Lankford rings bell at NYSE, promotes safe driving
(L-R) Kari Wisell, Jade Tieman, Elliot Johnson, Steven Lynchard, Richard Romero, Sandy Spavone, Vicky Dinges, Colleen Torpie, Carolyn Lankford, Gin Brockwell, Charles (CJ) Booth, Dan Cheek, and Greg Kramer at the bell ringing on May 2. (CONTRIBUTED)
By Aldo Amato
Staff Reporter
MADISON — Not many people can say they rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Even fewer can say they rang it for a good cause.
But that is exactly what local Allstate agency owner Carolyn Lankford did on May 2 in New York. Lankford visited the NYSE to mark Allstate’s 20th anniversary of listing on the exchange and commemorate the company’s commitment to traffic safety by highlighting Global Youth Traffic Safety Month in May.
“It was real exciting and a great atmosphere to be in,” Lankford said. “It was great to be surrounded by people so outspoken about the dangers of texting and driving.”
Lankford was selected by the corporate office in the region to attend the bell ringing. Her commitment to end texting while driving in Madison and surrounding areas was a major part of her selection. The agency has set up at schools, businesses and events around the city to promote safe driving.
Lankford said she views texting while driving as a national epidemic.
“Even though it is against the law, its very common,” she said. “So at our agency and other Allstate agencies across the nation, we continue to talk about it and want to do everything we can to reduce the number of distracted driving fatalities.”
Lankford has over 24 years of experience in Madison and has placed emphasis on safe driving for teens. She recently hosted an anti-texting event at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration and plans on continuing the pledge to end texting while driving.
“We are approaching the ‘100 deadliest days’ in the summer,” she said. “So we are calling local schools to see if we can set up a booth and make teen drivers aware before school lets out. We are also participating in some non-profit activities. If you have an event, we would like to be there.”
The commitment to ending texting while driving is not just a corporate pledge, it is a personal one.
“Allstate has given us these tools,” she said. “We just need to utilize them.”
For more information, contact the Lankford/Battle Agency is located at 7771 Highway 72 W, Suite A in Madison.
