Our Team

At United Leaders & Associates we recruit only the best talent in the industry. Our agents complete a comprehensive training program before they ever speak directly with a client, which ensures that they are well-informed on all products and receive the best care available.

 

Chad Lewis, Agency Director

In 2007, after spending several years in the mortgage industry as a top producer, it was all yanked away from me in the financial collapse.

I lost everything and was on the brink of homelessness.

This was arguably the first time that I truly faced financial adversity. I didn’t know how to pay my bills. Sometimes, this meant going without hot water or lights. I remember sneaking my trash to my neighbor’s bin because I couldn’t afford my garbage bill and believe it or not, that wasn’t even my lowest point.

After hearing from Brad Jennings about an insurance position that was open, I started working with Lincoln Heritage, but had not completely committed to the job. During this time, my ex-wife took my kids away from me and I was financially helpless. I struggled to get them back. At one point, I didn’t know if they were in the country or not. I thought that things couldn’t get any worse and then, during our custody battle, I received the news that my father had passed away.

This was a defining point in my life. I could stay at rock bottom or I could choose to go on. We all go through adversity. The difference is what I decided to do when I met my obstacles. With my mind made up, I decided to not make another excuse and went to work.

Brad had already set up a proven system to succeed in our business. Luckily, I was smart enough to become coachable and follow the proven system. To do this, I sacrificed every day to go out and sell. There were a lot of long days and it was hard work, but I did it. Going out everyday became easier and easier when I started to see that I was truly making a difference with my clients at a very difficult point in their lives.

Within three months, I had established myself not only as a top producer but also as a leader. I started to build my own agency, which is now United Leaders and Associates (ULA).

ULA has allowed me to rebuild my life ten times better than what it was before the financial collapse. More than that, I know that I’ll never again be where I was right after the collapse. I will never be hungry or helpless again. Thankfully, I’ve done more than just stay fed and keep the lights on. In my fifth year, I earned a ring from Justin Howard which shows I have made an excess of $250,000 in a year.

I’ve become inspired to help others feel the same power and hope in their own lives as I do today. To do this, I built ULA with a strong family culture and belief in a “team atmosphere.”

My absolute desire is for each and every member of my team to succeed.

If your goals are financial freedom, becoming your own boss, helping other people, and providing a legacy for your family— then ULA might just be the last career change you ever make. Come willing to work and be coachable,

I know what it is like to hit rock bottom and afterwards to climb back up the mountain. Come join the family! I look forward to standing with you at the top.

 

Keith Jackowski, Area Manager

After working 10 years in the ever-changing mortgage industry. I decided to try my luck, in what seemed to be a parallel career, selling insurance. From my first step into the very contemporary, swanky Columbus, OH office I had a feeling I was home. I soon found that Lincoln Heritage was much more than a new “sales job” it was my new “career.” They offered clients so much more than just life insurance. They offered a structured, pre-planned final expense program (with the company “Funeral Consumer Guardian Society®“) that actually helped the families, in an emotional time, deal with the loss of a loved one. Nearly all of my clients have experienced a funeral of someone who passed without having enough insurance to cover the funeral (most have no insurance at all). When it “hits home” that’s when people realize how important life insurance and having a plan, really is. What I really loved was that Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company® was the only company that was willing to go the extra mile. The Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage plan not only provides a policy but helps “price shop” a funeral for the mourning family. In such an emotional time, I’ve found that most clients are simply too distraught to make a rational decision. I am no longer a “sales person” with Lincoln Heritage, I’m an educator. I sit face to face with our clients, in their home, where they’re comfortable and not intimidated by a big fancy office. It’s so gratifying when a client tells me “my family is going to be so happy that I took care of this for them. Now they won’t have to pass the hat around when it’s my time to leave this world.” I’ve not only found an amazingly well recognized and storied company, but I found a career and a company that I can be proud of. We help each other. We support each other and we inspire each other to be the best agents in the business. This job has provided with me with all the tools necessary to give myself and my family a better life. I qualified for our annual company incentive trip to Scotland (I mean seriously, Scotland). They paid for both myself and my wife to stay in two different castles, dinners and scenic trips. I promise you, everything was “First class”. We were treated like royalty. I’ve qualified for multiple trips since then, including the Dominican Republic, Germany, Canada, and more. I can’t say enough good things about the company and the opportunity they’ve given all of us. Thank you Mr. Londen and your wonderful family for everything you do. There’s a perfect job out there for everyone. Lincoln Heritage is mine!

