Employee Spotlight: Nathaniel Jackson – Inszone Insurance – Technologist
Here at Inszone, one of our missions is to make sure that every employee is appreciated, acknowledged, and recognized for their achievements. This Employee Spotlight series aims to celebrate success and highlight the talented individuals we have at Inszone, Cover Cannabis, and California Pool Association. Each month we’ll be featuring Inszone employees on our website, blog and social accounts.
Nathaniel Jackson is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Inszone Insurance Services, joining the team in 2022. With nearly two decades of experience in the tech industry as an IT specialist and self-taught programmer, Nathaniel brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for utilizing the latest technologies to help businesses achieve their goals. Inspired by those making a difference in the world, he lives by the mantra, “If you can’t join them, beat them.”
When asked to share some words about Nathaniel, Juan Cruz, who is Inszone’s VP of Marketing and Development, said, “What can I say about Nate? He is one of the smartest people I’ve had the pleasure of working with, constantly thinking about how to optimize and improve all aspects of our work. Always ready to jump in when needed and willing to help regardless of how busy he is, Nate is genuinely a very caring person. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his professional growth, alongside the growth of his team and projects. He consistently brings new ideas, shares his knowledge with the entire team, and maintains an amazing attitude. I am particularly excited about the incredible changes he will be spearheading on the digital side. Nate is truly a remarkable individual, and I am so excited to see where the future leads him.”
To get to know more about Nathaniel, we asked him a couple of questions about him and his time in the insurance world:
Q: What initially brought you to the insurance industry?
A: I used to do contract IT services and ended up being brought in as a full-time developer/IT support by my previous employer, which happened to be an insurance brokerage. We developed many processes and techniques for marketing, which is why when our company was acquired by Inszone, I was brought on to continue to manage and expand on those techniques in Digital Marketing.
Q: In what ways do you think your unique background or experiences contribute to your success in your role?
A: I grew up surrounded by computers since my father owned an IT service company. I was always fascinated by the magic and mystery computers had and for fun, would write programs to make the processes my dad went through more efficient and streamlined. I worked for his company for many years and mastered any type of end-user computer issue you could imagine whether it be for an elderly lady on her home PC and printer, a large cosmetics business with a fleet of machines and network infrastructure, or an entire school. The wealth of knowledge I accumulated during these years contributed to an effortless transition to digital marketing.
Q: Can you share a particular challenging situation you faced in your career and how you overcame it?
A: Due to the nature of the problems I have (and like) to solve, I don’t want to get into too much detail, but a high level overview of problems I’m proud of solving generally involve integrating various computer software’s and processes. Getting through these takes a lot of dedication and determination, meaning many long days and nights. Knowing I can solve whatever issue comes my way and having the moral support of my loved ones gets me through anything.
Q: If you could describe your approach to teamwork in three words, what would they be and why?
A: “Lead by example,” because it aligns words with actions, creating a powerful influence on team dynamics and performance.
Q: What do you think sets you apart, and how does it benefit your team and clients?
A: I’m an autodidact with strong visions and determination. I think having a well thought out vision of how something should be done, the ability to teach yourself how to achieve it, and having the will to execute it is the recipe for setting yourself apart.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence or mentor in your life, and what valuable lessons have you learned from them?
A: My father and grandfather have been the biggest influences in my life, both excellent businessmen and engineers. My father brought me up surrounded by technology and problem-solving. My grandfather gave us both pride, stick-to-it-iveness, and a strong moral foundation.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
A: I built and managed a private school’s network and technological infrastructure, which has provided me the resources to learn and master the state-of-the-art technologies necessary to protect the students and staff. Also doubling as a lab to test and try new things. The amount that you learn from bootstrapping something like that; I don’t think there’s many opportunities like it.
Thank you, Nathaniel, for your dedication and hard work. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed! You consistently exceed expectations, and we’re grateful for your contributions to the company. Looking forward to growing with you!