Please join us in congratulating Max Cusator, our Employee Spotlight for the month of April!
Max Cusator is VP of Staff Development at Inszone Insurance Services. He decided to pursue a career in the insurance industry because he saw an opportunity to showcase his ability to provide catered solutions to complex problems. Max pursued his education at California State University Long Beach, where he earned a bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance.
When asked to share some words about Max, Jared Strong, said, “Max has always had a contagious positive attitude and a knack for bringing out the best in others throughout his trainings and interactions with the Inszone team. Max has been instrumental in shaping the Staff Development Department, specifically with Inszone U and other key areas of the department. We’re lucky to have his energy and leadership guiding the way for the department moving forward as he steps into the Staff Development Manager role. Congrats Max!”
To get to know more about Max, we asked him a couple of questions about himself and his time at Inszone:
Q: What initially brought you to the insurance industry?
A: I was drawn to the industry for a few reasons. As I was finishing my degree at Long Beach State, like most 22-year-olds, I was trying to figure out what to do with my life after school. Being naturally competitive, I was attracted to a sales-type role. While exploring my next move, I ran into Jared at a social event with our friends. He mentioned that he had been working for a few months at a small independent agency in Anaheim, CA. Knowing I was looking for a job after finishing my last semester of school and final season of Water Polo, he offered to set me up with an interview. A couple of weeks later, I took the interview—and the rest is history!
Q: In what ways do you think your unique background or experiences contribute to your success in your role?
A: I believe playing sports my whole life prepared me to thrive in this type of environment. I know that success requires hard work and dedication—there are no shortcuts. Early on, I learned that teamwork is essential to excelling in anything you pursue. It’s also important to understand your role within a team and play it well!
Q: If you could describe your approach to teamwork in three words, what would they be and why?
A: If I had to narrow it down to 3 words, I’d probably say my approach is:
a. Trust: you must be able to trust your team, if you can’t do that then you’re going to run into issues.
b. Understanding: When working in a team, you need to have an understanding that not everyone operates the same way as you. There needs to be a give and take to achieve your goals.
c. Accountability: arguably the most important trait of them all is having accountability for yourself to others. Knowing that other people are counting on you to deliver on results at a high level has always been a huge motivator for me.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence or mentor in your life, and what valuable lessons have you learned from them?
A: I’d have to say my dad has been a big influence on my life. He taught me to be strong and resilient in the face of challenges and to work hard to overcome them. He showed me that if I can stay dedicated and focused on a task, anything is possible. He showed me how to be there for the people that count on you, especially when things aren’t going according to plan. He has always been one of my favorite people to spend time with and has helped me become the man that I am today.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
A: I am extremely proud of our Inszone University program. Its taught me patience, sacrifice, and perspective. I’ve learned that everyone deserves a chance to make it in this industry, it doesn’t matter if you’re the greatest salesman in the world or never understood how insurance works, if you’re willing to work hard, learn, and be coachable, you can accomplish a whole lot!
Q: What are some hobbies you do outside of work that you enjoy?
A: Outside of work I love to spend time with my friends, doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are all together, good times are sure to come. I am an avid golfer, runner, and gamer. But most of all, I love spending time with my beautiful wife Sarah and our dog Blue. Going for our weekly family walk to our favorite local coffee shop is something I look forward to every Friday!
Juan Cruz
