Meet Cristabel Rojo | Insurance agent

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristabel Rojo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristabel, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
My mother gave birth to me in Denver, CO. I was born to immigrant parents from Mexico. My first language is Spanish. In the United States, English is the dominant spoken language. However, there are many languages represented in our neighborhoods and states, the access to information in languages other than English is not a common practice in the US. Therefore, it makes it challenging for many people who prefer to speak a language other than English, resulting in barriers to information. Speaking only Spanish while growing up, at an early age, I realized that I had to learn English to support my parents in gaining access and navigating the education, health, food, and legal systems. I felt the challenges and disadvantages of trying to help my parents navigate the education, health, and food systems. It was the times when information was made inaccessible to my family that later, as an adult, I realized that language should not be a barrier to opportunities and access to systems that should support the well-being of all. Everyone has a right to speak, read or sign in their preferred language. Language opens us up to new experiences, perspectives, and wisdom.

My childhood and family’s challenges and experiences lead me to see the power of being able to connect information from one language to another. I leveraged those experiences to fuel my passion for the work I do today. At the age of 20, I started my career in the insurance industry. Why? Because I knew it was essential for us to have and understand how it’s meant to serve us. It protects our livelihood and what we work hard for, and it’s mandated in many states. I am licensed in Property & Casualty Insurance, which means I help people insure their homes, cars, and business. Bringing my Spanish-speaking clients access to insurance products makes my work meaningful and impactful. I find joy in helping to explain what insurance is, how it helps protect our possessions, and how to maximize the products. Unfortunately, many insurance carriers only offer clients their policy information in English. Therefore, I’ve stepped into bridging that gap for my Spanish-speaking clients. I want my clients to feel confident in what they are purchasing and understand why they need it. I am passionate about serving people, and it brings me fulfillment to know that my clients are buying more than an insurance product. They build trusting relationships with me, which makes doing this worth it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am an independent Property & Casualty insurance agent. Being an independent agent means I have a variety of insurance products to offer my clients to fit their needs and wants when it comes to insuring their homes, cars (recreational, classic vehicles, etc.), and businesses. Having access to multiple insurance companies allows me to shop, build and provide a product specific to my client’s insurance needs and budget. I can appreciate having many options for my clients because I don’t believe in putting everyone in a cookie-cutter of a product. Listening to my clients’ needs and having their best interests helps me best serve them. I provide full transparency from the beginning of our working relationship. I love that many of my clients invite me into their homes to speak about their options, learn about the products, sit together, and go through each coverage line item explained in their quote and final policy documents. I value being a trusted partner to my clients in their decision-making and trusting me to help them manage their risks. I go beyond selling insurance with all my clients. I nurture, value, and take pride in building long-lasting, trusting relationships. It’s my priority to know my clients personally because it makes the transaction personable and a reminder that they count on me to protect them every day. They can also rest assured that when they call me, I will always be the one to answer their call and not a random selection of 1-800 number operators.

I am proud to provide my services to English and Spanish-speaking clients. Having the skill-set to provide insurance education and products in two languages helps me reach more people, positively influencing and impacting people.

My journey of becoming an agency owner and producer started by networking at a young age. I was curious about the insurance industry. My curiosity led me to become good friends with my insurance agent as a younger adult. He learned I had obtained my licensure, and it was then that he would always tell me, “come work with me.” Finally, one day I built up the courage to make the leap and start working with him. This opportunity led to registering my own business and launching my insurance agency. As I began to learn the business operations, I continued to serve clients with their insurance needs. It wasn’t until I started getting involved in building my agency that I met many clients in my Latin community who were not getting the support, information, and education around insurance. That is when I decided I had to do more than sell insurance. The situation brought up feelings that were too familiar to me. It reminded me of when my family struggled to have the correct information and access to things that protected them or helped them make informed decisions about their health and finances. Those feelings were messenger, making it apparent that my role would be to bridge communication between my Spanish-speaking community members and insurance products. This journey has been enriching and challenging every day. It’s a big responsibility to help people manage their risks, protect them and ensure they have what they need when faced with catastrophic disasters and life-changing events. I have to remind myself that I won’t always be able to help everyone (or save the world), but I can do it one person at a time for those that I can reach and support. I approach my role with grace and humility. Overcome challenges by effectively communicating with my clients to ensure everyone feels heard and valued and their needs are clearly understood. I want everyone who knows me that I welcome them with an open heart, care deeply, and do it with compassion while keeping their best interest in mind – in both my personal and professional relationships.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Colorado has four seasons; winter, summer, spring, and Fall. Given that I enjoy Fall the most, I’d suggest that my best friend visit in the Fall. Colorado fall weather is gorgeous. As the season transitions from summer to fall, the temperatures allow for great refreshing outdoor hiking. The week’s plans would entail a hike in Boulder, CO, up the Chautauqua Trail, followed by a nourishing meal at Thrive, where they certainly know how to spread the love with their delicious, health-focused meals. The restaurant atmosphere is welcoming and kind-spirited too. We’d also have to drive up to Estes Park and ride the curvy mountain roads lined with an abundance of Aspen trees changing leaves colors magnificently into yellow, orange, and red. Our afternoons would involve taking my two boxer dogs (Jazzy and Bella) to the Barnum dog park. In the following days, we’d mount our road pedal bikes, hit the trails through Denver city, and ride along the Platte River to arrive in the Highlands to grab an acai fruit bowl at Rush Bowl. We’d certainly make a trip to Room for Milly to sip on cocktails in the evenings, and of course, Colorado has many beer breweries to visit to enjoy some freshly poured beers fresh off the tap. Finally, we’d stroll through the Westwood neighborhood, enjoy delicious tacos from the food trucks, find live music in the city, and dance the nights away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Biggest shoutout to my clients. It begins with your trust and confidence in me. Thank you for your reliance and the opportunity to serve you. You all allow me to help protect you, and without you, this would not be possible. Mayor grito a mis clientes. Comienza con su confianza en mí. Gracias por permitirme servirle. Todos ustedes me permiten ayudar a protegerlos, y sin ustedes, esto no sería posible.

I have to give a special thanks to Ralph Kirkbride for serving as my mentor during the many years of my insurance business venture. He has been my thought partner and educator and has provided me with many opportunities to serve as an independent agent. I couldn’t have reached this stage of my career without his mentorship.

Also, a huge thank you to my husband, lifetime supporter, Jason Fernandez, with the Block Real Estate. His continued support in my decision to become a business owner, encouraging and cheering me along the preliminary stages and the ever-evolving successes and challenges, has meant the world to me.

Website: www.rojoinsuranceagency.com

Instagram: colorado.insurance.agent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rojoinsuranceagency/