HR and Staffing

Angela Ripley, president of VW Brown Insurance in Columbia, Maryland, brings two decades of agency leadership, eight acquisitions and a passion for mentorship and inclusion to the role of Big “I” chair.

Just because the economy is unpredictable doesn’t mean it’s time to pull up the drawbridge and hide. Making smart moves to drive growth, both organic and inorganic, can keep a business thriving.

“It takes a lot of work to do this job,” says young agent Yuliya Karpov. “This profession provides an opportunity to find harmony, to learn about yourself and what you need, then reflect and adjust accordingly.”

“Everyone says insurance is relationship-based and sometimes that can just be a throwaway statement,” says young agent Kate Adams. “But when you’re up against a deadline, it’s six o’clock at night and you’re not going to get paid if you don’t get something done by 8 am the next day, you need relationships and connections.”

“I see more people my age coming into the industry,” says young agent Ander Urdaneta, “and with new faces comes new ideas—and with new ideas, the industry is just going to keep growing.”

Consider these five strategies if stress and burnout is forcing you to consider selling your agency.

Gonyo worked every role in an independent agency—from the front desk to producing—before starting her own agency at 32 years old with “minimal money in a tiny little office,” she says. Today, Blue Line Insurance has four branches and 15 employees, 14 of whom are women.

Gonyo has worked every role in an independent agency—from working the front desk to producing—before starting her own agency at 32 years old with “minimal money in a tiny little office,” she says. Today, Blue Line Insurance has four branches and 15 employees, 14 of whom are women.

As the co-founder of Project 55, a nonprofit launched in January, Brenden Corr is committed to reshaping how mental health is addressed in workplaces.