In this Power Producers Shop Talk episode, David Carothers kicks

off a six-week series focused on the growing trend of remote workforces in the

insurance industry. Rather than just relying on virtual assistants, David and

his team are diving into the process of building and managing remote teams

within the United States, specifically focused on highly skilled professionals.

This week, David is joined by Jeremy Huerta, Michael Overstreet,

and Caleb Walker, all

partners at Heritage, an

insurance agency that’s already perfected the remote workforce model. Together,

they share how they’ve scaled their business by embracing remote work and

managing teams across multiple states, breaking down what’s working for them

and what others in the industry can learn from their experience.

Key Highlights:

Building a Remote Workforce

The team discusses how the need to build a remote workforce arose from merging

multiple agencies and expanding across states like Missouri, Washington, Utah,

and Arizona. They share how remote work helped them overcome logistical

hurdles, giving them access to great talent across the country without the

constraints of physical office space.

Core Values: The Foundation of Everything

Jeremy, Michael, and Caleb

dive deep into why core values are critical when building a remote team. They

explain how defining core values early on shapes every decision—hiring, firing,

and everyday interactions. They emphasize that core values are more than just

words on a wall; they must be actively practiced, reinforced, and consistently

tied to everything the team does.

Why Less is More with Core Values

The partners discuss how they kept their core values simple and easy to

remember, and how it’s essential for their remote team to live and breathe

these values daily. They draw on examples from other successful companies like

Ritz-Carlton, whose attention to detail and consistency in core values creates

a replicated experience every time. Michael, Jeremy, and Caleb share the secret

of keeping core values alive within the team, even remotely.

Turning Core Values into Actionable Results

It’s one thing to have core values, but it’s another to live by them. The team

explains how they use weekly meetings, peer recognition, and real-time feedback

to keep the values front and center. From providing feedback on employee

performance to using recognition programs and even offering rewards like gift

cards, they actively reinforce the behaviors they want to see in the team.

Handling Turnover and Maintaining a Strong Culture

David and the team

discuss the role turnover plays when defining and sticking to core values. They

emphasize that turnover can be a positive thing when it means only those who

align with the company’s values remain. Michael, Jeremy, and Caleb share how

they’ve navigated turnover while ensuring their culture remains strong.

Practical Takeaways

At the end of each episode, the team provides downloadable resources, including

worksheets to help define and implement core values within your own agency.

Whether you’re building a new remote team or refining an existing one, these

resources are designed to help you put these principles into action.

To download the resources and read the full blog, visit: Core Values

Resources

In the coming weeks, David and the team will continue to

dive into the aspects of remote team management, focusing on culture,

connection, and team-building activities. Be sure to tune in for more practical

insights and actionable strategies to help you build a winning remote team.

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