The Leigh Lillibridge State Farm Agency opened on Feb. 1 at 523 W. Third St., Grand Island.

Lillibridge has a master's degree in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She can assist customers with all of their life planning when it comes to auto, homeowners, life and health insurance, as well as financial services. She has a staff of three.

Judy Petrick has been with State Farm for 27 years. She is currently working with claims and current policyholders.

Kenny Smith is a recent graduate of Hastings College with a degree in agribusiness and economics. He will take care of customers' banking and commercial insurance needs.

Brenda Meyer is a newly licensed agent who will specialize in marketing new business.

Lillibridge can be contacted at 384-1190 or www.leighlillibridge.com.

Knights of Columbus names Pfeifer Agency No. 1 insurance agency

The Knights of Columbus ranked the Pfeifer Agency No. 1 out of 133 agencies throughout the United States and Canada in long-term care insurance sales within the company for 2007.

The agency has been ranked No. 1 in long-term care sales for six years in a row with the Knights.

General Agent Kevin Pfeifer was recognized and received this honor on behalf of the 23 agents who serve Knights of Columbus families in Nebraska. The Pfeifer Agency also finished the 2007 year ranked 10th in life insurance sales nationally.

Knights of Columbus Insurance has the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association certification and received top ratings by Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best Co.

Local agents serving Grand Island, Hastings and the surrounding communities are Bill Buchta, Tony Swanson and John Vanderbeek.

Edward Jones named to Training Top 5

The financial-services firm Edward Jones has been named to Training magazine's 2008 Training Top 125 list.

This is Edward Jones' eighth consecutive year for making the list. The firm ranked this year as No. 54.

In its February issue, Training magazine noted that Edward Jones significantly increased training for leaders, veteran financial advisers, promising associates and future leaders in the past few years.

"A comprehensive training program is a vitally important part of providing exceptional client service," said Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones. "Training helps everyone at this firm stay focused on doing what's right for our clients. This recognition reaffirms that commitment."

Edward Jones ranked 107th on last year's Training list.

In addition to the Training magazine honor, Registered Representative, a trade magazine, rated Edward Jones No. 1 among the nation's leading brokerages in its anonymous survey of the firm's own brokers.

Edward Jones representatives in Grand Island include Ed Armstrong Jr., Matthew Armstrong, Tom Noble, Will Armstrong and Scott Roach.