The Roving Reporter
Shirle Anderson
Pets Best Insurance
UPExchange: Reporting from the Cloud by ETM
A Special Interview by
After the Gluefoot Incident in Dallas, our crestfallen Roving Reporter
decided to take a bus from Cedar Rapids to Boise, Idaho, thinking a
visit to Lucky Peak State Park might improve his fortunes. After falling
off Lucky Peak Dam into Lucky Peak Lake, he thought it might be safer
to visit with Shirle Anderson, Controller at Pets Best Insurance. Shirle
manages 250 to 300 unclaimed property records a year and has been
using UPExchange since it was first released.
UPExchange, Shirle engaged our sentimental
scribe in a wonderful conversation about pets,
what they mean, and what it means to lose them.
UPExchange: Reporting from the Cloud by ETM
Aside from enthusiastically endorsing
RR: This question has become my favorite in these interviews we’ve been conducting because it always
gives me an opportunity to learn something. What is the nature of the unclaimed property records that
you hold?
Shirle: They’re claims checks that were never cashed. Believe it or not, we insure more than 55,000 pets
across the United States.
RR: Wow! That’s a lot of pets. But if you’re not going to cash the check, why insure or file the claim?
Shirle: People are just so upset over losing their pets that an insurance check just doesn’t matter at that point.
RR:
I have to say I do understand that. It hadn’t occurred to me, but I do understand it.
Shirle: There’s quite a grieving process that follows losing a pet. When owners get those checks, they put them
somewhere and lose track of them. I know I bond with my animals. They’re family members, and it’s
very difficult when they pass on.
RR:
I have to admit my wife thinks I’m completely nuts because I talk to our four cats constantly. She
doesn’t believe for a moment that they talk back to me, but they do.
My husband’s the same way. He looks at me like, “What are you doing,” because I go home
and say, “Hello babies! Mama’s home!” We’re allowed to bring our pets to work here. We
don’t bring cats because we have so many dogs here, but probably 50 percent of our
employees bring their dogs to work with them.
RR: That’s a wonderful environment and a wonderful segue to my next question: I know you
were an early adopter of UPExchange. Were you part of the company’s unclaimed property
environment before the availability of UPExchange?
Shirle: The company’s only six years old. So, about the time it became necessary for me to start
tracking unclaimed property, UPExchange was available.
RR: Do you recall or have any way of knowing how your company found out about it?
Shirle: Yes. I found it on the Internet. I just did a search on unclaimed property reporting.
RR: Considering what you did or what you knew prior to getting UPExchange, how has it
changed the things you have to do?
UPExchange: Reporting from the Cloud by ETM
Shirle: Shirle: We’re in all 50 states. So my major concern was being compliant with all 50 states. I can’t manage that.
When I found UPExchange, that was exactly what I needed. RR: Trying to learn a new program or new software can be at least initially intimidating. In terms of your
ability to use the system and the learning curve, what was that like for you?
Shirle: I’m pretty computer-literate, and I thought the system was quite intuitive. I never called ETM for any
assistance or anything. I managed to navigate just fine.
RR: Is it safe to think, then, that one of the most attractive features, to you anyway, is the ability of
UPExchange to keep track of – and to be up to date with – the requirements of all 50 states?
Shirle: Yes, because I did research some other software that was available out there. UPExchange was the
easiest to maneuver, and that’s why I chose it.
RR: Was pricing a consideration for you?
Some programs are way out of whack. But with its ability to store and manage my
unclaimed property, UPExchange’s pricing was very competitive. The upgrades ETM has
made have been very, very good. And I don’t have a lot of contact with my ETM rep; but
anytime there is an upgrade, she’s very prompt to let me know before I get in there and
start wondering what in the world happened. The service and the product have been very
satisfying. They’re taking good care of their client base.
RR: Would you recommend UPExchange?
Shirle: I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
RR: Shirle, this has been as enlightening as it has been enjoyable. Thank you so much.
Shirle: You’re quite welcome. I’ve enjoyed it, too.
UPExchange: Reporting from the Cloud by ETM
Shirle: UPExchange: Reporting from the Cloud by ETM
©2013 ETM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
5825 COUNCIL STREET NE
PO BOX 11100
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52410-1100
PHONE: 855.737.1688
Eagle Technology Management, Inc.
FAX: 319.393.3117
WEB: BYETM.COM