Have you ever witnessed a professional metamorphosis? Geri Willich's leap from the structured world of banking into the dynamic seas of insurance is a tale of transformation. On this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta, Stacey sat down with Geri, the heart behind Ricky Dean Solutions. We unraveled his journey and discovered how she stitches together personalized healthcare solutions that cater to the unique needs of individuals and small businesses. Her story doesn't end there; Geri's laughter punctuates her anecdotes of joyous evenings volunteering at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, where she pours her soul into enriching our community culture. So, join us for a heartfelt journey that celebrates our neighbors and the bonds that fortify the place we proudly call home.
Have you ever witnessed a professional metamorphosis? Geri Willich's leap from the structured world of banking into the dynamic seas of insurance is a tale of transformation. On this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta, Stacey sat down with Geri, the heart behind Ricky Dean Solutions. We unraveled his journey and discovered how she stitches together personalized healthcare solutions that cater to the unique needs of individuals and small businesses. Her story doesn't end there; Geri's laughter punctuates her anecdotes of joyous evenings volunteering at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, where she pours her soul into enriching our community culture. So, join us for a heartfelt journey that celebrates our neighbors and the bonds that fortify the place we proudly call home.
Speaker 1:
Here's your host, Stacey Risley.
Speaker 2:
Hello friends and neighbors, welcome to North Atlanta's Good Neighbor podcast. Today we're here with Jerry Willich, with Ricky Dean Solutions. Hi Jerry, how are you?
Speaker 3:
Hi Stacey, how are you?
Speaker 2:
I'm doing great. We are super excited to have you on the show today. And since the name doesn't really give it away, why don't you go ahead and tell our listeners what your business is about? What tell us about Ricky Dean Solutions?
Speaker 3:
Well, thank you so much, Stacey Ricky Dean Solutions. I provide healthcare options and with your healthcare needs from full healthcare to supplemental to your dental vision, your life insurance and I can help you on the individual side and on the group side. So I tailor it to individuals individually to help with their needs. So I cater to the person, not to the companies but to the person themselves.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so you guys specialize in healthcare. You're not providing auto insurance or other types of insurance, it's just healthcare insurance yes, yep, and dental I think you said so. You do healthcare and dental and all of those. And so do you work with businesses at all, or just individuals?
Speaker 3:
Yes, I work with small business individuals. I specialize in small business because I was a small business specialist, so I really care about people and their money. I came from the bank world and so I was a personal banker, so I'm very much about the personal aspect of it and I care about each and every person and their needs.
Speaker 2:
Okay, awesome. Well, let's go ahead and tell our listeners about your journey. What led you. You said that you were a small business specialist and, as a small business owner myself, that piques my interest, of course. So, but tell our listeners about your journey into this field.
Speaker 3:
Well, I've been in. I was a personal banker and banking for the last 25 years and about five years ago I just quit my bank job and I decided to get into insurance. That might be a little crazy, but that's my journey so far. And so I started helping people with the supplemental. And then I moved to Georgia and I started Ricky Dean Solutions and I've been branding that, building that, so that I can be out there and helping people with the little things People I used to help them with their money. It's very personal and now insurance today is very personal and it's very much needed. People don't understand all the different aspects of the insurance world and I wanna help them, to educate them, to understand.
Speaker 2:
That's wonderful. Yeah, and there are so many, like you said, ins and outs and of it all and you do need kind of an expert in that to kind of guide you along the way, especially for small businesses. Like I said, I'm a small business owner. I would love to hopefully soon be able to offer insurance to Keana and others that don't work with me Not there yet, but that's something that I'm definitely working towards and so I think you're providing a great service and they are a great fit for this podcast, because we specialize in the small businesses that service North Atlanta. So very happy to have you here.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, stacey, I'm so. It's just a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2:
Well, jerry, go ahead and, if you will, are there any myths or misconceptions about your industry that you would like to clear up with our listeners today?
Speaker 3:
Well, it's just, people don't really they don't want to buy insurance and it's like they don't think they need it. But in all essence, we all need insurance and we need different things in our lives and we just want to have the right tools and the things that will help us and to have that peace of mind and that stability to for our families, for our loved ones, if something major happens.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, well, that resonates with me big time. You know, I went a couple of years and did not have health insurance when I, after I, had gone through a divorce and it was, you know, becoming an entrepreneur, and it was really scary. You know like I had come from a background in education and so, as a teacher, I had phenomenal insurance and it was just, it was just a given. You know, it was just, it was just something that I took for granted, really, until I didn't have it, and I was a nervous wreck the entire time because I was so afraid something would happen. You know, like, like, and then what you know, it absolutely can ruin you financially and and so I'm really again, I've no, I've said that like four times, but I'm so glad you're here.
