10 May 2023 501Der Woman 2023: Michelle Mallett

Posted at 7:53 PMh in 501Der Women, Features by

Michelle Mallett’s official title at Ott Insurance in Conway is hard to pin down because she’s filled so many roles over the past 27 years.

Co-owner Lonnie Cagle called her “a calming presence in this ever-changing insurance world. She strives for excellence in every detail and lives out each of our core values daily, some of which include consistency, mutual trust and exceeding expectations.”

Co-owner Stanley Gordon Jr. said many titles fit Mallett and described her as “passionate, innovative, hard-working, honest, competitive, fearless, and I could go on and on. She treats every decision as a business owner would, from dealing with employees to making financial decisions for the company.” He settled on calling her the senior manager. Mallett just knows she loves her job, regardless of what title she’s given.

“As many colleagues in the insurance field say, you don’t choose insurance, it chooses you. This was correct in my case,” she said. Mallett has lived in Conway most of her life. “I began working part-time at Ott Land Title while attending UCA. Robert Ott, who owned Ott Land Title and Robert L. Ott Insurance at the time, allowed me to transfer over to the insurance side to fill a bookkeeping position.” She stayed because of her co-workers and the satisfaction her job brings.

“What I love about my job and my biggest accomplishments are not the ones that usually get noticed by awards or certificates. They are the behind-the-scenes victories. Being able to work with a client’s insurance carrier to reverse a claim denial, if possible, by providing the evidence necessary is always a victory for the clients we serve and rewarding for me. I must admit, I do a little happy dance,” she said.

Mallett said she thinks more young women should choose insurance as a career. “Being a woman in the insurance field has been a very positive experience for me. In addition to the 14 incredible women I work with, I have had so many influential insurance women that have supported, taught and demonstrated character that I will always carry with me.”

Not that she’s going anywhere soon. It would be hard to operate the office without her. “To sum her up, she’s special,” Gordon said.

Contact Michelle today at [email protected] or 501.513.8146.