Griffiths goodall

INSURANCE BROKERS

EXPANSION FEATURE

Industry innovators‌ They have you covered HAVING been an essential part of the insurance broking industry for almost three decades, Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers has gone from strength to strength.

From simple beginnings where the firm had just seven members of staff, to having recently expanded and opened their new premises that houses more than 30 people, the local financial services firm has a clear vision for future success.

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EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

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From humble beginnings to building an empire GROWTH AND SUCCESS… For almost 30 years, Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers has been an integral part of the insurance broking industry locally, nationally and internationally, having recently expanded from their previous premises in Welsford Street, Shepparton (top) to a new purpose built, state-of-the-art premises (bottom) that is three times larger, constructed next door to their old premises. Photos: Emma Hillier.

BEFORE there was the insurance broking firm that is Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB), two of the four business founders, Joseph Goodall and Dudley Griffiths had spent a life heavily involved in insurance, which helped to bring about the successful company’s beginnings in 1989.

Having been insurance representatives at the beginning of their careers, both began their own businesses, Joseph with GIS and Dudley with Dudley Griffiths and Associates and then Griffiths Wynne.

But it was the foresight of the two that lead to a successful collaboration. The insurance broking industry was still in its early infancy in the late 1980s and Dudley and Joseph predicted earlier than most the eventual consolidation of insurers and their ability to service the commercial sector directly was over. The two were known as pioneers in providing technical advice and service versus selling a product, which is where the industry is today.

Joined by Dudley’s son, John Griffiths and Joseph’s wife, Rhonda Goodall, Joseph and Dudley helped GGIB begin its client base of a few hundred as a business that was primarily Goulburn Valley based, from an office set up in Wyndham Street with just seven staff on board and an annual premium intake of under $5M. By the mid 1990s the company moved to 56 High Street and then in 2005 they moved again to Welsford Street, and having grown to employing 17 staff and servicing a few thousand clients, the business began a real geographic expansion, working with clients far and wide.

In 2016, after having needed to expand its space given the business’ growing staff levels, the modern day GGIB expanded to a purpose built and designed, state-of-the-art premises beside its Welsford Street office.

The new combined offices are triple the size of their previous building (from 400sqm to over 1,000sqm) and boasts the latest in technology, multiple/flexible meeting spaces for staff and clients and ergonomic workplaces (sit/stand desks). Today GGIB is run by Joseph, his sons, Benjamin and Nathan and Dudley’s son, John from the company’s only office in Shepparton and has approximately 32 staff, service more than 5,000 clients locally, nationally and internationally and has an annual premium intake of over $50M. For almost three decades, GGIB has been set apart from others in the industry thanks to its innovation, commitment to clients at all times and high service levels and continues to be a driving force thanks to its directors with business acumen and a strong focus on staff, all of whom have an unparalleled work ethic.

Director, Benjamin Goodall said, “The business’ success has come from a mixture of factors. Firstly was the incredible foresight from Dudley, Joseph and John to develop a broking model in the early days. Of course it also comes down to the consistent hard work at all stages of our business cycle and a relentless work ethic.

“Key relationships held in the local area and beyond, first by Joseph, Dudley and John and continued with Nathan, Ben and other staff, as well as excellent recruitment and development programs, have definitely played a big part in the success.

“Our focus has always remained on our client and the proposition of advice and service and we strive to keep up with the moving times and have continued to modernise the business over the past decade.

“The business wouldn’t be in the position it is today without the cooperative business partnership across the two generations.”

EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

Dudley Griffiths Co-founder

Rhonda Goodall Co-founder

CO-FOUNDER of Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB), the late Dudley Griffiths, continually maintained a hands-on approach with the business right up until his passing in 2004.

Dudley was 65 when he helped start the business alongside partners Joseph Goodall, followed by son, John Griffiths and Joseph’s wife, Rhonda Goodall.

Prior to being a founding director of GGIB, Dudley had owned multiple insurance firms and had been in insurance since his time in the Royal Navy in the 1950s.

