Ben Jones, Jr.

Partner
Jones Insurance Services
Thibodaux, Louisiana

Why insurance?

I was born and raised here in Thibodaux, and I never left. I married my high-school sweetheart—we’ve been together for 12 years, married for two of those. When I started college at our local Nicholls State University, I did a year in pre-med and was working as a medical assistant for a dermatologist. I really loved it, but I hated the chemistry classes. It just wasn’t my forte.

I actually switched over to mass communications for a while, but it was a little stricter than I was thinking it would be. Business was always my plan B. I ended up graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in English—that was my creative escape from all the accounting classes and math classes that drove me crazy.

Jones Insurance Services was started by my grandfather in 1952, and my dad, Ben Jones, Sr., is the current owner. I was trying to branch out from the family business, but I kept getting sucked back in. Now, I’ve been working here since 2011. We have such a great team here—our staff turnover is very, very low. The last person who came here before me has been here over 10 years. Everybody fits really well into their position, so when I came in, I had to figure out where I fit. I had to ask myself, “What role can I play without taking away from someone else who is already experienced in that job and does it perfectly?”

What’s to love?

I recently bought into the agency with three other partners, and I’ve basically taken on all the social media, business development and technology side of things. My favorite part is the challenge of modernizing the agency and trying to stay ahead of the technology curve. What I’m seeing is that consumers want ease of use and 24/7 access to their agent and information. The majority of my time is spent on business development and trying to perfect the client experience. I’m trying to bring new technology, new ideas and more creativity into the agency, just to freshen things up a bit.

Working with family?

My dad’s a little harder on me than the other employees, but I don’t really take it to heart. He’s my go-to and I’m his go-to. It’s been fun to see him in this environment as opposed to just seeing him as my dad growing up. Now I see both sides of him, and I respect him for doing it all these years, providing me with a great life and helping me to succeed in the future.

Motivation?

The constant change in the industry motivates me to bring forth new ideas and platforms for both the client experience as well as a team member experience—making our team’s jobs easier and more efficient through technology. A lot of the times they fight me on change, but once the change has taken place, they realize it was the best decision we’ve ever made.

Millennial stereotype that drives you crazy?

That we’re lazy. We’re not lazy—we’re just good at finding better and more efficient ways of doing things that end up saving time and money.

Millennial stereotype that fits you?

First, that millennials are overly sensitive. I do take criticism to heart, but that only makes me work harder to replace that criticism with praise. And the thought that I am special—as a millennial, I feel like I have to leave my mark on the world. That feeling is what motivates me to be a better person and maintain a strong business to support my community.

Community ties?

For five years, I ran my own publication in town at the same time that I was doing insurance—What Now magazine, which was something a buddy of mine and myself started in a bar room one night back in 2013. We did 10,000 copies a month, and it was a free publication that focused on local people, local places and local events. We were able to use Google Drive and do everything in the cloud, so we didn’t need an office. I met with my team once a week in the public library to review things, but between the Drive and email and texting, we basically got everything done that way. From 8 to 5, I was still able to be in the office over here and not really be bothered.

Our May 2018 issue was our final issue, because we decided we wanted to focus on our other ventures. But the magazine gave me a lot of networking connections for the insurance side. I also continue to manage the Thibodaux Chamber Insight, which is the monthly publication of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

Thoughts on Gen Z?

The biggest difference I’m noticing is the lack of computer skills and computer literacy. When I was in high school, we had a computer applications class where we had to sit down and learn how to use Excel, learn how to use Word—things like that. When I’m talking to kids nowadays, they know how to use an iPhone and an iPad and anything with a touchscreen, but they don’t know how to use Excel. They don’t know those basic skills that are still 100% used in the workforce.

Future goals?

I’m hoping I’m able to grow the family business as a third-generation owner, bring the agency to new heights and incorporate some new innovations, while keeping everything fun in the office. For everyone who’s been here for so long, they are a second family—they spend more time here than they do with their own families. I want to make sure they’re all happy with the decision they made to spend the majority of their lives here.

Advice for a fellow young agent?

It’s all about making connections and networking, networking, networking. Join local organizations around the community and stay involved with everything and everyone. Referrals are still the most important source of new business, so make sure you’re always meeting new people, letting them know who you are and what you do, and forming that trusting relationship with them so they think of you the next time they need something.

This interview is the sixth in a series that profiles 10 millennials in the independent insurance industry, based on IA’s July cover story.

Jacquelyn Connelly is IA senior editor.