Office Services Specialist 1

Federated helps students get ready for the future. Business, accounting, finance and all other majors, look out! Federated Insurance held its annual Federated Day at MSU in collaboration with the College of Business. The event took place on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offered students a chance to learn about careers, internships and the company's vision. The agenda included Career Prep Express, Employer in Residence, an alumni panel, and Fed Day Fun Night. Federated Day had a variety of activities, from opening a space for students to receive resume feedback, practice interviews and elevator pitches, to meeting Federated representatives and MSU alumni, and finishing the day with bowling, billiards, free food, and prizes. Students were free to decide which activities of the day they wanted to attend or even attend them all. Stacy Van Engelenhoven, senior recruiter at Federated Insurance, said the company wanted students to learn more about the career opportunities that Federated offers. "We are a career employer, and we are very excited about Mankato State grads. We employ a lot of Mankato State grads at Federated, and we have a variety of career options," Van Engelenhoven said. Van Engelenhoven said Federated's connection with MSU is also important because the company's location is close to the university and its Mankato office. "Because there is close proximity to our home office, and we have an office in Mankato, it's really nice that we can build a network of future employers, or future employees here at MSU," Van Engelenhoven said. "We find that the majors that they're studying really match up with what our work is, and so that also helps us." Any student can find an opportunity that best matches their major because there are several internships across different areas of the company. "We have internships in a variety of different areas. We have IT, human resources, accounting, actuarial, claims internships, risk management internships. So a variety of different topics. And we offer those in the summertime," Van Engelenhoven said. For students who feel they do not have enough experience yet, Van Engelenhoven shared this advice: "I would tell you that we provide training for all of our roles. We aren't looking for specific experience in most areas," Van Engelenhoven said. "So, when we bring on a claims rep, we don't expect them to have any claims experience. An underwriter, we aren't expecting them to have underwriting experience." Instead, she said Federated looks for students who show commitment, and that can be from different experiences. "What we like to see is that they've maybe worked at a part-time job somewhere, or maybe they're participating in some activities on campus, or in sports, or things like that, something to show some commitment," Van Engelenhoven said. "But it doesn't necessarily have to be experienced on the job." Van Engelenhoven also noted that students can stand out by showing interest and coming prepared when meeting with employers. In addition to that, Federated values certain traits. "High attention to detail, you know, communication skills, open-minded, bringing some great ideas. We love to see some of that creativity," Van Engelenhoven said. Federated Day was about networking and practicing job interviews while having fun. It was the perfect chance for students to learn about people and opportunities out there for them, even before graduation.

Bel-Aire Mechanical named 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year. Safety Innovator of the Year Award, presented in collaboration with SMACNA Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, honors a company that demonstrates a safety practice that has led to measurable improvement in its safety program. Bel-Aire Mechanical, LLC, a Legence Company, has been named the 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year. The award will be presented during the SMACNA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, October 26. The Safety Innovator of the Year Award, presented in collaboration with SMACNA Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, honors a company that demonstrates an innovative safety idea, concept, or best practice that has led to measurable improvement in its safety program or culture. Bel-Aire Mechanical received this recognition for its innovative use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to enhance its health and safety program. By redesigning the pre-task planning process with the SmartTagIt app, Bel-Aire captures field-level safety conversations and uses AI to transcribe and analyze them. This provides Safety and Project Management teams with actionable insights into hazard recognition, planning, employee engagement, and areas for improvement. Instead of using pre-task planning as a checklist, Bel-Aire developed a process focused on meaningful conversations. AI reviews key elements such as hazard identification, mental health check-ins, planning, and positive reinforcement, creating a continuous feedback loop for proactive coaching and increased management accountability. This approach has made safety conversations more visible, measurable, and improvable, while promoting peer-to-peer learning and a culture where employees feel respected and heard. The results have been substantial. In 2025, Bel-Aire recorded over 800,000 man-hours with no recordable incidents and achieved a 40% reduction in near-misses and incidents. The company also improved conversation quality by 40%, with Question Quality 40% above the national benchmark and Planning 20% above the benchmark. More than 1.5 million work hours have been tracked through the platform, providing data that supports ongoing safety improvements. This innovative approach has also helped secure several high-value data center construction contracts. "We are honored to receive the 2026 SMACNA Safety Innovator of the Year Award. At Bel-Aire Mechanical, a Legence Company, safety is not just a priority - it is the foundation of our culture. This recognition belongs to every employee whose commitment to Safety, Quality, and Production as one mindset has created an environment where innovation thrives, and everyone is empowered to ensure each person returns home safely every day," said Scott Kienast, EHS Director, Bel-Aire Mechanical. As part of the Safety Innovator of the Year Award, SMACNA, in collaboration with Premier Partners Milwaukee Tool and Federated Insurance, donates to a charity chosen by the winner. This year, Bel-Aire Mechanical selected Merging Vets & Players (MVP), a nonprofit organization that brings together veterans and former professional athletes to provide community, connection, and support as they navigate the transition to life after service or professional sports. Through its innovative use of technology and its continued focus on meaningful employee engagement, Bel-Aire Mechanical demonstrates how AI can complement the human side of safety. Its approach is helping create safer, smarter, and more connected teams while providing a model for how innovation can drive continuous improvement across the construction industry. Aug 19, 2026 - Member Update