One of Us: Christy Waldenmaier

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Christy Waldenmaier is the executive vice president of First Choice Brokerage, a National Life Insurance Brokerage Firm with its home office located in Ponte Vedra Beach, where she works alongside her husband, Craig.

Can you please briefly tell us about your background?

I grew up in Jacksonville as Christy Dickinson, and the Dickinson family was involved in business development of the Jacksonville Beaches area starting in the 1940s. I went to Sandalwood High School and graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. I was a collegiate cheerleader, lifetime member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and a little sister of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. I am involved in two ZTA alumni chapters and the Beaches Museum of History. I have a very loving and supportive husband, Craig. We have three children. My daughter, Alden, is employed at FIS, right after college, and engaged to be married next summer; Reed has graduated from college and is starting his new career in Houston with Wrist Ship Supply; and Emily is a sophomore at Florida State University and is riding for the Equestrian Team.

What are your primary roles and responsibilities as executive vice president of First Choice Brokerage?

I am very active in the business development and management of our various insurance entities. I also bring my project management experience to the staff and clients to implement our products and services to a large variety of clients ranging from privately owned businesses to large public companies.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I am passionate about my work and enjoy sharing the opportunities that we offer at First Choice Brokerage with our agents, agencies and clients. The world of insurance is extremely large and can be somewhat complex; however, we fulfill the needs to make this process seamless with the many carriers we represent combined with our very experienced staff and technology.

We understand you’re very involved with Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. What’s your involvement with the organization, and what makes it so important to you?

My parents were very instrumental in getting me involved and keeping me involved in Girl Scouting. Having the advantage of being born and raised in the Jacksonville area has provided me the great opportunity to have hands-on experience with our wonderful Gateway Council. I have been involved in Girl Scouts from the age of 7 years old to the present. Personally, I am a Gold Award recipient. After college, I extended my passion by being a troop leader ranging from the young 5-year-old girls as Daisies, to Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and finally Seniors through high school. In the early 1990s, I served on the Board of Directors of the Gateway Girl Scouts Council for eight years. I am a lifetime member and recently was asked to come back to the Board of Directors last year. I love making people aware of the opportunities to get involved for such a powerful cause to help young girls learn about life and how to give back to our community and foster their own learning on how to gain courage, confidence and character. Contact our local Girl Scouts of Gateway Council by calling (904) 421-3484 or email TriciaRae Stancato at tstancato@girlscouts-gateway.org for more information.

What do you enjoy most about living in Ponte Vedra Beach?

Being active in the community! I have many personal and business relationships that make up a perfect paradise to enjoy life with my family and outside activities, such as the Gateway Council Girl Scouts, the Beaches Community Center and many other charitable activities.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love mentoring young Girl Scouts and helping form new troops in our community! Sharing the traditions of Girl Scouting really fills my love tank too. Craig and I enjoy spending time together. We travel a lot on business and make time to have fun as well. I love the beach, and my favorite pastime is playing golf. We entertain often and have a great social life with lots of friends. My family is extremely important to me, and I really enjoy our time being together.