agencyWhat’s the biggest challenge your agency has gone through over the last year?

We wanted to bring our agency up-to-date. This started with re-branding our agency, which included both revising our image and advertising. The agency has been in business for over 80-years, remains family-owned, and I am currently the third-generation owner.

Our daughter Megan also works within the agency and represents what will be the fourth-generation owner. It became important for us to start thinking about how to modify our brand and how we do business to adapt to the next generation of clients, while continuing to provide a high-level of service to our existing clients.

We updated our phone system, adopted new technologies, and improved how we manage information. In addition, since we are an independent agency, we wanted to represent more companies and have more options to help our clients with their insurance needs. Taking on more companies does require some time to learn about additional products.

Also, we want to be fair to all of the companies we represent, which requires balancing the commitments we make to strengthen those relationships.

Do you have a new tip or best practice you’ve learned and want to share?

For us, learning how to best communicate with each client was important. We try to collect the right contact information (cell phone, email, etc.) to help us reach our clients. We are finding out that many of our clients prefer to communicate with us electronically. By communicating with them the way they prefer it has helped our efficiency and improved our level of service.

Why are you an SIANO member?

We knew we were going into a different phase with Megan coming into the business and needed to find some additional support to help her learn and grow. SIANO has provided those things, such as Business Insurance Advantage. In addition, SIANO could help our agency grow by giving us more carrier options for present and future clients. With those additional options available, we can better serve our clients. Beyond that, it helped us strengthen our existing carrier relationships and earn additional income from the group profit sharing and SIAA national incentives.

What is something that makes your agency unique?

The fourth-generation is the key. Our agency is a family-owned business that has been operating under the same name for 82 years. Clients appreciate the fact that if they call us, they have peace-of-mind and trust knowing that they are talking to a LeGalley family member. The transformation is a long-term process. Clients know that I (Doug) am not planning on retiring any time soon, but they are also becoming more comfortable working with Megan. This means the clients have the long-term stability and expertise of the third-generation, along with the improved opportunities provided with technology that is being introduced by the fourth-generation.

What causes does your agency actively support?

Outside of insurance, I am a fifth-generation owner of a 161-year-old family farm. We actively support organizations that promote agriculture like Youth 4H, Future Farmers of America, and pig auctions. The agency actively also supports the local Wood County Fair, WinterFest (a community event that includes a one-mile race and chili cookoffs), and various local sports teams.