Meet The Team - Higgins Insurance

Welcome FROM OUR TEAM!

Higgins Insurance is a full service, independent insurance brokerage that can provide you with quality products and services, to meet your entire personal, business, life insurance needs. We are an Independent Insurance Broker, which means we act as professional insurance advisors operating independently to serve all your insurance needs.

No matter what type of insurance you are looking for, it is something that you should not live without. Finding the right coverage, however, is not the most exciting task. In a world of not knowing how to navigate the insurance industry, you need someone who is 100% on your side that you can trust. Here at Higgins Insurance, you can be confident in our team’s expertise and knowledge, but also can count on our commitment to serving you. As a valued client, you are not just our customer, you are a member of our team!

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Meet The Team

Sales Team

Amanda Burke, CAIB

New Client Relations

Year started in insurance:
2005

Started at Higgins insurance:
Jan 30th, 2017

Family Location:
Elmsdale NS

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NSCC Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

First job, and what you remember most about it:
My first job was working for my father; he owned a cafeteria at the Halifax Airport in a company hanger. I remember I loved the fast pace and the creativeness of designing new recipes.

Fun Facts:
I have a teenage daughter who is involved in Ringette, Rugby and Baseball, and identical twin boys who are very involved with baseball and are known to keep me on my toes.

Volunteer/charitable work:
Kids school and sports

Donna Flinn

New Client Relations

Year started in insurance:
2009

Started at Higgins insurance:
May 2013

Family Location:
McAdam, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
St. Thomas University

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Cashier at M&M Variety in Mc Adam, New Brunswick. I remember all of the friendly local customers, scooping ice cream for families on a hot summer evening, counting penny candy for children and that small town community feeling where everyone knows your name.

Fun Facts:
I’ve been known to sing a karaoke tune or two!

Volunteer/charitable work:
Coaching Basketball

Leslee Chambers, CAIB

Underwriting Manager

Year started in insurance:
2001 – Fredericton, New Brunswick

Started at Higgins insurance:
September, 2006

Family Location:
Pennfield, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC-St. Andrews, Office Technology (1998)

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Newspaper Carrier, a lot of cold days carrying the heavy Saturday edition.

Fun Facts:
To many to share…

Volunteer/charitable work:
Ride for Dads; IWK Telethon

Danny Hennessey, CAIB

New Client Relations

Year started in insurance:
2020

Started at Higgins insurance:
2020

Family Location:
Fredericton, NB/Sylvan Lake, AB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB Bachelor of Business Administration 2007

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Managed a McDonalds Restaurant when I was 16, very much remember smelling like hot fry oil all the time, drinking way too much fountain pop and working every night after volleyball practice during high school. Learned a lot about customer service though at an early age

Fun Facts:
I am a very capable home cook and baker, and love food and the kitchen and if I didn’t end up in business would have been a professional chef in another life!

Volunteer/charitable work:
United Way Fundraising

Customer Service Team

Graeme Campbell,CAIB,CRM

Client Manager

Professional designation:
Currently working on CRM

Year started in insurance:
2013

Started at Higgins insurance:
November 7, 2017

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
St. Thomas University – Bachelor of Arts

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Atlantic Superstore – worked as a cart pusher. Remember the warm days and the cold nights, but mostly the cold nights.

Fun Facts:
I have played soccer since I was 5.

Volunteer/charitable work:

Robyn Holder

Sr.Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2014

Started at Higgins insurance:
March, 2014

Family Location:
Quispamsis, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
St. Thomas University

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Literacy tutor for elementary school children, watching the children improve week by week and seeing them gain self confidence

Fun Facts:
Lover of ALL things Christmas!

Volunteer/charitable work:
Our lady of Perpetual Help – Catechetical Program

Angie Marchbank

Sr.Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
December 2001

Started at Higgins insurance:
May 2009

Family Location:
Hampton, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC – Saint John, Office Technology

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Walmart – Love dealing with the Public.

Fun Facts:
Baking and Cake Decorating; Animal Lover (Dog Whisperer)

Volunteer/charitable work:
CIBC Run for the Cure; Walk for Caroline

Sheena Lee

Sheena Lee

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2006

Started at Higgins insurance:
February, 2017

Family Location
Saint John, NB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
UNBSJ/NBCC-Interior Design

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Usher at Harbour Station, meeting lots of people, working concerts and watching great hockey.

Fun Facts:
Hockey Mom!

Volunteer/charitable work:
Pals Program- volunteering in elementary schools, helping out some great kids!

