Donna M. Carlson Insurance is a locally owned independent insurance agency with offices in Portland, OR and Camas, WA. Our mission is to assist our clients with access to affordable insurance that meets their needs—with special emphasis on prompt and continued customer service. Our customer service is handled the old-fashioned way, by putting our clients’ needs first and taking the time to be thorough.

Donna M. Carlson Insurance upholds high ethical standards and complies with the HIPAA, (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy requirements to protect confidentiality.

Cathy Merz

CREDENTIALS & LICENSES
Cathy lives in Portland, Oregon and maintains her Life and Health Licenses in Oregon and Washington. She is also licensed in the state of Idaho. Cathy is certified to sell Long Term Care and Medicare under various company appointments.

She is a member of both the National Association of Health Underwriters along with both the Portland Chapter and Tri County Washington chapters. This membership along with continuing educations helps keep her up to date on the changing world of insurance.

EXPERIENCE
Cathy Merz was hired by Great West Life in 1991. She worked there for 5 years selling self-funded and partially self-funded programs to employer groups. In addition to that she also sold 401(k) retirement plans for Great West. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, Cathy was employed by Kaiser Permanente as a Large Group Sales Executive. She sold Kaiser Permanente Plans both through the brokerage community and direct for several years. She implemented very successful meet and greets at the facilities where the general public and the insurance community would learn more about Kaiser’s staff model HMO and all the advantages to their delivery system.

In 1998, she was hired by Campbell Galt and Newlands (now USI Northwest) to start their retirement Plan Division. She sold and managed 401(k) and other Defined Contribution Plan’s and assisted with 403(b) programs for corporate and nonprofit customers. In 2010 she purchased Donna M. Carlson Insurance and partnered with Donna Carlson to expand the agency with an office in Oregon. She now owns and operates the agency and is responsible for the day to day operations.

Donna M. Carlson, RHU

CREDENTIALS & LICENSES
Donna Carlson lives near Vancouver, WA and maintains her life and health insurance licenses in both Oregon and Washington. She is a licensed health insurance consultant in Oregon and is appointed to represent the major health insurance companies in Oregon and Washington.

Donna has received the distinguished Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation. The RHU program gives insurance professionals the broad knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive health financing and disability income services to their clients. This designation has rigorous educational, experience, and ethical requirements.

Donna receives ongoing updates and briefings on legislative issues on federal, Oregon and Washington issues, and regularly attends continuing education courses. She maintains industry designations to further the company’s commitment to be the best it can be.

EXPERIENCE
Donna Carlson was hired by Kaiser Permanente in October, 1982 and worked in a variety of positions for the first few years, including Executive Secretary to the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in the Portland, Oregon office, and Executive Secretary to the President of the Board and Area Medical Director for Northwest Permanente, P.C. In June, 1986 she transferred to the Kaiser Permanente Sales and Marketing Department where she held a variety of positions in both the large and small group departments. Donna retired from Kaiser Permanente June 1998 as the lead position with the Small Group Sales & Marketing Team. In that position it was her responsibility to call on all agents, and handle all outside meetings. She helped educate and train small group team members and was often called on to handle the most serious employer issues.

Donna served as a member on the Board of Directors of the Portland Association of Health Underwriters for several years and was elected the President of the Portland Association of Health Underwriters for the term year of 1993-1994. During that year, she also served as the Liaison Board Member to the Oregon Association of Health Underwriters. In August 1998 she formed Donna M. Carlson Insurance.