Legacy
Building Ours
While Continuing Yours
As a local independent agency ourselves, we know the
years of hard work and dedication that it has taken to grow
your business. We also value the level of service your
policyholders have grown accustomed to receiving and
understand that they are your top priority – which makes
them our top priority. The insurance industry is full of
special relationships. Whether it is the family member who
founded your agency or the respected mentor you purchased it
from, we value those connections and their legacy along with
your own. We are proudly comprised of dozens of likeminded
agencies who have made the decision to join WalkerHughes
Insurance.
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Why WalkerHughes
At WalkerHughes, we thrive on the contributions of many. Growth
through acquisition integrates a wealth of knowledge,
expertise, and resources within our organization. We take the
things that our legacy agencies do well and expand that agency
wide. Whether it is a unique niche market, line of business
experience, or opportunities for process improvement, we find
innovative ways to incorporate the strengths of the agencies we
are comprised of across the WalkerHughes footprint.
Your Support Team
Prior agencies that have joined WalkerHughes have all
excelled at taking care of their customers and selling insurance.
We have found that many agency owners who have had success in those
two areas have also had to add employees or partner with vendors to
coordinate the components of agency ownership that they did not enjoy
as much or don’t have the time for anymore. At WalkerHughes, we have
built a business model that provides a skilled support team to perform
the business functions that many of our competitors either outsource or
identify as pain points for their organization. This model allows our
sales and service teams to focus on what they do best – which is insurance
and customer service! Our support team consists of specialists in the
following departments:
- Database Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Licensing & Compliance
- Marketing
- Technology Development
- Technology Support
Local Presence
Our team is dedicated to maintaining the commitment to the
local communities that many of our legacy agencies were
founded upon. At WalkerHughes, we believe in being an integral
part of the community in which our customers and employees
live, work, and play. This principle is why you see a lot of
our office locations within a 20 - mile radius from one another.
While many of our competitors consolidate operations into
centrally located mega - offices, which may make sense, it
simply doesn’t fit our business model. We are very passionate
about technology and pioneering innovative solutions to meet
our clients needs, but we are equally as passionate about
maintaining our local presence.
Testimonials
My decision to join WalkerHughes was born out of need to have a buy/sell arrangement in place. As I approached other agents that I respected in the state - it was clear, no one wanted to have a buy/sell agreement with me, they all wanted to buy. I did not have any desire to retire or sell and after 60 years of our firm serving the southside of Indianapolis, becoming a part of another organization was not on my radar. When I had a meeting with Ben about his vision and business plan - my interests changed. The business model of being a part of a larger agency while still maintaining the local feel and involvement was first and foremost for me. Typically, when there is buyout or merger - the first thing to go is the local presence. Not with the WalkerHughes. We have the local involvement with the large company buying power for insurance and related services. Secondly, the technology initiative that WalkerHughes has in place is really unheard of in our industry, except for the exclusive "mega agencies". Finally - the people. The expertise of the WalkerHughes team provided our agency with opportunities that we were average at best before. I am happy that we are a part of the WalkerHughes team and would encourage any agency in the position I once was to join us.
Kevin Wheeler
Prior Agency Owner
Cardinal Insurance Agency
Greenwood, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2017
Testimonials
When the agency I worked for was purchased by WalkerHughes, I was so nervous to start over again at a new agency with new carriers and new coworkers. I felt extremely fortunate that I was able to maintain the Sizemore book of business. I had developed a relationship with those customers, and it was important to me to be able to help retain them during the transition since they already knew and trusted me. The opportunity to learn and be able to write with different carriers was a blessing. I came from a prior agency of only four companies to now over a dozen companies with WalkerHughes. While it was challenging, and still is at times to learn each company's website and appetite, it is just that much more that I can offer to my clients. WalkerHughes is also extremely supportive of my career goals. I have obtained my CISR designation and anytime I need to take a class for credit hours or to gain more knowledge in a particular area, they allow me the time off to do so. As far as my coworkers... well that goes without saying that they have become my "framily"! (Friends that are family). I cannot imagine working here without them. They make the bad days bearable and the good days great. I am blessed beyond measure!
