There’s no doubt that home ownership can be stressful. Keeping up with repairs, maintaining the house and lawn, and cleaning can be hard enough. But when one experiences a major disaster such as fire, flood or hurricane, or more minor – but equally stressful – incidents such as pipes bursting, water heaters overflowing, or electrical malfunctions, the disruption and angst can be overwhelming.
SBS alumna Elizabeth Ritsch Skertic, Class of 2005, is there for homeowners at times such as these. She is a Senior Catastrophe Adjuster for an insure-tech homeowners insurance company, where she is responsible for complex and large loss claims.
“Every day I get the opportunity of being a servant leader and helping customers through some of the worst days of their lives,” Elizabeth said. “While helping someone rebuild their American dream after a fire or other disaster, I can demonstrate Jesus’ love and compassion.”
StoneBridge empowered Elizabeth to be a leader and taught her how to interact with a diverse group of people. “My discipline to lead with wisdom has allowed me the opportunity to handle claims for Presidential families and the most successful people and organizations throughout the country,” she notes. “I have a very interesting job and I am blessed to have had this opportunity thanks to StoneBridge.”
After StoneBridge, Elizabeth attended Christopher Newport University where she graduated in 2009 with a degree in English literature. She went on to earn a master of arts in organizational leadership and development from Regent University in 2012.
While many StoneBridge graduates appreciate going through the experience of senior thesis upon entering college or after getting a job, Elizabeth actually calls the experience her favorite StoneBridge memory.
“Working on my senior thesis taught me a love of writing, research, and defending my position,” Elizabeth remarks. “The lessons I learned gave me an incredible advantage and confidence during my years in higher education. Also, my topic – The Strong-Willed Child – has been very useful three children later!”
StoneBridge taught Elizabeth to hold strong to her beliefs and be a light in the world.
“I model my leadership approach after Jesus’ servant leadership,” she states. “This has allowed me to stand out within my career, and to take on numerous mentoring opportunities and leadership roles.”
“Stonebridge also taught me about service and having a servant’s heart, which I get to bring to my job each day as I am there for people on one of the toughest days of their lives,” she added.
Elizabeth is a member of the StoneBridge Alumni Legacy Society and the Alumni Ambassadors Council. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Suffolk, Virginia, and have three children, Luke (age 6) and Liam (age 4), both students at SBS, and Maddie, age 1. The family attends ALIVE Church in Suffolk. She enjoys hiking with her kids and dogs, winter sowing/gardening, and doing home renovations.
By Amy Cobb, Director of Alumni Relations