Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Kana.
Hi Lindsay, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a sixth-generation Bastropian, so this community has always been a huge part of who I am. My career path hasn’t exactly been a straight line, but looking back, every chapter has really centered around people, relationships and connection.
I spent six years as an elementary school teacher before eventually stepping into entrepreneurship. My husband and I owned a winery, which gave me a very real understanding of what it means to own a business. I experienced the exciting parts, but also the long hours, financial pressure, difficult decisions and the responsibility that comes with having so much riding on something you’ve built.
After leaving the wine industry, I eventually found my way into insurance with The Nitsche Group. I started in personal insurance, and as I learned the industry, I realized that commercial insurance was a natural fit for me. It combines what I love most: getting to know people, understanding their businesses and building long-term relationships.
Today, my approach is pretty simple: I want to know the business, not just quote the business. I want to understand how it operates, where it’s growing, what keeps the owner up at night and where our team may be able to help. I serve as a relationship point for my clients and bring in the specialists within TNG depending on what the business needs, whether that’s commercial insurance, employee benefits or another area of risk.
For me, this career feels like a combination of so many things I’ve done throughout my life: business ownership, community involvement, connecting people and genuinely wanting to help. And getting to do that in the community I’ve called home my entire life makes it even more meaningful.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not, but I think that’s probably true for most people who have built a career or a business they’re proud of.
One of the biggest challenges for me was owning a business myself. My husband and I owned a winery, and while there were so many things I loved about that chapter, it also taught me firsthand how much pressure can come with being a business owner. There are employees, finances, customers, growth decisions and a million things happening behind the scenes that most people never see. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to step away from it, and that was a big identity shift for me.
Starting over professionally later in life was challenging too. I had to be willing to learn something completely new, ask a lot of questions and be uncomfortable for a while. But I’ve learned that some of the best opportunities in my life have come from being willing to pivot.
I think those experiences actually make me better at what I do today. When I sit across from a business owner, I understand that their business isn’t just a policy or a premium. It’s something they’ve poured their time, money and heart into. I never want to lose sight of that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today, I work in commercial insurance with The Nitsche Group, helping business owners look at both their commercial insurance and employee benefits needs. What I really specialize in, though, is relationships.
My philosophy is, “I want to know the business, not just quote the business.” I don’t want to show up once a year at renewal with a spreadsheet and a price. I want to understand how the business operates, where it’s headed, what’s changing and what matters most to the people behind it.
One of the things I love about my role is that I don’t have to be everything to everyone. The Nitsche Group has an incredible team of specialists who understand the technical side of commercial insurance and employee benefits. They’ve been in this industry for 75+ years! My job is to build the relationship, understand the business and bring the right people to the table when they’re needed. I like to think of it as one point of contact with the power of a whole team behind you.
What probably sets me apart most is that I’ve been on the other side of the table. I’ve owned a business, managed employees and experienced the pressure and responsibility that comes with it. I understand that insurance is important, but I also understand it’s one of about a hundred things competing for a business owner’s attention.
I’m most proud of the relationships I build. I’m a connector by nature, and I genuinely enjoy helping people, even when there isn’t an immediate business opportunity attached to it. I want my clients to know they have someone local who knows them, knows their business and is in their corner as they grow.
At the end of the day, I’m not interested in simply winning a quote. I’m interested in earning a relationship.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are summers in downtown Bastrop helping my grandmother, Nancy Sanders, at her Hallmark gift store. I started “working” there when I was about seven, doing odd jobs around the store and, probably my favorite part, talking to the customers.
I loved being there with her and getting to know all the people who came through the door. Looking back, it’s funny because not much has changed. I still love talking to people, hearing their stories and building relationships. I just have a slightly different job now!
Those summers with my grandmother are such a special memory for me, and I love that they’re tied to downtown Bastrop, a place that is still such a big part of my life today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsayinbastrop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsay.sanders.kana
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaykana/
