Happy Holidays

Costen & Associates would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family Happy Holidays and health and happiness in 2013!

2012 was a busy year for us all, starting off with the Calgary Motorcycle Show in January.  As the weather warmed up and the streets cleared, motorcycle business picked up and our clients got out on the roads.  We will be attending the show again this year, which runs from Friday January 4^th to Sunday January 6^th.  Please stop by our booth to enter our draw for an awesome motorcycle rocker and gift card, grab a calendar or key chain, and get a free quote on your motorcycle insurance!

In 2012 we also introduced some new client contests.  The first contest we held in February was to enter to win an IPOD Shuffle for Liking our Facebook Page and Subscribing to our Blog.  We are currently running a similar contest until December 31, 2012, where for every Like and Subscription we will donate $1.00 to our Charity of the Year and enter your name for a draw to win $50.00 off of your next Insurance Renewal. Please visit our Blog Post “Social Media for Charity” for more information.  We are always looking for new contest ideas, so if you have one that you would like to see, please email us your idea at admin@costeninurance.com.

In early March 2012, our Office Manager Andrew, his wife Amanda, and their son Jackson welcomed new baby, Ezra Michael Shareski.  After only a couple days off, proud daddy Andrew was back at work gearing up for the busy spring ahead.

2012 was also a year for some big staff anniversaries.  Kristel Wilson celebrated 2 years in May, Andrew Shareski celebrated 5 years in June, and Crista Costen celebrated 14 years in July.  In addition to the staff anniversaries, Costen & Associates also celebrated its 25^th year in business!  Earlier in the year the staff held a small private party for Larry and surprised him with a cake, balloons, and a special book containing facts and pictures about the history of the company.  In June, we celebrated with an Open House which was held at the Kensington Royal Canadian Legion.  The Open House was a huge success and we even gave away a Tomos Scooter to one lucky Costen & Associates client!

In July 2012, Andrew and Crista started attending Social Media coaching sessions with Designs by DJ Perez (highly recommended!).  The sessions consisted of developing the company’s on-line presence through Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and this lovely Blog :).  So far, we have really enjoyed the sessions and the valuable feedback and advice we have received.

Later in July, Costen & Associates moved Office space.  The decision to move was made on short notice, as the end Office bay in our building became available with a quick possession. As we had been in our current location at 1974 Kensington Road for almost 10 years, we were ready for a change and jumped at the chance to move into an end unit with big windows and natural light.  After a few renovations and a LOT of hard work on behalf of our team, their families, and our business coach, we were open for business from our new location at 1990 Kensington Road as of Monday July 23rd.

At the end of August, we said farewell to one of our long time employees, Rhonda Calon.  After nearly 10 years with Costen & Associates, Rhonda decided it was time for a change and wanted to spend some more time with her family and new grandson (who arrived in early October).  We miss her dearly and wish her the best!

Costen & Associates also gained a new team member in November 2012.Tyler Friesen joined our team as a part-time Broker-in-Training. Tyler is currently completing his Business Degree and working part-time, learning the ins and outs of Insurance.  At the end of his semester, he will be joining our team full time through the spring and summer months.   We are still looking for one more special someone to join our team and complete our family, so if you know anyone who loves Insurance as much as we do, please send them our way.

Perhaps one of the most exciting pieces of news in 2012 was the release of our mobile phone application.  In cooperation with the Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta (IBAA), Costen & Associates released a smart phone application that provides you with your Insurance Policy and Broker information at your fingertips, with the ability to report a claim or take inventory reports right from your phone.  For more information, please check out our Blog “Presenting our NEW Mobile App!”.

Costen & Associates is looking forward to celebrating the holidays with our friends and family, and moving into 2013 with excitement and anticipation for what the year will bring. We have an exciting announcement coming up in early January, so be sure to keep reading!  Until then, we would like to thank you for your past patronage and support and we look forward to speaking with you in the New Year.

The Costen & Associates Team