Christine Cione
Esser Hayes Insurance Group
Christine earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Communication and Media Studies from Loyola University Chicago. She is currently the Director of Communications at Esser Hayes Insurance Group. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious.
Q: Please tell us about your role as the Director of Communications at Esser Hayes Insurance Group.
A: In my role as Communication Director, I manage all of our social media outlets as well as plan our internal and external special events. Because Esser Hayes is growing and my background is varied from project management to HR, I am fortunate to serve in other roles within the agency. I especially enjoy recruiting and developing training plans for all our new employees.
Q: What do you like most about your work?
A: I like that my role gets to interact with employees across all levels and business units of the organization. I love that every day I get to learn something new about the company/business/market/etc.
Q: Share with us your journey from your Communications and Media degree at Loyola University of Chicago to Esser Hayes.
A: It’s been a great journey, I have planned wonderful special events and promoted advocacy for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and further honed my project management skills at R.R. Donnelly heading up the Semiconductor database team. Entering a new arena, I joined a start-up software consulting business and wore several hats within the organization. As we grew my focus shifted to Human Resources and Training. When the company was sold, I stayed home to raise my daughter and finally returned to work as a Recruiter with Wilton Brands. Leaving Wilton, I served in a Sales & Marketing role for the Buona Restaurant Group and most recently have enjoyed helping Esser Hayes Insurance Group in various capacities, but currently serving as their Director of Communication. A role which is a great fit for my varied background and my strong desire to help others in any way I can.
Q: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned along the way?
A: That I really enjoy working in the insurance industry. I would not have ever guessed this would be an industry I would be in or be so passionate about, but I have found that we are great educators about insurance, a topic that many know little about, but that can really impact a person’s financial well-being.
Q: What advice would you give for other women in business?
A: Network with other female professionals. This not only has positive promotional aspects, it also provides a source of advice and strategies for dealing with women-specific challenges in the workplace. Networking should be an integral part of your professional strategy to obtain resources, contacts, ideas, information, job leads, sales leads, and valuable advice.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I recently discovered dabble.com – a marketplace for unique, in-person classes and experiences in your community. I have been attending different classes all over Chicagoland and recently enjoyed a sushi making and sake pairing class. Other classes I have recently enjoyed include an Introduction to Mindfulness and Pasta Making. It’s great because the classes allow me to meet interesting people, introduces me to a topic I am interested in, and provides me with an opportunity to determine if it’s something I want to try and master.
Q. What keeps you up at night?
A: Waiting to hear the sound of the key in my front door, so that I know my 17-year-old daughter is home safe and sound.
Esser Hayes Insurance Group
Christine earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Communication and Media Studies from Loyola University Chicago. She is currently the Director of Communications at Esser Hayes Insurance Group. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious.
Q: Please tell us about your role as the Director of Communications at Esser Hayes Insurance Group.
A: In my role as Communication Director, I manage all of our social media outlets as well as plan our internal and external special events. Because Esser Hayes is growing and my background is varied from project management to HR, I am fortunate to serve in other roles within the agency. I especially enjoy recruiting and developing training plans for all our new employees.
Q: What do you like most about your work?
A: I like that my role gets to interact with employees across all levels and business units of the organization. I love that every day I get to learn something new about the company/business/market/etc.
Q: Share with us your journey from your Communications and Media degree at Loyola University of Chicago to Esser Hayes.
A: It’s been a great journey, I have planned wonderful special events and promoted advocacy for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and further honed my project management skills at R.R. Donnelly heading up the Semiconductor database team. Entering a new arena, I joined a start-up software consulting business and wore several hats within the organization. As we grew my focus shifted to Human Resources and Training. When the company was sold, I stayed home to raise my daughter and finally returned to work as a Recruiter with Wilton Brands. Leaving Wilton, I served in a Sales & Marketing role for the Buona Restaurant Group and most recently have enjoyed helping Esser Hayes Insurance Group in various capacities, but currently serving as their Director of Communication. A role which is a great fit for my varied background and my strong desire to help others in any way I can.
Q: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned along the way?
A: That I really enjoy working in the insurance industry. I would not have ever guessed this would be an industry I would be in or be so passionate about, but I have found that we are great educators about insurance, a topic that many know little about, but that can really impact a person’s financial well-being.
Q: What advice would you give for other women in business?
A: Network with other female professionals. This not only has positive promotional aspects, it also provides a source of advice and strategies for dealing with women-specific challenges in the workplace. Networking should be an integral part of your professional strategy to obtain resources, contacts, ideas, information, job leads, sales leads, and valuable advice.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I recently discovered dabble.com – a marketplace for unique, in-person classes and experiences in your community. I have been attending different classes all over Chicagoland and recently enjoyed a sushi making and sake pairing class. Other classes I have recently enjoyed include an Introduction to Mindfulness and Pasta Making. It’s great because the classes allow me to meet interesting people, introduces me to a topic I am interested in, and provides me with an opportunity to determine if it’s something I want to try and master.
Q. What keeps you up at night?
A: Waiting to hear the sound of the key in my front door, so that I know my 17-year-old daughter is home safe and sound.