Kolterman named outstanding woman in business

Suzanne Kolterman was honored at Concordia University and Phi Beta Lambda’s annual Woman in Business Luncheon.

On March 1, Judge Riko Bishop of the Nebraska Court of Appeals was the keynote speaker during the luncheon.

Bishop thanked CU and PBL, a student business organization, for inviting her to campus to celebrate excellence in leadership “homegrown right here in the Seward community.”

According to a press release from CU Kolterman was raised on a dairy farm in Goehner and graduated from Seward High School. Kolterman then graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her bachelor of science in consumer education.

She now owns and operates the Kolterman Agency with her husband, Sen. Mark Kolterman. They have provided long-term care insurance, health insurance, Medicare supplements, dental and prescription drug plans for their customers since 1980.

Kolterman also is a member of the National and Nebraska Association of Health Underwriters and of the Seward Chamber of Commerce and she is involved at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, according to CU’s press release.

Bishop said Kolterman is an inspiration to the youth in the community because of her healthy family life and her service to the community.

“Let us feel inspired,” Bishop said.

Bishop also asked why there are special requirements that celebrate women separately from men, using the example of the best actor and best actress award for the Academy Awards instead of one award for both genders.

“I think we take notice of this… because, historically, our government and businesses have been dominated by men,” Bishop said, adding “thank goodness for those men.”

She said male leaders and the men in women’s lives can help build unity and encourage women.

But these recognitions demonstrate how old gender barriers are eroding, Bishop said. She added that women can still be good mothers and wives while having successful careers.

After Bishop’s speech, Kolterman took the podium.

“I am deeply humbled to be chosen today,” she said.

Kolterman said there are many other women in the community deserving of the award.

“How do they do it all?” Kolterman said. “Women are very special.”

After graduating high school, Kolterman said her dream was to go to college. But then, there were few options for women—namely nursing and teaching. Kolterman said she hates the sight of blood and didn’t have the patience to teach.

So Kolterman earned her degree in consumer education with the goal of becoming a county Extension agent. Instead, she became a teller at Cattle National Bank and Trust Co., where she learned she liked working one-on-one with people. She worked at Cattle Bank for eight or nine years before she and Mark bought their insurance agency.

“And I plunged into the world of insurance,” Kolterman said.

Kolterman added that she also worked in real estate as both an agent and a broker.

Kolterman said she took a different path than she expected, but all that she has done has given her experience to draw on.

During her speech, Kolterman gave advice to the crowd. She said it’s important to do what’s right for the customer. She said she may not make sales right away, but working for the customer builds trust.

“We’ve found that patience has been a beneficial practice,” Kolterman said.

In addition to building trust, this view also builds a relationship, which Kolterman said was the most important thing to do.

Overall, Kolterman said what she has in her life would not be possible without God.

“If I can remember that… then I think I’ve done what God wants me to do,” she said.

Kolterman said the best part of her job is when a customer thanks her.

“In that moment, I know I’ve done my job well,” Kolterman said.