Christy Schmidt is an account manager and the team lead for the Enterprise Group segment of Employee Benefits which specializes in benefits for employers with 2–50 employees. Christy oversees management and service delivery for small employers and assists in implementing and executing their employee benefit offerings.

A graduate of Fresno State University with a BA in English, Christy has more than 20 years in the insurance industry with both carrier and broker experience; she is licensed in Oregon for both health and life. In her spare time, Christy enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and when she roots, she roots for the Timbers!

We talked with her a little bit about her time here at The Partners Group.

What do you remember from Day 1 at TPG in 2004?
Honestly, not much! I really don’t. But I do remember the interview process. I was really impressed. By the second interview, the entire 12-person team was involved, including [company founder] Rod Cruickshank. They were really intentional about finding the right person – and it was me!

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since joining TPG?
I have learned that the key to success is hiring a good team around you. You can’t do it alone. Another lesson is to be open to change and evolution. I’ve come a long way in that regard. This is a quick-changing industry, and we’ve been through a lot of changes. It’s nice to reflect on the progression.

What’s the TPG core value that currently resonates most strongly with you? (Play Well with Others, Own It, Be a Champion, Have Fun and Live Well, Be Curious)
It changes all the time, but I’ll say it’s to own it. We always try to do our best but sometimes things go awry and those mistakes are learning opportunities. It’s testament to the good people here at TPG. You can trust your team!

If you weren’t at TPG in employee benefits, what would your dream job be?
I would love to own my own used bookstore, with a bookstore cat – at least one cat! I’d never leave.

What’s one word you’d use to describe your past 20 years at TPG?
Gratifying. Working here has always given me satisfaction. I’ve worked for other companies, and they are not like TPG! This is rare and it’s unique – TPG cares about its employees, it has high ethics, and you can trust our leadership. You just don’t get that everywhere.

Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m proud of the work I do here, every day.

Thanks for the past 20 years, Christy. Congratulations from all your friends and colleagues at TPG.