American Family Insurance is thrilled to recognize Portland Fire and Rescue, American Family Insurance Claims and Sales Teams, Omaha​ and Rebuilding Together, Tampa Bay, together as the 2024 Dreamer of the Year. 

These teams fundamentally understand that helping families and communities rebuild from climate-related crises truly takes a village. This year's group lives out that ethos every single day, restoring not just homes and infrastructure, but the dreams that dwell within. From outsized hurricanes to devastating fires and tornadoes, American Family and TIME are celebrating the real-life heroes among us who fearlessly face disasters. This recovery work cannot happen in a vacuum; it takes many helping hands and hearts to rebuild the homes and dreams of everyday people – especially in such dark moments.

We visited this year's honorees to learn first-hand about their incredible efforts to protect and reconstruct communities in the wake of unprecedented climate disasters.

View the 2024 Dreamer of the Year video and hear their stories. 

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About the American Family Insurance Group 
American Family Insurance Group, a mutual holding company based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 243 on the Fortune 500 list. The Group has a current ‘a+’ credit rating through AM Best, and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for 75 years. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance and has approximately 12,000 employees nationwide.

“It’s great for modern vehicles to have added collision mitigation systems that do assist them, when possible,” said Rich Steffen, president of personal lines at American Family Insurance. “However, we don’t want drivers to rely on them or become overconfident with those added features as they can’t always protect you against fast moving or sudden obstacles, like a deer or other animal.”

Wisconsin had the most deer-related claims processed for American Family Insurance in 2023 with 10,543 paid claims. In Wisconsin, 14 people were killed, 12 of which were motorcyclists, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. States rounding out the top five include Washington, Utah, South Dakota and Oregon. 

If you do encounter a deer or larger animal on the road, follow these tips to stay safe:

• Buckle up and stay alert. Always wear your seatbelt because most people injured in deer-vehicle collisions were not buckled up. Avoid distractions while driving, including your phone. Pay close attention to the road and surrounding areas at dawn and dusk, when visibility is low, and deer are more active.
• Expect more than one. If you see a deer cross the road, slow down and watch for others, as they often travel in groups.
• Don’t swerve if you see a deer. If you see a deer on the road, brake and firmly blow your horn – only flashing your headlights may not be effective. Do not swerve if you are unable to stop. Swerving can lead to injury if you hit a tree or another vehicle.

What to do if you hit a deer:

• Stay off the road and away from the animal. Move your car off the road, if possible, and turn on your hazard lights. Stay away from the animal because wounded animal can become frightened and may act aggressively.

• Report the accident. You may be legally required to report an accident to local authorities. State law may require an accident report if there is significant damage. This documentation will also be helpful when filing a claim with your insurance company.
• Take photos. Take photos of your car and the accident scene if it is safe to do so. Stay off the road and away from the animal.
• Contact your insurance company to report your claim. Collision with an animal is covered under the comprehensive section of your auto insurance policy. Since comprehensive coverage is optional, be sure to check your auto insurance policy for specific coverages.

Although most animal-vehicle collisions occur with deer, damage can also be caused by other animals. Rodents can cause significant damage by chewing on wires or creating nests in a car when seeking a source of heat during the colder months. In the past year, rodents, dogs, rabbits and other miscellaneous animals caused an average of over $2,000 in vehicle damage for American Family customers.

American Family Insurance receives hundreds of claims for domestic, farm and other wild animal automobile and motorcycle collisions every month. These tips can be applied to collisions with other types of animals, such as cows or moose, to keep you safe on the roads this season.

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About the American Family Insurance Group 
American Family Insurance Group, a mutual holding company based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 243 on the Fortune 500 list. The Group has a current ‘A+’ credit rating through AM Best and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for 75 years. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance  have approximately 12,000 employees nationwide.

Long before the storm hit, our teams were ready. 

“When we know a destructive storm is approaching customers, we’re able to plan ahead and get some of our experts safely in place ahead of time,” said Wendy Scheper, associate vice president of property for American Family Insurance claims. “Within hours of the initial landfall, our crews called to check on potentially impacted customers and employees to see what they needed and were in route to help.” 

Beyond our continued commitment to helping customers impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation is donating $20,000 to aid local disaster relief efforts in Florida. 

The money will be distributed to the Community Foundation of Sarasota, Feeding Tampa Bay and the Salvation Army, Florida Headquarters. American Family Insurance employees and agency owners also can donate toward hurricane relief efforts through the Dreams Foundation’s social impact programming. 

