SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Agri-Services Agency (ASA) Vice President of Product and Distribution Paul Kulpa is based out of Syracuse, NY, and has worked with ASA for 8 years. “I oversee our internal sales team all over the country, and manage the external broker team around the country as well,” said Kulpa. “My role has changed a few times since I’ve been here, as different focuses have been needed. I started working more on the product development side of things with healthcare reform in 2014; specifically on an online system to enroll in health insurance.”
Kulpa spent time in marketing for ASA and now focuses on sales management. “Sales management entails managing both sides of the house including internal sales and our broker network to grow our benefits and workers business” said Kulpa. “First and foremost, our goal is to help our farmer and agribusiness customers. My focus is managing our team, helping them reach their goals, and help our customers. On the broker side, I focus on engaging with our broker distribution network so that they have full access to our ag focused workers compensation program.”
Kulpa is originally from the Syracuse, NY area, but moved to Tennessee for a decade to work in the healthcare industry. Kulpa received a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management from SUNY Institute of Technology, as well as a master’s in science healthcare administration from the same institution. “I wasn’t actively looking for a job before I found ASA, but we wanted to move closer to home,” said Kulpa. “I had colleagues that worked at ASA, so I reached to one of my contacts at ASA, he said that ASA wanted to talk to me, things worked out and here I am today.”
I like ASA. I work with great people, and I also love it because we work with farmers every day, they’re real salt of the earth people. I also like that it has allowed me to travel to a number of areas and farms all over the country. It can be a little daunting when you travel every other week, but in the end it’s fun. I like insurance, working in insurance, and helping explain the products to people that don’t deal with it every day. When I can help protect a farm or business, it is very rewarding.”
Kulpa is currently working on a new health program. “It’s what I used to do at Blue Cross in product development, so it’s nice doing something where I can draw on old expertise,” said Kulpa. “We’re developing an association health plan that’s specific to agricultural businesses. Currently it will be limited, but there may be an opportunity to expand into other states eventually. The healthcare solution we’re developing is very unique in that it is specific to farms and other agricultural businesses. The product we’re developing is very exciting, it’s got the potential to offer significant savings combined with great coverage.”
Agri-Services Agency offers a variety of competitively priced, high-quality insurance programs designed to give agribusiness owners a competitive edge and to help attract and retain good employees. We are the nation’s first and only cooperative-driven insurance agency supported by the mission and values of the consumers we insure. Call us at 877-466-9089 today and get the conversation started today!
–Agri-Services Agency