News & Events
09/03/10 -
Schield-Leavitt Becomes Leavitt Group Four Corners Insurance Agency
Ryan Woolverton
Todd Toner
Schield-Leavitt Insurance Agency has undergone a name change. The agency will now do business as Leavitt Group Four Corners Insurance Agency, reflecting the service provided across the region from Cortez to Pagosa Springs and Farmington to Montrose.
Managing executives Ryan Woolverton and Todd Toner, veterans of the insurance industry, will continue to lead the agency with their capable staff of 15 people in two offices located in Durango and Farmington.
“It is our job to make insurance simple,” said Woolverton. “The insurance world may seem complex, so let us concentrate on providing you and your business with the right coverage at extremely competitive rates.”
Leavitt Group Four Corners Insurance Agency provides all types of insurance products and services to area residents and businesses, including personal insurance, commercial insurance, contractor bonding, and employee benefits.
“We will maintain our high commitment of service to all our clients,” said Toner. “Whether you are an individual taking care of your family or a business owner concerned about your employees, we are here to help you understand all your insurance options.”
09/02/10 -
New Agency Formed: Redwoods Leavitt Insurance Agency
The Leavitt Group is pleased to announce that the Crescent City, California, and Grants Pass, Oregon, locations of NorthWest Insurance Agency have joined the Leavitt Group to form Redwoods Leavitt Insurance Agency effective September 1, 2010. Bill Cochran is the managing local co-owner of the new agency.
"I am very excited to be affiliating with the Leavitt Group. After a solid relationship with Northwest Insurance for 15 years, this adds a new dimension of local ownership,” said Cochran. The Leavitt Group’s model of co-ownership gives the local manager a stake in their client’s success while enjoying the resources of a national brokerage.
Cochran has been in the insurance industry for 32 years. Most recently, he was a commercial broker and shareholder with NorthWest Insurance Agency. Prior to NorthWest, Cochran was with a regional brokerage firm where he was responsible for sales management, marketing, acquisition coordination, computerization, and operations. He earned a degree from Humboldt State University in communications and journalism.
The Grants Pass location has been serving clients since the 1940s. Burnie Gillespie House of Insurance and staff joined NorthWest Insurance in November of 2008. Cochran opened the Crescent City branch for NorthWest Insurance in 1994. Redwoods Leavitt Insurance Agency has the experience and resources to meet the needs of all types of clients, including individuals and businesses.
09/02/10 -
Leavitt Group Welcomes Howard Massey
The Leavitt Group is pleased to announce that Howard Massey has joined Valley Insurance Services as the executive vice president of the restaurant division. Massey specializes in building and managing large restaurant programs and restaurant specific safety programs.
“I made the decision to join the Leavitt Group because of the tremendous opportunity to develop and grow a true national restaurant program,” said Massey. “I am continually impressed with the tools, staff, and support capabilities available to make this a national success.”
By developing a concept called Strategic Safety Planning, Massey has customized safety plans for large clients based on their strengths and weaknesses. He also offers user-friendly safety calendars and lesson plans for restaurant managers. Massey developed an interactive safety workshop for restaurant managers called Behavior-Based Safety Coaching. “This program teaches managers how to identify and change unsafe behaviors,” said Massey. “By using these tools, my clients have seen a significant drop in safety incidents resulting in lower workers compensation costs.”
Massey has 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He has held a number of management positions for various restaurant concepts, including general manager, district manager, regional manager (76 locations), divisional vice president (454 restaurants), senior vice president of operations (1,100 restaurants), and president of El Pollo Loco (170 restaurants). Massey was also a 16-unit franchisee of EI Pollo Loco for over six years.
Massey has spent over 13 years in the insurance and safety industry and was responsible for building and servicing a group of 2,150 restaurants. He wrote the workers compensation, property/liability, EPLI, and health insurance for this group. This group had 16 different franchisee associations and a number of corporate accounts, including Claim Jumper, Elephant Bar, Sizzler USA, Hometown Buffet, and Bakers Square.
09/02/10 -
Leavitt Group of Atlanta Welcomes Alan Pope
Leavitt Group of Atlanta is pleased to announce the hiring of Alan Pope as a licensed insurance agent. Pope will focus on commercial insurance.
Alan joins the agency with 18 years combined experience in the restaurant and insurance industries. He has a strong background in commercial insurance with manufacturing, distributing, and franchises including artisan contractors, restaurants, bars, taverns, food delivery, and nightclubs. Alan has been an International Franchise Association supplier forum member and a preferred insurance vendor for national franchises.
Leavitt Group of Atlanta has been in business since 1987 and affiliated with the Leavitt Group since 2003.
09/02/10 -
RV Park and Campground Program Now Available Through Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality
Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance (LRHI) announces that their RV park and campground program is now available on a general agency basis. Chris Hipple, vice president of the agency, heads the previously exclusive program.
“Our program has been growing successfully, and we feel it is ready to offer to outside agents,” said Hipple. “It provides a partnership with agents who have relationships with RV parks and campgrounds but have been unable to find the coverage to fit their needs.”
LRHI offers a program through Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Penn America, both rated “A” with industry ratings expert A.M. Best. The program overcomes many of the traditional barriers to writing these risks. “Even those with unusual activities or coastal exposure can be considered,” said Hipple.
LRHI has over 25 years of experience insuring RV parks and campgrounds and is one of the largest servicing agencies in the nation. With this focus, the agency has achieved an elite status with the insurance companies they represent. LRHI maintains open communication with their carriers to modify coverage and to respond to the changing insurance needs of their clients.
