MEET THE O'CONNOR TEAM
After attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Karen began her insurance career in the claim department of an insurance company in the Midwest. And so began a lifetime focus on the importance of customer satisfaction and service. In 1985 she joined O’Connor Insurance Agency founded in 1975 by her father, the late Robert O’Connor, and gained a broad base of experience in Personal, Business, Life and Health Insurance, marketing, production, and management. In 2005 following the death of her father, Karen assumed helm of the company as President and more recently in 2020 as sole owner. She and her mother, Cheryl O’Connor, Vice-President, have developed the agency into a premier position as a recognized St. Louis Area specialist in insuring over 500 community associations currently. Jointly, they have elevated the agency to a status that invites consultations from clients, many prospective associations in and outside the St. Louis Area, insurance companies, attorneys, and their competitors as well. Karen has been accredited as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) since 1999. She is also one of the few individuals in the State of Missouri to be accredited as a Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS) through the Community Association Institute (CAI), a non-profit organization of community association leaders, community managers, and service professionals. Her expertise in the field has equipped her to serve as an instructor in risk management and best practices for professional property managers and for volunteer community leaders. She is an active member of the CAI having served as Past President and board member. Karen also serves as the national Chairperson of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Technical Affairs Committee, a member of the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) Coverage Advisory Committee, and participates annually in the Mid-America Technical Conference. Karen was recently awarded the prestigious 2020 Insurance Person of the Year by the MAIA.
Cheryl has built a solid insurance career from the ground up beginning with her initial years in the insurance business in 1970 with Bituminous Insurance Company where she established a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in commercial property and casualty underwriting, loss control, and auditing. In 1981 she joined her husband, the late Robert O’Connor, to expand their family-owned business, O’Connor Insurance Agency, and added all aspects of experience in agency management, finance, claims, personal insurance and life and health insurance. Since that time, Cheryl and her daughter, Karen O’Connor Corrigan, President and owner, have developed a specialized commercial insurance niche in the St. Louis Area serving over 500 community associations. Their knowledge and expertise in the condominium sector, in particular, is highly respected and valued by all who have the opportunity to work with them.
After an insurance career of over 40 years in St. Louis, Mollie lasted only 6 weeks in retirement. Recruited by her professional friends of many years, the co-owners of O’Connor, she resumed her insurance career as Operations Manager for the agency in 2014. Mollie’s experience in the insurance business includes being a former agency owner, managing officer roles in two well-known St. Louis independent insurance agencies, and as a Regional Marketing/Underwriting Manager for a regional insurance company. She has also served as Past President of the Missouri Association of Independent Agents (MAIA), a member of its Executive Committee, a 10-year member of the Board of Directors, and was a recipient of the MAIA Insurance Person of the Year award. Mollie also served on the St. Louis Independent Agents Board of Directors for 6 years and received its Insurance Agent of the Year award. She has held accreditation as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) since 1991.
After several years in a faculty position at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Elizabeth successfully transitioned her academic talents into the field of commercial insurance in 2003. For the next eleven years, she applied her skills as an Account Manager with a large national insurance company underwriting Worker’s Compensation insurance over a multi-state area for a broad base of independent and direct writer insurance agencies. Elizabeth joined O’Connor in 2014 as a Commercial Account Manager and soon achieved her accreditation as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), a rigorous insurance curriculum which signifies a high level of knowledge, competence, and commitment to continuing insurance education. In 2021 she received accreditation as a Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS) adding even more to the value our clients already receive from her. Her daily focus is providing exceptional service to a segment of the agency’s large core of over 500 community associations. In addition to this important responsibility, she earned the role of Assistant Commercial Lines Department Manager in 2016 and Commercial Lines Manager in August 2018.
When your mother and father are immersed in the management of insurance claims for years, it’s no wonder that the world of interior design will eventually lose out to the family insurance gene pool. In 2012, Stacy entered the independent agency system and completed training as a specialized sales advisor and began working toward completion of the Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation. In October 2017, Stacy joined our community association insurance specialty and earned the accreditation as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). In 2021, she earned the role of Community Association Marketing Manager, a pivotal position on the Condominium Association Team. Stacy’s professional mission: “My passion is educating our customers and making recommendations to best serve them. ”Out of the office, this hockey Mom’s passion includes cheering on her two sons, a left winger and a defenseman."
In September 2024 when Ryan joined the agency, the third generation of O’Connor Insurance Agency was added to the legacy of the late Robert D. O’Connor, founder.
Prior to joining the agency, Ryan had earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri-Columbia and had been a practicing attorney for the last six years in the St. Louis area. Having grown up in an insurance family, he has made a solid transition into the insurance business as a key member of the commercial team working primarily in the specialty Community Association business niche.
In 2024 we had the good fortune to add this dedicated professional to our growing staff. After completing her B.S. in Business & Marketing, DeAnna’s considerable skills became evident in the ensuing fifteen years within the insurance agency business. Her abilities in leadership, problem-solving, attention to detail, and relationship building contributed significantly to the success of her employer’s agency. Today DeAnna’s strong interpersonal skills and work ethic shine through every day at O’Connor and exemplify our commitment to professionalism, education, and excellent customer service.
Agency growth in 2024 saw another new staff member added to our Commercial Department. After completing his degree at Westminster College, Dylan followed up with six solid years of Commercial support services within the independent agency system. Our staff and clients gained the benefit of that experience in July 2024 when Dylan joined our group. His positive attitude and willingness to do whatever is needed to get the job done are important parts of everyday life at O’Connor.
