Fresh Faces Spotlight: Jami Vela

Each year we run a summer series where we interview agents who are awesome to work with! This year we focused on fresh faces and folks whose names have been popping up more and more around the HFC office. We enjoy giving our agents some love whenever we can, and we're proud to present another great summer of talented, hard-working folks.

How did you first get into insurance sales? How long have you been in the business?

I have been here only 6 years. Janine and Philip, brother and sister, are the agency owners. They took the business over from their dad, I believe in 2000-2001. Their dad Lowell has been in business since the 60’s. Janine has worked here since ‘80, and Philip since ‘90. There are just three of us here in the agency. It’s a family-owned, family-run agency, in a very small, rural area in Kentucky.

6 years ago, I worked for a local construction company, and they unfortunately went out of business. But they had their insurance here with Lowell King. So I’d known Philip and Janine for years, and they’d known me my whole life–went to church together when we were little and all that good stuff. They asked me if I was interested in the insurance business. The lady who had worked for them prior to me–she was with them for 25 years–was getting ready to retire in 2 years, so they needed to bring someone on to train and take her position. That’s how I got into the insurance business, and I’ve been here ever since, and I love it!

What's your favorite part of the business?

Probably my relationship with the customers. Meeting new people. Being able to talk to them, learn about their families. We take pride in knowing most of our insureds by name when they come in. Just knowing our customers! We like to be able to say, “Hey, how's your daughter?” We just like to have a good relationship with our customers. That’s probably my favorite part: getting to visit with everybody that comes to see us.

What’s something about the insurance business that you wish more people understood?

I don’t know how every agent does it, but we try to make sure that our customers have an understanding of the products that we’re selling to them. I feel like a lot of customers don’t have the insight on what they’re getting. Before I sold insurance, I couldn’t have told you what anything was! So I really feel like, because I didn’t understand that, that we really want our customers to understand that and know how important that is. I didn’t ask those questions, and until I started working here, didn't realize how important it was to know exactly what you do have. Because then, when they’re faced with a fire, or whatever claim or loss they may have, they have no clue–”Am I covered? Am I not gonna be covered?” I just don’t want my customers to ever feel like they don’t know what they have.

What are the top three words that come to mind when you think about working with Hanover Fire & Casualty?

Not small, but intimate. They’re a company you can be personable with. I like that, because we’re from a small town.

Everyone there I’ve had dealings with is very friendly.

We’re kind of new to HFC, so we haven’t had them very long, but everything I’ve done with them has been pleasant. I’ve had no issues. Everything went smoothly, and if I had questions, there were answers.

What are some of your career goals for the next couple of years? What’s next?

I plan to stay right where I’m at, continue selling insurance, and hopefully gaining new customers. My family is here, so I have every intention to just continue more in what I’m doing! We’re kind of a family here and a team.

Thanks for working with HFC, Jami! We look forward to seeing what the future brings for both you and Lowell King Insurance Services.