Barbara Allison-Standefer

I was a community volunteer while I raised my three children and worked on my degree in Communications and Organizational Management. I was President of the Chattanooga Council of PTAs, have served on eight Boards of Directors, and founded a disability fair for the city of Chattanooga, TN, Go-Fest. I co-founded a nonprofit doing alternative therapies in a ranch environment for children with developmental disabilities. When a VA counselor asked about alternative therapies for those coming back from combat, two Nashville songwriters and I started the nonprofit Freedom Sings USA, a Creative Arts Therapy using songwriting as a modality.
As a late-in-life baby for my parents, my dad died when I was young and I had four older brothers who all went into the military, Marines, Air Force, and two Army.
My oldest brother who started Allison Insurance 42 years ago was my biggest influence. I got my insurance license in 2000 and joined the business in 2003 and then took over when my brother retired. I decided to specialize in the senior industry after caring for my mom before she died and realized the lack of help and knowledge available to seniors. Medicare is confusing at best, so I help those who are going into a Medicare situation like retirement, disability, or turning 65. I became a Certified Senior Advisor in order to serve this senior community better. My main goal is to educate them, so they understand Medicare and then show them all the options available in their zip code. After taking into account their budget and healthcare needs, I give them the options and let them make an educated decision on the future of their own healthcare. I can also help with end of life planning. I am a broker and certify to offer anyone who comes to me any product. I have most of the companies that are rated B+ or better in my region of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia since I live and work in a corner of Tennessee that is only minutes from those two other states. I work with veterans in my nonprofit so I work with the VA and have been educated on what is available like Aid and Attendance for those veterans who need help and can't afford it. I also get my veteran customers who are eligible to sign up for their VA Benefits and tell them what is available to them and how to get what they deserved by serving our country.
Civic Honors and Awards:
2019 DAR Service to Veterans Award; Inducted into 2009 American Heart
Association's Circle of Red (women who are community leaders),
awarded Girls Inc. 2014 UnBought and UnBossed Award; 2013 awarded
The National Organization Chapel of Four Chaplains “The National Legion
of Honor Award” (in recognition of service to all people regardless of race
or faith); awarded the Maneuver of Excellence Award by Warrior Outreach
Ranch for Heartland Therapeutic Programs contributions to the improvement of
quality of life for veterans and their families (2013 Columbus, GA); awarded
permanent Honorary Lifetime Member of the National PTA for service to
children. 2014 Nominated for Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Athena Award.