At Ashland Insurance, we believe that an agency is only as strong as its roots in the community. In an era where corporate giants are replacing human connection with automated phone trees and impersonal algorithms, we remain fiercely committed to the old-fashioned, local approach.
We believe that when you call with a question or a crisis, you deserve a familiar voice on the other end of the line. It is with this commitment to genuine care that we proudly introduce our newest team member, May Camarena.
May is currently stepping into the insurance industry from the ground up, serving as the welcoming face at our front desk while completing her final coursework to become a fully licensed agent. With a diverse background, an unwavering dedication to helping others, and vital bilingual skills, May Camarena represents how we see our commitment to our community – our whole community – as it extends into the next generation.
May Camarena and the Search for a Career for Lifetimes
May’s professional journey is a testament to her incredible work ethic and her desire to find a role grounded in true service. For years, she maintained full-time, year-round, 8-to-5 jobs while simultaneously bartending during busy seasons. She served as a receptionist for a local med spa, a role she loved.
She also followed in the footsteps of her grandmother and aunts by stepping into the education system, earning her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and serving as a Head Start teacher for four years.
Her exploration through careers continued, with May’s focus remaining on finding the kind of work that focused on helping others. After interviewing at other local companies, she knew she needed a workplace that felt like family.
Then, she interviewed at Ashland Insurance. The friendly, welcoming vibe was exactly what she had been searching for. We’re not just saying that either– you’ll hear other agents say this same thing across all of our Agent Spotlights. For May, this felt like the right fit for her. She went home that day and expressed to those close to her that she hoped Ashland Insurance would call her back.
Oh, and we sure did.
She was offered the perfect opportunity: a temporary role to provide front-desk support while a team member was on maternity leave, giving her the exact window she needed to complete her training courses and transition into a licensed agent. All while being right at home in a space that felt comfortable– welcoming folks, and connecting people with who they needed to be connected to. May’s experience in customer service meant this position was more than a temporary role, it was something that could feel more like a jumping-off point to her next chapter.
“I’m happy that there’s locally owned businesses that like to do things old-fashioned,” May Camarena shared, recalling a recent frustration with Verizon’s automated system that required navigating 30 steps just to speak to a human. She loves that at Ashland Insurance, clients can call and immediately speak to a real person.
Bridging the Gap for the Spanish-Speaking Community
May’s drive to help people navigate complex systems is deeply personal. Born in Fullerton, Southern California, May Camarena spent her early childhood living with her paternal grandmother. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household, she didn’t learn English until she was seven years old.
Because of this, May understands exactly how daunting language barriers can be. “I think anything where I’m translating or speaking to people facing language barriers is really satisfying for me,” May explains.
“It reminds me of my grandma. It’s fulfilling to be able to help my people, because the language barrier can be really scary and frustrating, especially with something as serious as insurance.”
As an official Spanish-speaking provider for the agency, May ensures that our Hispanic community is heard, understood, and protected. She plans to focus initially on personal service lines so she can master the basics of coverage, offering a clear, comforting voice to local families navigating their policies.
May Camarena: Deep Roots and an Adventurous Spirit
May describes herself as a bit of a “mutt” when it comes to the places she has lived. She initially moved to Oregon when her mother got a job at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, splitting her time between the school year in Medford and summers in California. Seeking a more diverse educational environment during high school, she attended Milo, a private boarding school in Canyonville that hosted study-abroad students from Korea, China, Japan, and Mexico.
Later, to avoid the heavy burden of private college debt, she enrolled at Rogue Community College (RCC). While there, she initially majored in Theater, taking acting and improv classes that taught her how to confidently navigate highly social environments.
Now fully settled back in Southern Oregon, May Camarena identifies as a homebody who loves to explore the outdoors. Whether she’s camping, swimming in local lakes, or skiing in the winter, she loves being outside. When she isn’t studying for her exams, she spends most of her free time with her sisters, exploring bookstores, hunting for Jelly Cat toys at Paddington Station, or relaxing at home with her pet rabbit .
May brings a fierce dedication to education, a deep well of empathy, and an invaluable bilingual voice to Ashland Insurance. We are incredibly proud to have her on our team.
Welcome, May!
Ready to connect? Reach out!
541.482.0831 Ashland
541.857.0679 Medford