The staff at American Family Insurance includes (from left) Paul Pukis, Gennadiy Krichilskiy, Lesli Brown and Christina King. Not pictured are Sarah Boyd, Karen Norris and Cindy Ohm.

 

To many of us in the northwest, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragic but distant occurrence. Being there, in the middle of the cleanup efforts, changes that perspective. Just ask Paul Pukis.

Pukis spent more than seven years in the U.S. Navy, earning his discharge in January 2007. Tired of shuffling from one military base to another, he and his wife Kristen had settled in the Marysville area, near their parents, and wanted to make this their permanent home.

"But I wanted to maintain that military connection," said Pukis, "so I enlisted in the Coast Guard reserves."

At about the same time, the young man decided to explore a career in the insurance industry, a decision that he felt would provide stability for his family's future. Pukis went to work for American Family Insurance in early 2007 and opened his own office in the Marysville Safeway shopping plaza in January 2008.

His commitment to the Reserves requires constant maintenance of his travel status and the ability to be ready to go at a moment's notice. The military term is being "in the green." The importance of that preparation was made clear in late June of this year when he was assigned to a two-month tour of duty in Grand Isle, Louisiana, with two days' notice.

Pukis, a Coast Guard lieutenant, served as shoreline supervisor for the Jefferson Parish cleanup operations from July 4 to August 31. His Coast Guard crew members were there to "observe and report" on the ongoing efforts by various private contractors and government agency workers along 27 miles of shoreline.

"We weren't out on the beach with shovels in our hands," he explained. "Our job was to make sure all the work was proceeding as planned, to look for signs of oil along the beach, and to ensure the safety of the workers on-site."

Intense heat and humidity was a constant threat during Pukis' command.

"Workers along the shoreline were only allowed to work for 20 minutes each hour, then they had to rest for 40 minutes. The conditions made for slow progress."

Grand Isle is a unique location with a fragile ecosystem. The state park is the most popular barrier island off the coast of Louisiana. A beach ridge created by the action of the waves of the Gulf, Grand Isle serves as a breakwater between the Gulf and the network of inland channels that connect to the bayou tributaries of the Mississippi River. The park includes the state's only public access beach and a wildlife preserve, both of which are threatened by the oil spill.

"There's no way to simulate this disaster in order to prepare for a response," said Pukis. "Even the Valdez spill in Alaska was very different from this incident. The warm water in the Gulf encourages bacterial growth, while in Alaska the water was too cold for bacteria. It's almost an experiment, as everyone involved has to figure out the best solutions as they go along."

The young family man was initially stunned by the scope of the disaster and the daily costs associated with the cleanup. Local residents and fishermen, most of whom depend on the sea for their livelihood, were hired to help with the response, earning a normal year's wages in a few short months.

"Of course they're going to be hurt by this event for years to come," said Pukis. "But the money being spent by BP and government efforts is helping to offset a lot of that negative impact right now."

The two-month stay in the Gulf was a challenge for Pukis' business and his family. Fortunately, his wife Kristen and 3-year-old daughter Bryanna were able to join him for a few days during the tenure, and his experienced staff kept the insurance agency going strong in his absence.

"I'm so fortunate to have a great team here in the office," said Pukis. "It was great coming back and finding the business had actually grown while I was gone."

In fact, the local American Family Insurance office earned a five-star rating from Seattle Magazine in a recent poll, based on research and client satisfaction surveys.

"Many of our clients have said they appreciate my service and commitment to the country," Pukis said. "I like the military environment and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of that structure while still being able to put down roots here at home."

Pukis and his American Family Insurance team are deeply committed to community involvement, and will volunteer during United Way's Days of Caring event this October with work at the Little Red Schoolhouse. In the past, he and his employees have volunteered at Cocoon House and participated in the Night Out Against Crime, among other events.

His recent service along the Gulf Coast was an experience he won't soon forget.

"The scope of this disaster is overwhelming on so many levels," said Pukis. "I'm glad I was able to help in some small way."



The staff at American Family Insurance includes (from left) Paul Pukis, Gennadiy Krichilskiy, Lesli Brown, and Christina King. Not pictured are Sarah Boyd, Karen Norris and Cindy Ohm.

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