Profile
“I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
Maddie Beja joined Risk Placement Services (RPS) in 2016 after graduating from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. At university, Beja spent two years in the RPS Internship Program and received an offer to join the property team upon graduation.
“I am definitely part of the lucky group who ‘fell’ into the industry,” she explains. “Our team often refers to insurance as the ‘best kept secret’ in the business world. As someone without family in the industry and who did not attend a college that offered a risk management program, I can say I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. I accepted my internship at Risk Placement Services with hardly any knowledge of insurance.
“As a business student at a large university, I knew I wanted to do something in sales or consulting, but insurance was just not on my radar. I was very fortunate to attend a career fair where I meet a representative from RPS, dropped my resume and was eventually offered a position.”
During her seven years at RPS, Maddie’s career has progressed from associate broker to inside broker; to area assistant vice president; and to her current position of area vice president.
In a production role, she is now a partner in her team’s book of business, having helped grow their revenue from $2.2 million in 2016 to $5.5 million in 2022, and being on track for $7 million for year-end 2023. Internally, she has been recognized by attending RPS’s Top Performers Club for five consecutive years, starting in 2019.
“The biggest challenge in my current role is that there never seems to be enough hours in a day,” she says. “It feels like there is always more that I can do in a given day for our team and our clients. The state of property market has definitely increased our workload, but it has also allowed me to grow so much as a broker by figuring out how to better qualify opportunities, prioritize my desk, and strengthen my relationships with both agents and carriers. I do my best to not leave anything in my inbox that I can address today, while still understanding that there is always tomorrow.”
Beja is also very passionate about supporting and developing young talent within the industry. At RPS, she has served as coordinator of the RPS Internship Program as well as a mentor to the classes of their internal career associate program. In addition, she was selected as a member of the WSIA Internship Committee starting in 2020 and has since helped spread awareness about the E&S industry as well as support the internship program and WSIA overall.
Outside of work, Maddie enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Chicago with her fiancé and her cat, Callie.
525 W. Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60607
866 595 8413
ContactRPS@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/maddiebeja
rpsins.com
Maddie Beja
Area Vice President
Risk Placement Services
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“To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
2016
2019
2020
2022
2023
Started at Risk Placement Services as Associate Broker after graduating from Indiana University - Bloomington
2016
Earned membership in RPS Top Performers Club
2019
Promoted to Inside Property Broker
2020
Promoted to Area Assistant Vice President
2022
Promoted to Area Vice President
2023
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
How does he distinguish himself among fellow brokers?
“I believe all brokers are working very hard in a difficult market,” he says. “However, I have demonstrated continued growth, advocacy and performance on my client’s behalf, which is now recognised [for 10 consecutive years] in the Elite Broker awards.”
In 1990, Dixon got started with FAI, working in claims and as a team leader. From the late 1990s up until 2003, he worked at FAI and Suncorp in underwriting and as an area manager at VACC, CGU (South East Queensland). From 2003 to 2012, he got into broking and eventually started Dixon Insurance in 2013. Since then, he’s accumulated numerous acccolades, including Elite Broker, Diversity and Equity, and Fast Broker awards.
During the pandemic, Dixon challenged insurers over the Quarantine Act application to insurance wordings. His argument was that the Quarantine Act does not apply as an exclusion, as the Biosecurity Act was invoked by the Morrison Government, and this was not a subsequent amendment to the Quarantine Act. The test case in the Appeals court was won for Dixon’s client with a unanimous five-judge verdict.
He remains focused on transport, manufacturing, motor trade, engineering and large farm clients.
What are his plans for the future?
On a business level, “more of the same. I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes.”
On a personal level, Dixon invests significant time, effort and funds, along with his GT3, to support many charities through his passion for motorsport. From participating in and sponsoring the Thunderbolt Run (which provides tens of thousands of dollars in support for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer), to organising and running the Track Knights for Amira charity night where 28 Exotic Supercars raised funds through passenger laps in wet conditions, Dixon states “this is our time to give back to the community and those in need. My friendships and association with those seeking to do the same, allows us to contribute to those less fortunate and raise funds and awareness”.
He adds: “To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need.”