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About the American Family Insurance Group 
American Family Insurance Group, a mutual holding company based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 243 on the Fortune 500 list. The Group has a current ‘A+’ credit rating through AM Best and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for 75 years. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance have approximately 12,000 employees nationwide. 

A catastrophe team from American Family Insurance is joining local claim office employees as they help customers following heavy rain and wind from Hurricane Helene. The storm damaged homes and businesses in Georgia and other southern states. More than 12,000 claims have already been generated as a result of this weather event across our companies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia.

Catastrophe field adjusters are assisting local claim employees as they contact customers and set up appointments to inspect their property.

American Family’s efforts are focused on helping customers in Fulton County, where they can visit a mobile claims site at the address below between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time:

Home Depot 2450
2450 Cumberland Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339

All customers who have claims from storm damage should immediately contact the company's care center or their agent to start their claim. American Family Insurance customers can do that in a number of ways:

• Digitally report the claim via the MyAmFam app or in their MyAccount on amfam.com.
  • Customers can file property or auto claims in the app from anywhere at any time. The claims will be routed directly to the appropriate area for efficient claim handling.
  • Customers will also be able to track their claim’s status in the app and see who is handling their claim, details of the claim and other important information.
• Customers can text the word STORM to 26326 (AMFAM) to be sent a link to file their claim quickly and easily from their smartphones. Message and data rates may apply.
• Call the Claims Customer Care Center
  • They can also call our Claims Customer Care Center at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326). We have trained representatives available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help our customers.
     

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation is donating $20,000 to aid local disaster relief efforts in Georgia, where we’re committed to supporting the long-term recovery through our donations and claims resolution.

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About the American Family Insurance Group 
American Family Insurance Group, a mutual holding company based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 243 on the Fortune 500 list. The Group has a current ‘A+’ credit rating through AM Best and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for 75 years. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance and has approximately 12,000 employees nationwide.

On August 10, TIME hosts the TIME Honoring the March: An Impact Family Dinner in tribute of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The evening event celebrating the dreamers of today and the individuals who are continuing to push Dr. King’s dream forward will take place at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

With Presenting Partner American Family Insurance, TIME will convene leaders and visionaries for an inspiring and impactful evening celebrating the power of community and collaboration. Event speakers and notable attendees include CEO of the King Center Dr. Bernice King; actress, producer, and change agent Yara Shahidi; former Minority Leader of the Georgia House Stacey Abrams; novelist and professor of creative writing at Emory University Tayari Jones; olympic medalist, entrepreneur, activist and author Ibtihaj Muhammad; criminal justice reform activist and NYC City Council Candidate Yusef Salaam; activist and student Naomi Wadler; President & CEO of The Southern Company, Christopher C. Womack; President & CEO of The Executive Leadership Council Michael Hyter; Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and author of Unmasking AI Dr. Joy Buolamwini; Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens; former Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms; Cook County’s State Attorney Kim Foxx; rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur and DJ Jermaine Dupri; national transgender rights activist Mariah Moore; disability activist and policy advocate Isabel Mavrides-Calderón, President, American Family Insurance Group Telisa Yancy and more. There will be special performances from Bebe Winans, Jonathan Nelson, Breland and J. Ivy.

“We are proud to use TIME’s platform to celebrate the voices of the inspiring individuals joining us tonight as they empower and inspire the next generation of leaders,” said TIME Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley. “We are grateful to our partner American Family Insurance for helping to bring this celebratory event to life as we honor the legacy of Dr. King and The March on Washington.”

“As TIME’s editors and reporters, we are dedicated to telling the essential stories of the people who shape and improve the world,” said TIME Editor in Chief Sam Jacobs. “We are thrilled to pay tribute to Dr. King and recognize today’s leaders who honor his legacy and vision by doing that critical work.”

“Our mission at American Family Insurance is to protect and inspire dreams and we are honored to celebrate those who do the same for others,” said Bill Westrate, CEO and chairman elect of American Family Insurance. “We are excited to partner with TIME to honor one of the most influential dreamers our country has known, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we reflect on the 60th anniversary of The March on Washington – we hope that we will all be inspired to continue to champion the dreams of all people, just as Dr. King inspired us to do.”

"We are honored to have partnered with TIME over the last several years to honor the legacy of Dr. King’s historic March on Washington 60 years ago,” said Telisa Yancy, president of American Family Insurance Group. “As a company, we are dedicated to inspiring and protecting dreams. We believe that his moment is about both of these things: inspiring the next generation and protecting the rich history and legacy of Dr. King and his vision for each of us."

The TIME Honoring the March: An Impact Family Dinner is an extension of TIME’s partnership with American Family Insurance that brought the groundbreaking immersive exhibit, The March, to the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago in February 2020.

