CUSTOMER SERVICE

Editor’s Note: Nikki Patrick is enjoying vacation. Please enjoy this personality profile by Staff Writer Andre Nash while she is out. Patrick’s People will return on Friday.

Monica Miller, Pittsburg, has been serving people all her life.
Saturday night, Miller served customers at Idle-a-While in Cherokee to raise money for the March of Dimes as part of a push by her company, Farmer’s Insurance. Every year, Farmer’s Insurance has a March of Dimes drive.
“Each district tries to raise the most money,” Miller said. “One agent sat on the roof of a building until they raised enough money. One of the agents had a motorcycle ride for the drive. This just made a lot of sense to me.”
The idea to wait tables for March of Dimes tips came about as kind of a throwback to Miller’s childhood.
Miller is Monica’s married name. Pichler is her maiden name.
“I was raised in customer service. My parents used to own Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s. My brother Anthony owns that now,” Miller said. “So I’ve been raised in it. Helping wait tables is a way of life. If I can help, I do what I can do.”
That same mantra has helped Miller in her profession with Farmer’s Insurance.
“It’s awesome,” Miller said. “You get to help the people you know, and you have the power to offer something to them. I know this company. I know how it works. There are none better, and we are based in customer service.”
Miller has been working in her current position for four years, and even her customers have great things to say about her customer service.
“I hit a deer, or should I say a deer hit me. She came and helped,” said Melissa LaCore. “She said it was no big deal and helped us get it taken care of. It’s always great when an agent can do that for you.”
Saturday night’s event at Idle-a-While was not just about waiting tables. Miller had plenty of giveaways, including seat cushions, footballs, suntan lotion and water bottles.
The music for the evening, scheduled long before Miller planned to wait tables, even offered to donate some of the money from his cover charge. Sky Smeed, the musician, offered $1.50 from every $6 cover charge.
Monica Miller was not alone serving the customers. She had someone following in her footsteps. Anna Miller, Monica’s daughter, helped serve the customers at Idle-a-While and is also helping Monica at Farmer’s Insurance.
“I was working as a customer service representative for her, and all of a sudden I started writing policies and really getting into it,” Anna Miller said. “I really like everything about it. I learn new things every day. Every claim, I’m learning something.”
There must be something in the Miller bloodline about insurance. Monica said it’s been in her blood for a long time.
“Insurance is my passion. Helping people is my passion,” Monica Miller said. “I like making sure that everything is taken care of.”

Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.