Thursday, January 18, 2007

JCI takes on new statewide role

by Kenneth Lassiter

After marking its second year with the addition of a sister agency in Ottawa, Jefferson County Insurance in Oskaloosa started its third full year of operation with some more big news.

The agency, which is owned by Travis and Sara Oliver of Perry, became the state director Jan. 2 of three policies for municipalities and fire departments issued through Continental Western Insurance Co. The coverage for 120 different cities, townships and fire departments in the state is now administered through JCI. That means other insurance agencies, even those in the state’s bigger cities, wanting to issue the policies need to go through JCI to do so.

“This is a huge opportunity for our agency,” Travis Oliver said. “We’re honored that Continental Western selected us to administer these policies for the whole state.”

The Olivers originally owned Douglas County Insurance in Lawrence and Thomas County Insurance in Colby before opening JCI in January 2005. A fourth agency was added to the family in August 2006 as Franklin County Insurance opened in Ottawa.

Oliver said an agency in Eureka had been the administrator for Continental Western but the need arose for a different company to take the duties over and CW chose JCI. Oliver said the move is more proof that he and his wife made a good decision in branching out to Jefferson County.

“It’s been an excellent opportunity for us,” Oliver said. Oliver is a former county commissioner, having served in that role from 2001-2004. “Our offices were the largest writers of agricultural insurance for Allied in the state of Kansas last year. The group of agencies was in the top 1 percent in new business in the country last year.”

JCI recently added a staff member as Shawn Johnson came to the agency from Rural Community Insurance Services. The agency also features former county auxiliary services director Bob Abel, who has spent the last two years learning the ropes of the insurance business. Oliver said finding the right mix of people at the agency and putting the company’s name in public view through sponsorships and scholarships has been key to its success.

“Having the most qualified, educated and polite staff we can is what makes this thing work,” Oliver said. “We try to sponsor tailgate parties and other things like that, and we’ve been happy to be involved in county 4-H. It’s also been important for us to have scholarships each year for local schools and we plan to continue that. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience running an agency up here and that’s all due to the people we have working for us and the people who do business with us.”

Oliver said plans are in the very early stages to expand the business, which sits at the corner of K-92 and US-59 highways in Oskaloosa. He said it may be a couple of years before the expansion is possible but more space is needed as the business grows.