Speaker 3:
Well and Stacy I wanted to say is that I was in a Portland teachers credit union for years and my heart is the teachers, because they need good health care and learning to go from being with no health care to helping people with is. I'm in the same boat and that's why my heart is for the people and to educate. Educate is very important.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, well, your compassionate heart is very evident. I can, I can see that just in the short time we've been having. We have a pre interview. For those of you who aren't, who are listening, so we we chat a little bit beforehand and then now, and and Jerry definitely is got a heart for this and definitely wants to help people. Well, so let's shift gears, jerry, and, if you will, what are you doing? Tell us about you're doing for fun. I know that you're a Sandy Springs resident, right here in the heart of North Atlanta, so tell, tell our listeners what you're doing for fun when you're not working.
Speaker 3:
Well, what I've done is I've volunteered at the Sandy Springs performing arts center and it's really exciting to me because I get to go volunteer, I get to see shows, I get to see people being happy and sitting. I'm like an usher. So it gets me out on a Friday night, saturday night, but in my community, to help, you know, grow the community and get to know people in my community. But I love watching people go out and have fun and so I really enjoy volunteering at the Sandy Springs community center or the performing arts center.
Speaker 2:
That is a great. I didn't even think about that, but that is I never. You know, we've had staged or theater. You know here in Dunwoody has been on the show. It's a very similar thing as Sandy Springs under. They've got a great program over there as well. But I never even thought about. Volunteering is like an usher or something like that. That would be fun, I agree. Well, so we're going to kind of move into something a little more serious. Has there been a life challenge or a hardship that you've faced and have gone through? And now, for having been through that experience, you can say you're stronger for that today.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so 5 years ago I started, I left my bank job and right the year I left my bank job, the same year I changed my career. My son, 25, passed away and that's where the Ricky Dean solutions comes in and that's where I have an angel on my business card for him and I want to honor him. And so it's been a journey, because it's my whole world shut down and I had just started Ricky going into the insurance business and so I wasn't really sure what to do, so I just kept moving, just kept moving. I ended up moving from Oregon to Georgia about 3 years ago March 1st it'll be 3 years and that's when I just started my healing process. And I'm alone here, I don't really know anybody, but that's where I just give my faith. God has been helping me to heal and just to grow, and I just want to give God all the glory there, because I don't know how you make it without Him.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, wow, I talk about heartfelt. I've got a 23 year old and a 21 year old and I, okay, I don't think I've ever, I think I don't think I've ever cried on a podcast. I can't imagine, I can't imagine. And so I'm assuming your son's name was Ricky Dean.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I mean let's talk.
Speaker 2:
This is going to be bad for an audio podcast, but the viewer are listening, wow, see.
Speaker 2:
This is why I don't want to know the answers to the questions before we record, because I want that genuine, authentic response. I can't imagine, and I'm so happy to know that you are coming out on the other side of that, because I, that's one of that, that's every parent's biggest fear, you know, and so I, I'm so sorry for your loss, I am so happy that you are, you know, carrying on his legacy through Ricky Dean solutions I love. Now, because I was, I was curious about the name, you know what, where the name came from. And so now I know I and, and I'm so happy to know that story, and I'm so happy that you're coming out and you're still smiling and you're, you're, you know, coming out on the other side, so that is, and that that that will be an ongoing healing process, you know, throughout, throughout the rest of your life, you know. So thank you so much for being willing to be that vulnerable and share that with us today. So, my goodness, wow, Okay, that's a first. I don't know Like, we're like 80 something episodes in.
Speaker 2:
I'm not pride yet. So well, so now let's move. Is there anything else that you would like our listeners to know about your business, about Ricky Dean solutions?
Speaker 3:
No, I just generally want people to know that I generally care and I will service and I go the extra mile to make sure that my clients are educated and understand the benefits that they're receiving, and I just want to thank you and the community to let me be on this broadcast.
Speaker 2:
My goodness. Well, it is our pleasure. Absolutely Well, jerry. If our listeners want to reach out and if they want to learn more, what is the best way for them to get in touch with you?
Speaker 3:
Well, my email is Ricky Dean solutions at gmailcom, or you can call me at 678-860-1134 anytime.
Speaker 2:
Wonderful. Thank you so much for being here. I just been a pleasure to have you on, and it's I'm so glad to have met you.
Speaker 3:
Thank you. Thank you so much, stacy, and thank you to the good neighbor broadcast You're welcome.
Speaker 2:
Well, that's all for today's episode, atlanta. I'm Stacy Risley with the Good Neighbor podcast. Thanks for listening and for supporting the local businesses and nonprofits of our great community.
Speaker 1:
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast North Atlanta. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, Go to GNPNorthatlantacom or call 470-946-7007.