To read TIME’s coverage of TIME Honoring the March: An Impact Family Dinner, visit TIME.com.

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About the American Family Insurance Group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 301 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has nearly 13,000 employees nationwide.

About TIME
TIME is the 100-year-old global media brand that reaches a combined audience of over 105 million around the world through its iconic magazine and digital platforms. With unparalleled access to the world's most influential people, the trust of consumers and partners globally, and an unrivaled power to convene, TIME's mission is to tell the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. Today, TIME also includes the Emmy Award®-winning film and television division TIME Studios; a significantly expanded live events business built on the powerful TIME100 and Person of the Year franchises; TIME for Kids, which provides authentic, age-appropriate news for kids and valuable resources for teachers and families; the award-winning branded content studio Red Border Studios; an industry-leading web3 division; the website-building platform TIME Sites; the sustainability and climate action platform TIME CO2; the new e-commerce and content platform TIME Stamped, and more.

The AHOA celebrates those individuals aged 40 and younger who are helping to lead the advertising industry forward. They were elected following a months-long process that included a rigorous review by a group of industry leaders, including former inductees and top marketers representing media, agencies, consumer goods and social platforms.

Azali is no stranger to blazing new trails, driving customer-driven growth, and lifting as she climbs. Through her leadership, American Family Insurance Group and The General brands stand out in a cluttered industry by living out their purpose - to champion dreams and opportunities so everyone can rise. Azali believes “to whom much is given much is required.”  She uses her voice as a force for good and is not afraid to advocate for bold change that creates space for others to win. 

She stepped into the role of chief marketing officer in July 2021. 

“It is an honor to be recognized for my impact as a leader in the marketing industry,” said Azali. “I’m grateful to work for an organization with such powerful brands and a strong commitment to its customers, community and employees."

Elicia has deep experience in both marketing and insurance having held leadership positions at Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide prior to joining The General in 2019.

She was also honored as one of “She Runs It” Working Mothers of the Year in 2022. Her customer-first mantra has been highlighted by AdAge as she was named an Ad Age’s 2021 40 under 40 honoree.

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About the American Family Insurance Group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 301 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has nearly 13,000 employees nationwide.

About AAF
The AAF's Board of Directors guides and oversees the Federation's signature events and initiatives, including the Advertising Hall of Fame, Advertising Hall of Achievement, American Advertising Awards, Mosaic Awards, ADMERICA, Advertising Day on the Hill, Most Promising Multicultural Students Program, and HBCUs for Advertising  – all serving the Federation's 35,000+ professional members nationwide, 5,000+ students and educators, and more than 60+ corporate members spanning media and tech companies, advertisers and agencies.  Established in 1905, the American Advertising Federation (AAF), acts as the "Unifying Voice for Advertising." Visit https://aaf.org

About AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement (AHOA)
For 30 years, the Advertising Hall of Achievement has long been the gold standard in recognizing professionals aged 40 and younger making a notable impact on the advertising industry. Individuals who meet the given criteria are nominated for consideration for induction, and a Council of Judges made up of AHOA alumni and top industry executives elects the inductees after two rounds of voting.  The Advertising Hall of Achievement was established and is executed by the AAF, the same organization that carries out the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, marketing, education, healthcare, and many more. Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers collaborated to score nearly 1,000 submissions, and a panel of eight distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies. The 2023 awards feature workplaces from around the world.

“We are proud to be recognized as a top workplace for innovators. We are even prouder of how our mindset, which is championed from the top of the organization, has encouraged our claims team to approach projects and challenges collaboratively,” said Chief Claims Officer Tim Constien. “We’ve tapped into creative thinking, expertise and diverse experience from all corners of the organization. This has resulted in customer centered, personalized loss support for our customers and greater engagement for our employees.”

The organization brought claims systems from its five insurance companies together on one platform with its data in one cloud solution, making it possible to measure and scale innovations quickly. This has led to a more seamless and efficient experience for customers and employees alike.

“Every innovative effort we undertake centers around support in the face of loss. As we design experiences to personalize loss support for our customers, we look to partner where there is an existing capability and develop solutions when they do not yet exist,” said Constien.  

To see the complete list, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/best-workplaces-for-innovators/list.

Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators issue (Summer 2023) is available online now, and the print issue will be on newsstands beginning July 18, 2023. Join the Best Workplaces for Innovators conversation using #FCBestWorkplaces.

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About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services, and Accenture Song—all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 710,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.

About the American Family Insurance Group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 301 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance Group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has nearly 13,000 employees nationwide.