Mindy Lacey, Agent

I spent the first 23 years of my post-college life working in the restaurant industry. As that chapter came to a close, I decided to venture into the vast world of insurance.

I took my health and life classes and a week later, I found myself taking the state licensing exam. Days after that, I found myself with the second—yes second—job I had in 23 years. I was so excited to be starting this new chapter of my life.

I equated that job to a new pair of shoes.

You know the ones, the pair that speak to you as you walk down the aisle at the store. They’re exactly what you were looking for. They’re the right color, the right size, and the price can’t be beat. The next thing you know, you’re the proud owner of a new pair of kicks.

Smiling as you tighten up the laces, you can’t wait to wear them for the first time. Problem is, you get about halfway through your day and realize they aren’t quite as comfortable as you anticipated them to be. You want to take them off, but you don’t have another pair to change into. By the time your day is over, you have blisters the size of acorns and you’re cursing those new shoes with buyer’s remorse!

That was my first experience as a new insurance agent. I toughed it out for five months. Each day, going home with the blisters of knowing it just wasn’t the right fit. I got up and did it nearly every day for those five months before I “tossed those shows out.”

The very same day I quit that “job,” I walked in and started my “career” with Lincoln Heritage! I walked into what I thought was a job interview and I walked out with a new friend, a new family, and a contract for a new career. Chad Lewis, the manager of the agency, greeted me and within five minutes, I told him these exact words: “It’s so comfortable here; I feel like I’m at home.”

That was several years ago and I still feel like I’m at home. I feel like each of my coworkers is a member of my family. Each member encourages one another. They coach and share experiences and knowledge to make sure everybody is successful. They are passionate in what they do. They believe in the product they are selling, knowing it will change the lives of the client’s family members. As in any family, there is friendly competition, but I have never seen people that get just as excited for others’ success as they do for their own.

There is literally teamwork and humbleness from the top of the family-owned company, all the way down to the newest agent welcomed in on their first day.

This is not the easiest thing I have ever done. There are good days and bad, but with each day, this company offers the skills to learn and get better, while giving us unlimited opportunities to succeed. What we do with those opportunities, is up to us. As we say, “It’s all about the grind,” and the grind offers rewards beyond our wildest expectations.

This experience may not be for everybody, but I, for one, am happy about the “shoes” I’ve chosen to wear. I’m excited as to where this career can take me and it’s a great feeling to know I’m home with Lincoln Heritage.

Stefanie Richardson, Agent

I still remember my first conversation with Chad Lewis and I can’t believe I hesitated and almost said, “No.” I almost passed up the greatest opportunity that has changed my life.

Chad found me at the lowest point in my life after losing everything, while working for another insurance company, and eventually quitting. Chad, along with my manager, Keith Jackowski, provided such an amazing support system. Because of them, I have excelled and succeeded and have been able to rebuild what I lost and then some.

Five short years later, my life has completely changed and I haven’t looked back. Every day, I get to meet great people, help them and their families, and make great money while doing it! It’s a win-win! This is my career and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.

William R. Evans Sr., Agent

Recently, I celebrated my one-year anniversary here at Lincoln Heritage and United Leaders & Associates, ULA. I must say that this journey thus far has been epic!

I went from working 50 hours in a warehouse that had no room for growth, to now being able to help families with our Funeral Advantage plan, have a very flexible schedule, and earn what I’m worth! I know that I am walking in my God-given purpose by having a career here at Lincoln Heritage/ULA.

My management team is beyond awesome! They genuinely care for me and continue to give me all the tools necessary to be successful and eventually build an agency of my own.

Follow the proven system, communicate, and keep it super simple and I guarantee you’ll be successful.


    • Chad Lewis

      Founder and Managing General Agent, Chad Lewis, understands the importance of building a family culture. The ULA Team supports and cares about all their agents on their path of success.


      • Keith Jackowski

        Keith Jackowski, Managing General Agent, of United Leaders and Associates, shares his story on the ULA family culture that he and founder, Chad Lewis, started.