08/09/10 -
LCCIS Receives IAPA EndorsementLeavitt Central Coast Insurance Services (LCCIS) is proud to announce that the Independent Automotive Professional Association (IAPA) has appointed their agency as the endorsed insurance provider for all of the association’s insurance needs. This is the 7th automotive association endorsement currently for LCCIS.
The IAPA is a trade association comprised of professional automotive repair specialists currently registered in good standing with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.
06/30/10 -
PrideMark-Everest Welcomes David TrevinoPrideMark-Everest Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of David Trevino as Vice President of Sales focusing on commercial property and casualty insurance as well as workers compensation.
Trevino comes to PrideMark-Everest with 12 years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to working in insurance, he spent 10 years working as a director for a non-profit organization. Trevino has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Vanguard University.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the Leavitt Group. I am looking forward to serving my clients and prospects by providing comprehensive solutions for their commercial insurance needs,” says Trevino.
06/28/10 -
Leavitt Central Coast Welcomes Charles Grandelli
Leavitt Central Coast Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Charles Grandelli as a licensed insurance agent with a focus on high-value commercial and personal insurance accounts.
Grandelli has 24 years of experience in the industry in commercial, personal, life, and health insurance. He built two successful insurance agencies prior to joining Leavitt Central Coast. Grandelli has worked as a district manager for an insurance company where his responsibilities included training new agents and mentoring existing agents.
Grandelli graduated from the University of California in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He has earned the Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) and the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designations. He served as past president of the Kiwanis Club of Salinas (1985-1986). He
is a co-sponsor of A.B. Ingham Holiday Party, a school for the severely developmentally delayed children in Salinas-Monterey. He and his wife Carol of 36 years have two children, Tony and Chelsea.
“Everyone I work with deserves to be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect. My clients benefit through open and honest communication as well as having an agent willing to take the time to understand their unique needs,” said Grandelli.
Leavitt Central Coast has been serving clients for over 37 years. By directly representing many of the top insurance companies, the agency has the experience and resources to develop and manage clients’ risk management needs. The agency has been affiliated with the Leavitt Group since 2006.
The Leavitt Group is an organization of independent insurance agencies with 115 offices across the United States. As the 12th largest brokerage in the nation, the Leavitt Group provides affiliated agencies with management services, specialty products, and greater access to insurance markets that create a stable insurance environment for clients. More information about the Leavitt Group and Leavitt Central Coast Insurance Services can be found at
http://www.leavitt.com/.
04/14/10 -
PrideMark-Everest Announces New Look.jpg)
PrideMark-Everest Insurance Services recently changed their look to better identify their partnership with the Leavitt Group, the 12th largest brokerage in the nation.
While the look may be different, PrideMark-Everest is committed to the excellent service it has been offering its customers for over 70 years. “Changing our brand will associate our agency with an organization that provides effective, sophisticated, and creative risk solutions for all types of insurance needs,” said co-owner Angelo Maroutsos.
04/13/10 -
Pullman Fire Department Receives Funding For Critical New Rescue Device
Pullman, Wash. (March 22, 2010) – It has quickly become one of the most important pieces of equipment any fire department can have, and now Pullman firefighters will be receiving one of the most modern, high-tech versions of the tool.
Leavitt Insurance Agency and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company are teaming up to award a $5,000 grant to the Pullman Fire Department to help fund the purchase of a new thermal imaging camera. The local Denny’s restaurant, on SE Bishop Boulevard, played a key role in directing this grant to Pullman.
The device uses updated technology to enable the department’s firefighters to “see” through smoke and darkness to quickly locate anyone trapped in a building during a fire. The camera can also play a major role in reducing property damage. With one in hand, firefighters can often locate hot spots inside walls and extinguish them before they spread.
“Thermal imagers used to be considered a luxury, but now they’re a necessity because they can be used in so many different ways,” said Fire Chief Pat Wilkins. “There have been many times when the only camera we had was needed by the other fire station, but was unavailable because it was already being used on another call. This additional camera will relieve a lot of that pressure.”
“Equipping these first responders with the latest life-saving technology is critical to ensuring the safety of people in this community,” said Charlie Page with Leavitt Insurance Agency. “We’re proud to be able to help in such a meaningful way, knowing so many people will benefit from the fire department’s use of this device.”
Chief Wilkins, Pullman firefighters, and executives from Leavitt Insurance Agency and Fireman’s Fund will come together for a public event where the grant package will be formally presented and there will be a demonstration of a thermal imager:
Date / Time: Location:
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Pullman Fire Department
11:00 a.m. 620 S. Grand Ave.
Pullman, WA
The grant is part of a nationwide philanthropic program funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The program is designed to provided needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued grants to more than 1,500 different departments totaling more than $25 million. Independent insurance agencies that sell Fireman’s Fund products, like Leavitt Insurance Agency, are able to direct these grants to support the fire service.
About Leavitt Insurance Agency
Leavitt Insurance Agency is a member of The Leavitt Group, founded in 1952, which is one of the largest insurance brokerages in the United States. It is an organization of affiliated independent insurance agencies with over 115 locations across the country and approximately $1.5 billion in annualized premiums. Leavitt Group affiliates are able to provide effective, sophisticated and creative risk management and risk transfer solutions to all types of businesses. For more information, visit
http://www.leavitt.com/.
About Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products nationwide. It is rated ‘AA-’ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services. Fireman’s Fund is a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world’s largest providers of insurance and financial services. For additional information, visit www.firemansfund.com.
