Insurance executive speaking at graduation

Baumann, a Chadron native who lives in St. Louis, Mo., is senior vice president for State Farm Insurance Companies where he is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations in its central zone. There are more than 7 million State Farm Policies and accounts serviced by 1540 agents and an additional 3,600 employees throughout the zone’s five states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. The market generates $4.8 billion in annual revenue. The company is No. 34 on the 2010 Fortune 500 list.

Baumann earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973 from CSC, where he was a standout athlete. He was named a recipient of the CSC Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 and is a member of the institution’s athletic hall of fame. He was a nine-time letter-winner in football, basketball and baseball for the Eagles.

Baumann began his State Farm career in 1975 as an agent in Alliance. Prior to his current position, he held posts for State Farm at Mitchell, S.D., New Orleans-Baton Rouge, Bloomington, Ill., Greeley, Colo., and Phoenix, Ariz. In 2000, Baumann was named regional vice president in the Ohio region and promoted to senior vice president in 2002. He moved to his present location in 2007.

In addition to studies at CSC, he has completed leadership development and short course programs at Darden Executive Education, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s business school, Stanford University, and, recently, Saiid Business School at the University of Oxford.

Baumann serves on the board of trustees for the Chadron State Foundation and is a member of the National Campaign Leadership Council for the foundation’s $11 million fundraising effort. He also serves on the board of directors for the St. Louis chapter of the American Red Cross.