ATO Podcast

It was great to talk to Kim Beach, CEO & Founder of InsureWomen.  Also owner of Village Insurance based out of Village of Mariemont, OH.   Kim's passion is working with and helping women in many areas but namely the insurance buying process.  Kim founded InsureWomen in 2021 in the state of Ohio and quickly recognized the need for the organization to expand nationally.  Kim's insurance business is very relationship driven.  Where there wasn't networking opportunities, she created them.  Where there wasn't a chamber of commerce, she created one.  That's how you get things done!  Thank You Kim for sharing with us!!

https://www.insurewomen.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbeach/

[email protected]

Christian Kopp & Nick Smith partnered to create BluePrintRisk in 2020.  Two great guys with an exciting plan for the agency.   This is a great BluePrint for a successful agency.  With Christian focusing on Commercial Insurance and Nick the Personal they are growing working through the challenges that most face as an independent scratch agency.  This a great conversation on partnerships.  They have identified the Visionary and Integrator within their relationship as well as who will handle what task going forward.  Any young agency can learn from the BluePrintRisk plan.  Enjoy!! 

https://blueprint-risk.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-smith-62058115/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiankopp1/

Great conversation with Niki Henley from Extra Mile Insurance.  Niki has a great insurance backstory.  She started Extra Mile Insurance as a scratch agency in 2018.  She is a true grinder in this insurance game.  Like many of us her expertise is sales.  As you grow in this business, you run into a cross roads that you can't just sell yourself out of.  You need a team to continue that growth.  This is where it gets challenging.  Niki's journey is no different.  When staffing is a real issue, the rest of the business becomes a challenge.  She's tough and will persevere.   This was a fun discussion.  It was great to get to know Niki Henley.  Find her on TikTok & Facebook Reels.   

https://www.extramileins.com/

linkedin.com/in/agenthenley

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/

Virtual Professionals are one of the hottest topics in the insurance industry.  In this episode I have the pleasure to sit down with Troy Thompson, Owner of Savvital Virtual Assistants and David Carothers, with Florida Risk Partners and Partner in Savvital Virtual Assistants.  We cover most every question a business owner can have for hiring a Virtual Professional including the common question of security concerns.  If you are thinking of one day hiring a VA or have a VA this episode is for you.  We discuss training, range of operations handled, benefit, support you should be receiving, overall best practices and security that should be in place for any VA company.   

Mark Flockhart opened Valor Insurance Group as scratch agency just over a year ago.  Mark has a great backstory in insurance.  We had a great conversation about starting the independent agency and the strategic plan to grow a super agency.  I first noticed Mark on YouTube under @Thinkinsurance.   The Think Insurance YouTube page  has over 19,000 subscribers.  The Think YT page focuses on educating the public.  By educating the public, he generates more car insurance leads from around the country.  He also runs YT channels specifically for Insurance agents under @markwflockhart and a 3rd Channel for Valor Insurance Group under @valorinsure.  In an industry where we have been talking about Video Content, Mark has become an expert on Video Marketing.  It was a pleasure discussing Mark's history and story.  Great information in this episode.  


 @valorinsure  @ThinkInsurance  @markwflockhart  

https://valorinsure.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markflockhart/

https://www.ameriguardinsurance.com/

#digitalmarketing #insuranceagent #businessowner #businesspodcast #youtubemarketing #insuranceowner #carinsurance

In this episode of the Agents To Owners Podcast, I meet with Robert Bowen Jr. from Patriot Insurance Group.  Bowen has a special niche in Real Estate Investment Insurance.  We discuss why he choose this market, how he has developed relationships in this market and how, by developing relationships he has become a member of investors team of people.  We also discuss challenges growing a team, managing team members and learning to let go and delegate. Rob also has the interesting/special dynamic of having a daughter join his team.  This was a fun, casual conversation.  I am very thankful to have met Rob and become a friend. If you haven't connected with Rob Bowen, I would recommend it!  Enjoy this episode!! 

https://patrioticinsurancegroup.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbowen/

https://www.ameriguardinsurance.com/

This week I connect with Dawn Janes-Bartley.  Dawn has worked for and earned everything she has.   I consider her pioneer.  If there isn't a path to where she wants to go, she'll make one.   Dawn shared a lot about all aspects of her most recent acquisition.  This was a deep dive into the entire acquisition process.  From managing a new team to due diligence of an agency purchase to the financing.   Dawn offered so many great takeaways to running, growing, managing an agency.  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnjanesbartley/

https://insurancegroupmn.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/

https://www.ameriguardinsurance.com/

This is a great episode with Daniela. We covered a lot of insurance ground in this conversation.  Daniela has gone through two acquisitions and plans on more.  We discussed working remote and the challenges of staying active with the team.  We discussed growing a production team, her growth plan and how she utilizes her virtual professional.  Not to mention, Daniela is a lot of fun.  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielitaaf/

https://www.insuranceagencyfl.com/

https://www.ameriguardinsurance.com/

In the Independent Insurance World, Captain Dave Jackson needs no introduction.  As Founder to IAOA, he is the Godfather of Collaboration.  He will never take credit for all the greatness that has come from this network of people.  

During our conversation we discussed the what's being added to the IAOA platform, including the Market Access connection, which is helping independent agents connect to one of the top Network/Aggregators within the insurance space, the IAOA Foundation which supports young Independent Agents and his newest business scratch agency adventure of Risk Cannibas.

As most of us in the Independent Agency Space are aware of, Dave is great to talk to and this episode was no different.   Enjoy!! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IAOAlliance

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davejackson6?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bqz4H2Zi6SjaT6NmZxNnNuA%3D%3D

https://www.ameriguardinsurance.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/

Daniel Summers started his scratch agency Charles String Inc . 2 1/2 years ago.   Daniel started with the Trucking niche.  By providing value to the Trucking community, Charles String has exploded.  Daniel created instructional and education videos on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@TruckInsurance.  The response was overwhelming.  Because the demand was so high, Daniel has expanded their operation Nationwide.  In addition to the Insurance operation, Daniel has been able to monetize the YouTube operation to earn a very nice supplemental income stream 

It was great to connect with Daniel Summers.  So many good tips in this episode for growth, niche marketing, hiring, being selective with your customer base and much more.   

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsummersagent/

https://charlesstring.com/