Celebrating Success and Service: Nationwide EmployeesRecognized for Outstanding Work and Volunteerism

Nationwide Financial Sales Associates of the Year for 2025 Recognized

This article was originally published on Nationwide.com.

Columbus, OH, January 21, 2026 — Each year Nationwide celebrates employees who go above and beyond both at work and in their communities. As the company kicks off its centennial year, seven associates were honored at the Nationwide Financial Sales Meeting in Dallas for driving exceptional business results, living the Nationwide values, and paying it forward to others. Meet the 2025 Nationwide Financial Sales Associates of the Year.

Jaclyn Avelar

Nationwide Pet/Nationwide Group Benefits

In her relatively short time at Nationwide, Jaclyn has delivered strong performance and has championed the company’s broad portfolio of products and solutions. She supports Nationwide’s strong culture by organizing events at the company’s San Antonio office and backing service projects as part of Nationwide’s San Antonio Community Engagement Council. Her passion for pets extends beyond her work by fostering animals waiting for adoption through the San Antonio Pets Alive rescue.  

Chris Bailey

Nationwide Annuity

Chris fosters a culture of collaboration with his peers and business partners. He is often sought out for his knowledge by partners when they’re planning speaking and educational events. Chris shows this same spirit in his community by working with The Ohio State University's James Cancer Hospital, where he counsels individuals and their families facing a cancer diagnosis. He also supports youth sports and development by coaching his daughter's soccer team.  

Austin Clouse

Investment Management Group

Austin is a born leader, always quick to help others and come up with fun ways to strengthen relationships among coworkers and business partners while producing great results. He supports two causes popular with Nationwiders – the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and the annual Pelotonia cycling fundraiser to fight cancer. He also has served his country for the past 17 years with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing. 

Middi Dzihic

Nationwide Life Insurance

Middi has transformed his territory within two years into one of the top-performing regions for Nationwide Life Insurance, ranking in the top 10 among all wholesalers in the Life sales organization. Middi also gives back generously through volunteer activities. He works with Junior Achievement to bring financial literacy education into classrooms, hosts educational seminars for families navigating caregiving and long-term care, and coaches basketball for the Special Olympics.

Joe Fergus

Institutional Life Insurance

Joe leads his team through preparation, humility and an unwavering commitment to excellence. This includes leading big projects requiring coordination across Nationwide and external partners. He has been involved for more than 25 years with Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and the American Diabetes Association, and he has also supported the Especially for You^® Race Against Breast Cancer benefiting individuals needing cancer screening and services in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area.

Eric McCaslin

Strategic Customer Solutions

Eric accounted for an impressive 28% of all annuity account management activity in 2025 while promoting a culture of teamwork to produce the best outcome for everyone. His habit of overachieving is also evident in his community work. Not only has he helped raise thousands of dollars for the local Special Olympics in his Columbus suburb, he’s expanded its events to include new sports like pickleball that bring in a broader group of participants.  

Greg Watson

Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Greg is a repeat winner of the Sales Associate of the Year award and is always a top contender, consistently ranking in the top 20% for Retirement Solutions sales. He increases his impact by mentoring other team members. In the community, he’s turned his passion for motorsports into opportunities to benefit students. Working with the United States Auto Club, he’s raised scholarship funds for University of Northwestern Ohio students in STEM fields, and he has created a summer volunteer program for students to gain work experience. He also led a tire-recycling program with the auto club that diverts tires from landfills, redirecting them for other uses including providing paving material for playgrounds.