CLI Founder, Dawnyel Smink, launched AZ Insurance Agents in 2003. Her drive and love of the industry propelled her to acquire CLI in 2008 and grow it to 75 franchise locations strong. From her original career path of elementary school teacher, Dawnyel soon chose to help even more people by becoming licensed in property, casualty, life and health. Her passion for education has continued as she now helps clients understand the impact the right insurance choices can make in life. A Mom to three, Dawnyel enjoys traveling, playing golf with her husband, Jason, and giving back. As part of Make-A-Wish Arizona’s Charitable Planned Giving Council, she helps others to know the sheer joy of helping brighten others’ lives when a crisis such as a deadly disease rocks a family. When CLI welcomes a new client, a donation is made to Make-A-Wish Arizona in their honor.
Heather launched into insurance first as a location owner in 2006. It was not long before Dawnyel and CLI tapped the brilliant combination of her insurance experience along with her leadership and operation abilities in 2016 to serve as COO. CLI Select Agencies—a group 40 agencies strong—continues its lightening speed growth under her lead. Heather’s love of people is only equaled by her love of animals. She counts her moments with her college student son, Maxwell, her favorite but her time with her dogs is also sacred. She is a history buff and can lose herself in novels set throughout the centuries. Her dream is to one day retire a few steps from the water in a tree house where her days are spent snorkeling the barrier reef under the hazy Caribbean sun.
Albert’s vision for the Canyon Lands Team is to make purchasing insurance simple, modern and speedy for both sides of the business--clients and agents. Since joining in 2015, Albert saw an opportunity for assisting independent agents and their clients through an electronic document processing operation. Since then, he has built and maintained The Closing Team focusing on expediting the purchasing process while maintaining standards in service and quality coverage. An electronic game aficionado, Albert loves both table-top and video games He and his fiancée, Jade, who live in Chandler, maintain a few classic vehicles. His hope is to one day, restore his very first car, a 1987 Chevy El Camino , that he drove when Jade and he went on their first date.
James has been on the team for two years. He joined Albert as a member of the Closing Team running audits. Despite his age, 21, he is well-versed in a variety of CLI’s operations. James enjoys spending time with friends and family. He also is a video game fiend and loves researching historical subjects as a hobby. The future for James is a wide open canvas but for today, he is getting settled in his home and savors the simple things in life.
In some ways, Alicia’s job may be the one our team and our agencies consider critical: She records all the commissions and manages details we each take for granted in the world of accounting. She originally entered the insurance industry as a CSR for personal and commercial lines, she shifted her focus to her current responsibilities in 2019. When she's not at work Alicia makes spending time with her Husband and new little one, Charlotte, her priority....and if it means taking a trip out of the heat, she's there!
A loving mother with two adorable children, Paloma is a passionate lifelong learner and enjoys some of the simple things in life. When she's not reading a good book, she is listening to her favorite music or getting lost in a great movie. Within this sweet, loving Mom, is the fire of competition as she is a baseball fan, and she will not pass up a chance to join a fun game with some friendly competition.
Paloma takes her work seriously and welcomes learning new things from her colleagues. She has a passion for training and developing. She is helpful by nature and enjoys helping those in need. In fact, her fire to help others spills into supporting charities that guide children, teenagers, and adults who live a life in the streets. She is a true believer in second chances and that everything happens for a reason!!!
