Lori DeVries

Vice President, Health Insurance Specialist

Bio: Lori DeVries started her career as a health insurance agent at The Insurance Connection in 1997. She currently sells all lines of health insurance for both individuals and groups. Lori strives to learn what clients’ individual needs are so she can find the appropriate coverage that works best for them. She enjoys helping her customers and in doing so has built many positive relationships with them. When Lori is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, taking care of her Welsh Corgi, Max, and sewing.

Alice Johnson

Business Insurance Specialist

Bio: Alice joined The Insurance Connection in 1983. She has many years experience in both personal lines and commercial lines insurance. Alice completed the CISR and ACSR designations through The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. She works diligently at giving customers the service that is deserved. Alice grew up in Howard, SD and has lived in Sioux Falls for 40 years. She is married to Myron Johnson and they are the parents of six grown children. There are 14 little people who call her Grandma! Alice is active at Hope Community Church. She sings harmony with the praise & worship group.

Heather Reed

Health, Life & Long-Term Care Specialist

Bio: Heather started working in the insurance industry when she joined the staff of The Insurance Connection in 2008. She is currently licensed in life and health and sells individual and group health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance as well as Medicare products. Heather enjoys being an agent for her customers because she knows how complicated insurance can be and works hard to make her customers feel informed and secure in the policies they buy. Originally from Sioux Falls, Heather got her bachelor's degree from Lawrence University, Appleton, WI in history and government and her master's degree from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD in secondary education. She has been married to Simon since 2005 and is the proud mother of Owen and James! Heather enjoys sewing, baking and traveling.

Jeremy DeVries

Business Insurance Specialist

Bio: Jeremy DeVries started working in the insurance industry in 2009 when he joined The Insurance Connection staff. He is licensed in all lines of insurance and spends most of his time working with commercial/business customers. His goal is to provide the right protection to his clients’ businesses. He enjoys tailor-making policies for each business and can do this with the wide variety of insurance companies available at our agency. Jeremy grew up in Sioux Falls, SD and is the proud father of two boys.

Gavin VanZee

Auto & Home Insurance Specialist

Bio: Gavin started his insurance career in 2009 at Rocky Mountain Insurance Specialists in Denver, CO, and has been with The Insurance Connection since April 2010. He is part of the personal lines side of the business, which includes home, auto, umbrella, motorcycle, boat, ATV, and RV insurance. Gavin’s goal is to find his customers the best policy he can get for them at the most competitive price. He grew up in Highmore, SD and is a graduate of The University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Eileen Smith

Commercial Customer Service Representative

Bio: Eileen started working in the insurance industry at The Insurance Connection in 1997. She has found that the position of Commercial Customer Service Representative is the perfect fit for her and prides herself in working attentively to ensure customers policies and inquiries are handled with care and accuracy. Eileen is a native of Nebraska and moved to Sioux Falls in 1995. She has been married to her husband Bill since 1969 and they have 3 grown children. They have no grandchildren yet…but enjoy being Papa & Nana to several neighborhood children. Eileen enjoys flower gardening and sewing.

Kristi Hahn

Commercial Customer Service Representative

Bio: Kristi started working in insurance in 2001 and joined The Insurance Connection in 2005. She is a graduate of Minnesota West Community & Technical College with a focus in administrative support. She is a Commercial Lines Customer Service Representative and works with efficiency to keep our agency as up-to-date on customer files as she can. Kristi has been married since 2001 and became a proud mother in 2009.

Vicki Bruner

Customer Support Specialist

Bio: Vicki began her work in insurance when she joined The Insurance Connection in April 2010. She holds the position of Customer & Administrative Support Specialist and prides herself on making sure our customers questions are answers and their needs are taken care of. Vicki has been married to her husband Randy since 1973 and they have three grown children and two grandchildren. She enjoys gardening, cooking, sewing and being a grandma.

Brenda Gervais

Business Insurance CSR & Agent

Bio: Brenda started her insurance career in 2006 in North Dakota and joined The Insurance Connection in December of 2011. She is licensed in all lines of insurance but her focus is on commercial. Growing up on a farm in a small town in North Dakota, Brenda learned that hard work , patience and attentiveness are very important. She uses these values each day in assisting her clients. Brenda attended the University of North Dakota where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Bachelor of Arts in Language. Brenda moved to Sioux Falls in 2007 with her husband, Jason. They purchased their first home in a small town south of Sioux Falls in 2009, just in time to greet their only son. Brenda loves working with youth; she coaches girls third and fourth grade basketball and mentors in the Sioux Falls school district. She enjoys volunteering at her church, cooking and spending time with her family.