Sue Lutes

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2002

Started at Higgins insurance:
June 26, 2017

Family Location:
Moncton, NB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Kingswood University, Sussex – Bachelor of Arts, Education and Youth Studies

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Wendy’s Restaurant, Moncton NB – Smelling like a French fry truck, but it was worth for the independence and my own Money.

Fun Facts:
I own 5 German Sheppard’s that do NOT bark! They are all rescue dogs that were disgarded by the owner. Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Kaya and Big Baby Daisy!

Volunteer/charitable work:
Work with under privileged children for outreach and community services with low income families.

Melissa Thomas, CAIB

Client Manager

Professional designation:
Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2003

Started at Higgins insurance:
March 2020

Family Location:
St. Martins, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Wendy’s uptown SJ. I still remember some of my client’s want on their burgers 20+ years later.

Fun Facts:
Enjoy traveling and attending concerts

Volunteer/charitable work:
Bobby’s Hospice

Monique Ellis, CAIB

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2017

Started at Higgins insurance:
July 2017

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
UNB, Currently attending Health Coach Institute

First job, and what you remember most about it:
IGA – How having fun at your job and staying positive made the shifts go faster.

Fun Facts:
Enjoy Travelling, Camping, spending time with my grandson, Health Coaching

Volunteer/charitable work:
Joshua Group – Hats/Mittens Campaign

Caitlin Ewart, CAIB

Client Manager

Professional designation:
Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2014

Started at Higgins insurance:
November 2019

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Co-Op on the westside! I was a cashier and I remember all of my regulars who came in. I also worked with 2 of my best friends and we had a blast.

Fun Facts:
I collect post cards, complete 5 running races per year and I love mac & cheese

Volunteer/charitable work:
Romero House, Marsh clean up and Run for the cure

Jillian McNamee, CIP

Client Manager

Professional designation:
Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
1998

Started at Higgins insurance:
June 2020

Family Location:
Hampton

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC- Office Tech

First job, and what you remember most about it:
My first real job was a cashier at Super Value. I remember that bagging a large order of groceries can be a good arm workout.

Fun Facts:
I’m a Mom to four Awesome kids, ranging from pre-school to high school. I put hot sauce on almost everything I eat. My bucket list vacation is a trip to Fiji.

Volunteer/charitable work:
Last school year, I was a parent representative for HALL. I try to help out with my children’s sports and schools when I’m needed.

Les Smith

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2014

Started at Higgins insurance:
Sept 8th 2020

Family Location:
Upham, NB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC Saint Andrews / Hotel and Restaurant Management

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Worked as a Garbage collector for my families rural garbage pickup business. Having to work every Sat morning for 5 years straight as a young teen.

Fun Facts:

Volunteer/charitable work:
Coached Roller Derby for 2 years and Trained Pro Wrestling for 10.

PROCESSING TEAM

Kelsie Belmore, CAIB

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2015

Started at Higgins insurance:
April 2015

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC Grad (2013) – Office Administration

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Subway Restaurant – How everyone is SO different with what was on their subs and always smelling like bread.

Fun Facts:
I’m obsessed with donuts & my cat.

Volunteer/charitable work:

Sharon Gass

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
1990

Started at Higgins insurance:
March, 2014

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Modern Business College – Executive Secretarial

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Orange Julius-Lancaster Mall, It was 34 years ago and met my Best Friend working there and we still are very close today

Fun Facts:
Love to travel with my Friends

Volunteer/charitable work:
Church

Sharon MacDonald, CAIB

Sr.Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
1984

Started at Higgins insurance:
1995

Family Location:
Quispamsis, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Kennebecasis Valley High School

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Receptionist at Guardian Insurance and developing great relationships with others.

Fun Facts:
I have lived in Kennebecasis Valley for over 40 years.

Volunteer/charitable work:
Collect for Heart and Stroke

Sheila Koester

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
2020

Started at Higgins insurance:
Aug 17, 2020

Family Location:
Quispamsis

Last school attended and degree obtained:
HHS

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Tim Horton’s. Met my hubby there! And made some life-long friendships.

Fun Facts:

Volunteer/charitable work:

Sarah Calder

Client Manager

Year started in insurance:
February, 2019

Started at Higgins insurance:
November, 2020

Family Location:
Public Landing, NB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Oulton College / Veterinary Technician

First job, and what you remember most about it:
SJ City Summer Camp Councilor - Enjoyed making sure all the kids had fun and a smile on their face and getting to be outdoors all summer!

Fun Facts:
I have been singing since I was little /Huge Christmas lover & #1 fan of the Grinch

Volunteer/charitable work:
Saint John SPCA & Blood Donor

Administration

Cathy Kirkpatrick

Reception (Bilingual)

Professional designation:
Receptionist

Year started in insurance:

Started at Higgins insurance:
March 18, 2019

Family Location:
Saint John, NB

Last school attended and degree obtained:
NBCC

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Wendy’s Restaurant - Enjoying the everyday interaction with people

Fun Facts:
Rugby/Football Mom!!!