As O’Connor continued to grow in the Community Associations specialty in 2023, we were pleased to add Brian’s talents to our staff of trusted resources. His previous experience as an experienced leader in a niche market and a strong focus on relationship building were an ideal match for the O’Connor team. Brian also holds a B.S. in Business Administration at Southeast Missouri State University, but he isn’t all work and no play. He swings a mean golf club and holds the record of nineteen minutes for the Crown Candy Milkshake Challenge!
In 2021 Michaela continued to grow and develop her reputation in Personal Insurance with customers by receiving her certification as a Personal Lines Coverage Specialist (PLCS). She joined our Personal Insurance Department in 2022, and, within a few months, transitioned that interest into the Commercial Department with a laser-focus on our large Homeowners Association/Subdivision business segment within our specialty niche, Community Associations. Michaela maintains a good work/life balance by spending quality time with her son and family and trying out the latest cooking recipe!
Elizabeth (Liz) has brought a wealth of insurance experience to our team since 1999 when she originally joined the agency as our Claim Representative. Her prior in-depth claim handling knowledge originated with a large insurance company in 1983 and evolved to the role of a liability and subrogation adjuster with them in 1994. This knowledge has proven to be invaluable many times in her current long-time role as a Commercial Account Manager working in our Community Associations business niche. Her consistent attention to a high level of responsiveness to our customers’ needs has earned her high praise from them and the insurance companies with whom we interact.
Russell has worked within the insurance industry since 1987, and since joining us in 1997, he has proven his talent as a Commercial Account Manager by adeptly guiding our general commercial business which includes many classes of businesses for Commercial Property, General Liability, Equipment Floaters, Business Automobile, Workers Compensation, Umbrella/Excess Liability, Professional Liability, Bonds, and other ancillary commercial lines. He also handles certain community associations in our business niche as well as personal and business Life Insurance and Employee Benefits. Russell takes pride in the continuance of his insurance education to better serve our commercial customers. He currently has achieved designations as a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Professional Workers’ Compensation Advisor (PWCA), Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS), and Associate in Management (AIM).
When Michelle joined us in 2019, our personal insurance clients began enjoying the benefits of her thirty years of experience as a dedicated personal insurance advisor and service specialist. Her patient and thorough approach to assisting our clients is a winning combination for everyone who has the opportunity to work with her. She also has a special love for animals that keeps her busy pet-sitting evenings and weekends and has been a volunteer at the Crestwood Animal Shelter for over ten years. She fits right in with all of the animal lovers at O’Connor! In 2024,Michelle advanced to the role of Personal Lines Manager.
Mary is one of our valued Customer Service Representatives in our Personal Insurance Department. Her 30 plus years experience is diverse including a background in Commercial and Personal Insurance. Mary was a Business Insurance Underwriting Assistant at Wetterau from 1974 to 1996. She obtained her Insurance License in 1982 and continues her insurance education on an annual basis.Mary has served our Personal Insurance clients since 1996 and has developed many lasting relationships with our customers. Providing accurate and courteous service comes naturally to Mary, as she truly enjoys helping the customers. Mary is an attribute to our staff, as we strive to provide the very best in customer service.
As a U. S. Navy veteran, Michael’s disciplined approach to his work transitioned well into the insurance business. In 2023 he joined a family member with a direct writer agency then in September 2024, he moved into the independent agency system with O’Connor in our Personal Insurance department. Michael is committed to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction, increasing his insurance knowledge every day and sharing the benefit of that knowledge with our customers. He also frequently shares his dog Grizzly, an important companion, by visiting our dog-loving staff!
In June 2025, Hope transitioned nearly 12 years of personal insurance experience into the Personal Insurance team at O’Connor. With a warm and friendly personality, she strives to provide a high standard of service to the customers in her care, and she goes the extra mile in providing sound insurance advice that will best meet their needs. Hope is dedicated to ongoing education to benefit her customers and builds on a base of her experience and a B.A. in Business Administration from St. Louis University. She loves spending time with family and is very proud of her son who is a sergeant and career member of the U.S. Air Force. And in her spare time she loves to burn up the lanes as an avid bowling enthusiast!
Since joining us in May 2023, Connie has become the live voice of O’Connor Insurance to all of our callers who appreciate her friendly and warm welcome every day – no impersonal recording for our clients! Her many years of office experience ensures that our clients and agency staff receive the professional and important support services they need and deserve.
Founder of our agency, Robert O’Connor, was born September 19, 1943 and died February 3, 2005 at the age of 61. In 1975, Bob started his own insurance agency representing Farmers Insurance Group. Realizing he could not meet all his client needs with just ONE Company, he formed our “Independent Agency”.Bob’s wife, Cheryl, joined the agency in 1981. Then, his daughter, Karen, in 1985. Throughout the years, the agency staff and clientele has grown. Along with the growth came the purchase of our first office building in 1984. Our current building at Olive and I-270 was purchased in 1991.Bob served his community well. He was past President and Board member for many years for the St. Louis Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). He also devoted several years of service on the Board of Directors, as Committee Chairman, and served on the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce Board for several years, serving as President in 2001. He was awarded the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Outstanding Business Person of the Year in 2002 for his exceptional service.