Bastendorf Named Insurance Services Director

Michael J. Bastendorf has been named Director of Insurance Services at AAA Central Penn. He succeeds Mitch Hillman who was recently named President/CEO of the Club.

Bastendorf has been a member of the AAA Insurance team since 1994, most recently as manager of the Lancaster County operations. He worked for Prudential Life Insurance Co. for a year prior to joining AAA Insurance.

A Lancaster County resident, Bastendorf said a lot has changed in the insurance industry in the past 15 years. "It’s much more competitive. It’s a very hard marketplace to find your niche and be good at it," he said.

Bastendorf said that growth is important, and "we always want to offer quality service to our customers, that’s first and foremost."

He said in order to help his clients purchase the products they need at the lowest price possible, he will make sure the agents keep up with ever-changing technology, offer auto, home and life insurance as well as policies for other personal lines and work constantly with the companies to assure they have the quality products the customers expect.

"The agency is all about the people. If we take care of our staff and our members, the agency takes care of itself," Bastendorf said. "Give staff members the right tools and training and look after our members’ best interest. The rest will take care of itself."

Mike and his wife Carol are in their 29th year of marriage. They have a daughter Lauren, who just graduated from college. Mike’s passions are the church and teaching Bible study at his home. He also enjoys building and remodeling, and buying the tools that go along with it. He and his wife have a pit bull named "London" who Mike said is a testimony that "not all pit bulls are mean." He added that London’s favorite thing is to snuggle under a Martha Stewart furry blanket!

AAA Insurance agencies can be found at the Camp Hill, Carlisle, Hershey, Progress Avenue (Harrisburg), Estelle Drive and James Street (Lancaster) and Lititz branches.