Volunteer/charitable work:

Olga Michaelov

Office Admin/Accounting

Professional designation:
Office Admin/Accounting

Year started in insurance:

Started at Higgins insurance:
September10, 2018

Family Location:
Israel

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Tel- Aviv College – Accounting

First job, and what you remember most about it:
My first job in the market at a sausage shop. My responsibility was to sell sausages and cleaned at the end of the day the place

Fun Facts:
Travel

Volunteer/charitable work:
Volunteer in a Synagogue

Lindsay Long

Receptionist

Professional designation:
Receptionist

Year started in insurance:

Started at Higgins insurance:
September 30, 2019

Family Location:
Saint John

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Simonds High School

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Shoppers Drug Mart – Enjoying the everyday interaction with people

Fun Facts:
Dance Mom!!!

Volunteer/charitable work:

Executive

Jennifer Higgins Adams, BBA, CAIB

President

Year started in insurance:
2003

Started at Higgins insurance:
September 2003

Family Location:
Originally – Truro, Nova Scotia, and I also lived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Fort Langley, British Columbia; Fredericton, New Brunswick and Mississauga, Ontario

Last school attended and degree obtained:
UNB, BBA - Marketing

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Waitress – I loved that it was fast paced, time flew and you were always meeting new people.

Fun Facts:
Mother of 2 Wonderful Boys – Rylan and Nathan

Volunteer/charitable work:
Regional Vice President of Chamber of Commerce-Saint John

Kendall Higgins, AIIC, FIIC

Founder & Past President

Year started in insurance:
1967

Started at Higgins insurance:
April 6, 1993 (Our Founding Father)

Family Location:
Westville, Nova Scotia

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Cape Breton Business College

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Delivery of weekly paper called “The Standard”-first opportunity to collect and account for money, and now I had my own spending money.

Fun Facts:
Now spending my winters in Florida enjoying Golf, Beaches and visits from Friends and Family.

Volunteer/charitable work:
Rotary, Men of St.Mark’s and Kennebecasis Crime Stoppers

T. Adrian Adams, CFP BA

Director of Sales & Marketing

Year started in insurance:
2003

Started at Higgins insurance:
November 1, 2015

Family Location:
Lindsay, Ontario

Last school attended and degree obtained:
York University – BA in Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Minor in Athletic Therapy. Fancy way of saying “Gym”

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Working for my parents at the beach in Barrie, Ontario. We operated the “canteen”, and I was responsible to clean up the beach, take out the trash and help around the store. At age 5 I got pretty good at making change.

Fun Facts:
Secret Karaoke fan

Volunteer/charitable work:
Platelet Donor, KVMHA Board member, Hockey Coach

James Higgins,
BA, CIP

President - Higgins Commercial Insurance Ltd.

Year started in insurance:
2002

Started at Higgins insurance:
August, 2005

Family Location:
Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Last school attended and degree obtained:
UNBSJ – History (2015)

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Kent Building Supplies – Lumber Yard, 80 lbs bags of Concrete Mix weighed slightly less than I.

Fun Facts:
Family has lived in Kennebecasis Valley for 26 years.

Volunteer/charitable work:

Dave Higdon, CAIB
B.Comm, B.A. (Economics), CFP

Financial Coach – Higgins Financial Services Inc.

Year started in insurance:
1999

Started at Higgins insurance:
May 2015

Family Location:
Saint John, New Brunswick

Last school attended and degree obtained:
Memorial University of Newfoundland – Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Arts in Economics

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Summer Camp Councellor – What I remember the most is the smiles on the faces of all the kids.

Fun Facts:
I’m a Newfie!

Volunteer/charitable work:
Everything Lacrosse, National Boards and NB President.

Bob Keays, CAIB

Director of Business Development

Year started in insurance:
1990

Started at Higgins insurance:
September, 2002

Family Location:
Chandler, Quebec

Last school attended and degree obtained:
UNB Fredericton – Economics 1989

First job, and what you remember most about it:
Pulp and Paper Worker – Abitibi Price; The people and the discipline

Fun Facts:
My favourite mode of transportation is a Bike. Referee in Chief of Saint John Youth Minor Hockey – LOVE the Zebras

Volunteer/charitable work:
Board of Directors on the Community Foundation-Saint John; Nominated by the Saint John and District Labour Council (love giving back and the labour movement); Board of Directors TADD, NB