It has been interesting working in the Fresno GBS office. The time has really flown by; it’s hard to believe it has almost been nine weeks. There has been so much to do and learn that there hasn’t been enough time to get it all done. Wish there was more time really, then I could finish everything I wanted to do. It has been a good experience working for Gallagher. Everything from the trip to Itasca to going to client meetings has been valuable training. This internship has truly changed my perspective on the insurance brokering business. Brokering is very competitive and fast paced. This is the type of job that could keep a person on their toes. It has struck my interest and I am considering starting work here and pursuing brokering as a potential career. Out of the different lessons I’ve learned while interning here, the most valuable one has to be how important it is to stay a student of the game. There is so much to learn in any career that it is important to make sure to always be absorbing knowledge when possible. I don’t know what will happen next, but whatever does happen, I am glad to of had the opportunity to work for the company.

- Hugh

I have a hard time figuring out what to do with my life. Some people get lucky and know what they want to do for a career without needing to think much about it; I’m not one of those people. I used to think I wanted to be an architect, then I wanted to be a banker and now I’m considering being a broker. I haven’t found the industry that’s “just right” yet. Work should accomplish a few things; it should pay well, it should play to a person’s strengths and it should be fulfilling. That’s in no particular order; in fact, I would like to have a poor paying job that was exciting to do everyday rather than make tons of money but hate my life from 8-5. I’m not sure what my strengths are and I haven’t found what is fulfilling to me, so I am still looking. This internship is helping me understand that brokering can be a good choice for me. There is a lot of potential and it offers a wide range of work. I don’t know if insurance is what I should broker, but maybe it is. There is still a lot to learn and experience over the last few weeks of this internship. Since working at A.J. Gallagher, I have met loads of people and learned about many of the different jobs in this field. It is a choice that I am taking seriously and will continue to think about over the next few weeks.

 - Hugh

My weekend was full of the usual 4^th of July activities, being out on the water and having BBQ’s. But I saw no fireworks this year, not sure if I was just apathetic but I couldn’t motivate myself to go anywhere and see a show. It was nice to have a long weekend; it’s interesting how having full-time work makes me appreciate free time. It is good to be busy and working for a company that makes work meaningful. One of the best things about working for Gallagher is that there is always something new to do and learn. Work becomes too dull and tedious when the same thing is done day in and day out. My office makes sure I get a variety of opportunities so I am constantly doing something new and it keeps me on my toes. Besides the diversity of tasks, there are many meetings and appointments that offer chances to meet new people and network with companies. Although I do enjoy the end of the work day, it comes much quicker here and I can’t believe the internship is already almost half over.

- Hugh

It’s been awhile since the last time I have posted anything here, but that’s because things have been nice and busy in the Fresno office. I have been given a bunch of different tasks and responsibilities; this internship is really letting me dive into the insurance industry and get to know what it’s like to be an employee and not “just an intern”. I have gone on a bunch of different sales calls and have been sent to employee open enrollments that have helped me understand how to build relationships with clients. When I’m not busy with the daily activities in the office, I have been assigned some long term projects to work on. There is never a dull moment at work and I can honestly say that there is no down time to be bored, the days fly by.

- Hugh

Our summer orientation in Itasca was an experience like none other I have seen an Internship offer. The amount of effort put into the event shows how committed Gallagher is to making an internship within its company as rewarding as possible. It was impressive to have Pat Gallagher come in and welcome all the interns from around the country and encourage us to make the most out of this opportunity. There was a lot to learn throughout the week; we had breakout sessions which allowed us to separate into different departments and really get to know some of the details of the business. We were also given the chance to work on a case study so we could apply what we learned over the week and get to know how it feels to be a part of the brokering process. At the end of the week, we were motivated to really get to know what it means to work for Gallagher in the hopes that if we enjoyed our time during the internship, we could work for them in the long run. This is the most dedication I have ever seen a company put into an internship program and I’m looking forward to the chance to participate in the brokering business. Besides the orientation, Chicago is an incredible place to visit and anyone who has the chance to go should take it.

Hugh
CSU, Fresno

Hey all, here’s a little blurb about me for those who are interested. I’m a senior at CSU, Fresno and will be wrapping up school in the fall. I’m a Finance major but am not sure what I want to do when I’m done with school; my hope is that this internship will give me an idea of what direction I want to take myself in the coming years. I consider myself a pretty outgoing person who likes to keep busy. My passions are baseball, racquetball, fly fishing and whatever holds my interest at any given time. I look forward to meeting the team in Itasca on Sunday; we could meet at the table outside the Lilac Room at 7. We can make a sign saying GBS Western Region or something to help us find each other.