SYMETRA NEWSROOM
Symetra Awards Top Honor For Community Service To Bellevue Employee Deanne Dodson
BELLEVUE, Wash. — (Mar. 13, 2019) — Symetra, a national provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, announced that DeAnne Dodson is the recipient of the company’s ninth-annual CEO Service Award. The award recognizes Symetra employees for exemplary community service. Dodson is an IT operations manager in Symetra’s Bellevue, Washington headquarters.
“‘Swift to Serve’ is one of Symetra’s core values. This attitude describes the way we interact with our customers and partners, but it also defines the deep sense of responsibility we have to the communities where we live and do business. This year’s CEO Service Award honoree, DeAnne Dodson, truly exemplifies that spirit,” said Symetra CEO Margaret Meister, who selected Dodson for the honor.
Dodson has been an active member of Symetra Service Squad, the company’s employee volunteer group since 2015. She has served as a Symetra Week of Service team captain for several years, often leading multiple projects, and also spearheaded fundraising efforts for Symetra’s annual Adopt-a-Family holiday gift program benefiting local families in need. A longtime volunteer at Eastside Baby Corner, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids thrive, Dodson championed the organization’s participation in Symetra’s I CARE nonprofit fair.
“DeAnne utilizes her many strengths to help people who need it the most—that is a reflection of her personal core values and mission in life,” wrote Symetra VP Kelli Burns in one of Dodson’s nominations. “We are lucky to have someone here at Symetra who is consistently committed to making our world better.”
As part of the CEO Service Award, Symetra donates $2,000 to the nonprofit organization of the honoree’s choice. Dodson will direct half of her award to Issaquah, Washington-based Eastside Baby Corner and the other half to IGNITE—Inspiring Girls Now in Technology Evolution, an organization she has been involved with for nearly 25 years that aims to expand the diversity of talent in technological fields.
Commitment to Community Service
Symetra supports its employees’ volunteer spirit through the company’s matching time program, annual Symetra Week of Service and Symetra Service Squad. Since 2009, the Symetra Week of Service has connected employees with volunteer opportunities in the community. From clearing trails to tutoring students to assembling emergency preparedness kits, employees choose a project they care about and take time out of their work day to volunteer, contributing more than 14,000 Week of Service hours to date. The Symetra Service Squad is an employee force ready to roll up their sleeves and give back. Members meet to share ideas about volunteer opportunities and hear from local nonprofits about ways to get involved in the community.
About Symetra
Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent financial professionals and insurance producers.
Contact(s):
Media Relations:
Diana McSweeney
(425) 256-6167
diana.mcsweeney@symetra.com