- (Formerly NASDAQ:KNXA, acquired by IBM in 2012) Human resource management company with over $150M in annual sales providing talent assessment, acquisition and retention solutions
Property & Casualty Claims Adjustor, Natural Catastrophe Claims Team of West-Central Regional Office
State Farm Fire & Casualty Insurance
Lincoln
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Began as a fire claims adjustor in the Rapid City
- Promoted to the NAT/CAT team where I handled property damage and casualty claims primarily following large, catastrophic storms
- Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Identifying and adjusting scope of physical damage
- Interpreting and applying policy language to properly indemnify customers for damaged property
- Managing a claim volume of several hundred claims per month
- Scheduling and settling claim disputes with customers, contractors and agents
- Farm/Ranch & Commercial Property Specialist
- Managed a claims territory consisting of the entire western half of South Dakota
Education
Licensed Insurance Agent -
Nebraska Dept. of Insurance
01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Kearney, NE12.1999
NCAA Division II Football
University of Nebraska-Kearney
NAIA Football
Doane College
MARS All-America Football
Dundy County High School
Skills
- Project management
- Negotiation skills
- Lead generation
- Team building
- Presentation skills
- Problem solving
- Performance tracking
- Training and development
- Solution selling
- Team building expertise
- Revenue growth
- Business development
- Market analysis
- Sales strategy
Hobbies and Interests
- Avid outdoorsman
- Golfer
- Sports enthusiast
Family - Children
Father of two amazing children
Activities Achievements
- Sidney Housing Authority Board Member, 01/01/19, Present, Oversee affordable housing for Sioux Villa Housing and Canterbury Estates
- Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, 01/01/19, Present, Search and Rescue Fireman responding to over 100 calls per year.
- Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball, 01/01/11, 12/31/14, Raised $2M for cancer research
- City of Ogallala, 01/01/13, 12/31/16, Member of the Zoning Board of Adjustments
- Keith County Area Development (KCAD) board member, 01/01/11, 12/31/16, Organization focused on economic development in Keith County, Nebraska. Successfully attracted 3 new businesses to Ogallala, NE in 2012-2014. Added over 100 new jobs to a community of less than 6000 people. Organized landowners and successfully negotiated lease terms with Orion Energy.
- Ogallala Elks Lodge # 1760, 01/01/10, 12/31/18, President/Exalted Ruler from 03/12 – 04/13. Raised $110K to relocate the Elks Lodge to a new location in 2012. Recognized “Officer of the Year” in 2011. Elected and served as Leading Knight from 03/11-03/12.
- President of the Western Ring-necks Pheasants Forever Chapter, 01/01/11, 12/31/14, Raised $20K annually for pheasant habitat
- Active in family-owned farm and ranch in Dundy County, NE, 01/01/00, Present, 1500 acres row crop, 4000 acres pasture, 1000-head background feedlot, Oil production (5 wells)
- Jr. High Football Coach at Ogallala Middle School, 01/01/10, 12/31/14
- Ducks Unlimited Committee Chairman, Kearney, NE chapter, 01/01/06, 12/31/09
- Big Ben Foundation for Wildlife Management Committee member, 01/01/06, 12/31/09
- Steward T. Nelson Scholarship Committee, 01/01/03, 12/31/05
- Member of Ogallala and Sidney Methodist Church, 01/01/10, Present, Received “Everyday Hero” Award in May 2012
Certification
- AIC
- CPCA
Timeline
Insurance Agent
American Family Insurance
01.2015 - Current
Insurance Agent
Farm Bureau Financial Services
01.2010 - 01.2015
Vice-President of Sales and Marketing
Marshall Engines, Inc.
01.2006 - 01.2010
Co-Founder, EVP of Sales and Marketing
Game Plan Technologies
01.2003 - 01.2006
Account Executive, Talent Acquisition and Assessment Division
Kenexa Corporation
01.2002 - 01.2003
Property & Casualty Claims Adjustor, Natural Catastrophe Claims Team of West-Central Regional Office
State Farm Fire & Casualty Insurance
01.1999 - 01.2002
Licensed Insurance Agent -
Nebraska Dept. of Insurance
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of Nebraska-Kearney
NCAA Division II Football
University of Nebraska-Kearney
NAIA Football
Doane College
MARS All-America Football
Dundy County High School
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