NEWS ARTICLE
September 16, 2021
Western National Announces Officer Promotions of Poppe & Dietrich
(Minneapolis, Minn.) Western National Mutual Insurance Company today announced that it has promoted two employees – Heidi Poppe and Jeff Dietrich — to new Vice President roles on its officer team, effective immediately.
Heidi Poppe, now Vice President – Product Technology, joined Western National in 2001 as a software programmer and has spent 20 years progressing through successive leadership roles in technology application development and delivery. During that time, she has helped implement a variety of emerging technologies including agile, microservices, robotics, product delivery, and more. Recently, she has been responsible for the technical delivery of the company’s administration systems replacement. Poppe is a graduate of Moraine Park Technical College.
Jeff Dietrich, now Vice President – IT Infrastructure & Service Management, joined Western National in 2020, having previously led global IT infrastructure teams and IT service management organizations at Toppan Merrill, Thomson Reuters, and more. During his time at Western National, he has successfully implemented a new Service Desk offering, IT Service Management processes, and secured key talent needed to drive stability, scalability, and reliability within core IT functions. Dietrich holds degrees from St. Cloud State University (B.S.) and the University of St. Thomas (M.B.A.).
“Heidi and Jeff are strong leaders who act with integrity in the service of our customers in all they do,” said Loren Klassen, Chief Information Officer at Western National. “We are pleased to recognize their impressive contributions with these promotions. I look forward to the ways their expanded leadership will positively impact our Group as a whole and the many customers we serve, both internally and externally.”
Western National Insurance, headquartered in Edina, Minn., is a super-regional group of property-and-casualty insurance companies. The Group writes business through seven active insurance companies—Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Western National Assurance Company, Pioneer Specialty Insurance Company, Arizona Auto Insurance Company, Umialik Insurance Company, American Freedom Insurance Company, and Nevada General Insurance Company — and is affiliated with Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Company. Together, the affiliated companies write over $800 million in personal and commercial Direct Premium in 22 states across the Northern, Midwestern, and Western U.S. as well as in Alaska; and surety bonds in 41 states. All of the affiliated companies’ products are sold exclusively through professional Independent Insurance Agents.
For further information, please contact:
Steve Norman, CPCU, M.A., AIT
Assistant Vice President – Communications
(952) 921-5680 or (800) 862-6070 Ext. 7680
steven.norman@wnins.com
