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."
Liz is dedicated to servicing claims for all of our clients. One of the features at O’Connor Insurance is that we follow the claims process, rather than just turning it over to the insurance companies. Liz is here to handle our clients’ claim questions and oversee that the companies give fair, fast, and appropriate care to all our clients’ claims. Liz also contributes to our Business Insurance Department by assisting with our community association accounts. Liz is truly instrumental in her ability to provide prompt service.In 1983, Liz began her insurance career in the policy service department at Amerisure. Her claims experience began as a liability and subrogation adjuster in 1994. Liz started at our Agency in 1999 as our Claim Representative. She obtained her Independent Insurance Agent (llA) insurance certificate in 1996 and obtained her Insurance License in March of 2000.
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.
Russell has worked in the insurance industry since 1987. He has been with O’Connor Insurance since 1997, handling Business Insurance accounts. Russell takes pride in continuance of his insurance education. He holds his Property, Casualty, Life, and Health License. Russell stays informed having most recently completed the requirements for the elite Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter Designation (CPCU) in 2010. He already completed the requirements for the Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS), and Associate in Management (AIM) designations. Russell applies his experience when servicing and advising our customers. While he strives to provide fast, reliable service, his main priority is providing an accurate response to your insurance inquiries. Russell is available to answer questions regarding Commercial Property, General Liability, Equipment Floaters, Business Automobile, Workers Compensation, Umbrella, Professional Liability, Bonds, Life, Health, Employee Benefits and any other insurance concern you may have. I will find solutions to manage your risk. Your total protection is our priority!
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.
Kathy began her insurance career in her family’s insurance agency in 1982, and obtained her Insurance License. Kathy has always specialized in Personal Insurance, Home, Auto, and Personal Umbrellas. She joined O’Connor Insurance in 1994 in our Personal Insurance Department and Kathy continues servicing these customers.
Kathy is critical to the background operations in our agency. She handles whatever the agency throws her way, from special projects and technical updates to bookkeeping.
ROBERT D. O'CONNOR
Our Late Founder
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.