Amber Koehl
Account Manager
WalkerHughes Insurance
Greenwood, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2018
Testimonials
Selling your insurance agency is a huge decision. Who you decide to sell it to is an even bigger decision!
After working at and owning Lamar & Lamar Insurance for over thirty years it was time to look at selling the agency. I interviewed a few candidates and felt that WalkerHughes was the best fit. The deal was struck, and we started the transition. The transition was uneventful, and all agreements were honored. Working with Ben Schoettmer and Kyle Clouser has been effective and delightful. WalkerHughes is a well-respected Insurance Agency, The Big I Agency of the year in 2019, that operates effectively. As we all know Customer Service is important and the WalkerHughes team is always looking for opportunities to improve. Community is also important and WalkerHughes invests in the communities, financially as well as encouraging their associates to participate in community events. I am now proud to be a part of the WalkerHughes team!!!
Dan Lamar
Prior Agency Owner
Lamar & Lamar Insurance
Lebanon, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2019
Testimonials
Prior to the agency I worked for joining WalkerHughes Insurance, Cardinal was my first and only experience in the insurance industry. I loved that the agency was truly like a family. The owner's understanding of 'family' made it a great place to work as he was always very understanding and considerate when situations came up and our own families needed us. When our team joined WalkerHughes, we grew as we moved offices and gained co-workers, but we carried on the 'family' atmosphere that meant so much to so many of us. We work well together and are there for each other, whether it is in a time of need or a time of happiness or achievement. That connection makes our work environment a place I want to come to and continue to come to. We take retirements and going away parties very seriously as it is always heartbreaking when someone leaves since we consider ourselves a work family and each person has their role in that family. The culture we have created allows us to service our clients better by working together and grow our carriers at WalkerHughes because we want our office and company to thrive.
Kristi Wood
Account Manager
WalkerHughes Insurance
Greenwood, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2017
Testimonials
The primary reason that I chose to join WalkerHughes in 2018 was the opportunity to get back to what I do best, which isn't IT, accounting, marketing, and HR. All of those areas have turned out extremely well as they are strong suits for WalkerHughes. Because I wanted to refocus on marketing and sales, the marketing team has been an especially strong component for me in editing content, developing new sales pieces, and "WalkerHughes-erising(c)" existing ones that needed a refresh. Two years later, I still highly recommend making the move to WalkerHughes and wish I could have done it earlier.
Ray Gage
Prior Agency Owner
Grabill Insurance
Fort Wayne, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2018
Testimonials
Walker and Associates took a chance on hiring me in 2015. At that time, my mom had been with the agency for over 20 years. My grandfather had previously retired from a captive agency and worked part time with Walker. While my family doesn't have a legacy involving agency ownership, I am proud to be a 3rd generation employee at WalkerHughes Insurance. Following the WalkerHughes merger, my career moved in a direction I hadn't previously imagined possible. I had figured out that the things that I enjoyed most about my sales job were the agency's marketing and operations functions; but unfortunately, these items were never anywhere close to being in my job description. It was with increased opportunities following the agency's merger, that I grew into a full-time position in operations doing what I love. I am passionate about the work that I do and truly believe that the work I do here matters. I am thankful for the opportunity to carry on my family's legacy while simultaneously building my own at WalkerHughes Insurance.
Stephanie Marsh
Marketing & Communications Manager
WalkerHughes Insurance
Indianapolis, IN
Joined WalkerHughes in 2015
Selling Your Agency
It is a big decision to start entertaining the discussion of
selling your agency. The conversation on our end is a natural
one. As insurance professionals, we are consultative in nature.
Regardless of where you are at in this process, feel free to
reach out for additional information or to talk through any
questions you may have. We are here to help and are happy to
explain what WalkerHughes Insurance can do for your agency’s
legacy.