While he is still missed by many of the business’ staff who worked alongside him, Dudley will be remembered for his unbreakable reputation as a transparent and honest professional and for his commitment to his clients, many of whom he had held for decades.

WORKING behind the scenes as the backbone of Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) for decades, the late Rhonda Goodall was involved in the creation of many of the business’ administrative systems.

It was her experience working alongside husband, Joseph with his business, GIS, as well as skills gained through her extensive working career that made Rhonda an important part of GGIB until 2000 when she stepped back from the business and sadly passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer.

Joining the business at the age of 38, Rhonda saw the opportunities that existed with the combination of significant people engaged in the business, and was also hopeful of her children entering the company one day, which she had the chance to see come to fruition.

Joseph Goodall Co-founder & Director

A continuing growth trajectory

HAVING been a part of the insurance industry since leaving school at the age of 14, Joseph Goodall made the decision to return to the industry at the age of 39 as a co-founder of Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB).

Realising his passion and the potential for the industry, Joseph had an excellent industry reputation, which elevated GGIB above its competitors in terms of how insurers viewed the business’ integrity. Joseph was known as the ultimate taskmaster and set disciplines that remain in place throughout the business to this day.

As well as his involvement in GGIB, Joseph spent time on the national board of the industry’s association, but has taken a step back from the business and now spends some of his time overseas, while still being involved in maintaining client relationships and continuing his role as a director.

EVEN though Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) has just undergone a major expansion, there are plans for growth in the coming 12 months according to director, John Griffiths.

“Our business plan is to remain family owned despite the firm’s size and continuing growth trajectory. We will always be based primarily in the Goulburn Valley continuing to employ all local people, as it is a great

working base and we enjoy the area.

“We do have some small plans to increase staff numbers in the next 12 months, and we are always on the lookout for sustainable opportunities.

“As directors, we continually monitor the market and develop products in a niche fashion, this is continually evolving and is something that we will always endeavour to do to keep growing the firm.”

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EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

John Griffiths Director

Nathan Goodall Director

Benjamin Goodall Director

WHILE he hadn’t had any prior industry experience when joining Griffiths and Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) at the age of 33, it was John Griffiths’ prior careers and life experience which enables him to relate to clientele of all kinds, making him a valuable asset to the business.

As a current director, John is heavily involved in customer relationships, development and is immersed in the day-to-day commitment to GGIB’s clients. He holds incredible presence with his client base.

John is well known in many industries as a broker of choice and has been instrumental in the firm’s growth having been a huge part of successfully pushing the business, at times, into the unknown.

In a similar vein to his father, Dudley, and thanks to a love for the industry and even more so for his clients, John plans to remain working in the business for as long as possible.

IT WAS the opportunities that existed within Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) in 2005 that led a 25 year old Nathan Goodall to join the business. Although he was working at one of Australia’s leading law firms, it was the drive to work alongside family that was the final push for Nathan and he now manages the sales side of the business, is heavily involved in day-to-day major client servicing and is one of the company’s directors.

Nathan’s legal background has been of large value to the firm. He has added significantly to the high performance culture at GGIB through motivating and challenging GGIB’s diverse and talented sales team. He has also introduced GGIB to a new segment of national and international clients GGIB did not previously have access to.

Despite increasing competition and emerging online markets, Nathan sees GGIB continuing to expand on the back of GGIB’s investment in local staff and continuing to practice GGIB’s core values of industry-leading service and advice.

CURRENT director of Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB), Benjamin Goodall fell into working with the business, after having taken part time work prior to starting full time in 1999 at the age of 21.

Having stepped into the business straight out of university, where he studied economics, Benjamin had the benefit of learning from senior people in the business including Dudley, John, Joe and others, all with different skills, meaning he has been able to be across many areas of the business. Ben has helped to bring the company into the present through implementing modern management, relationships, culture and vision.

As well as his director duties, Benjamin is heavily involved in both operational management and client relationships and he sees the future of the business being centred around continued family ownership, continued growth, geographic expansion and continuing to service the client base well in the Goulburn Valley.

Jo-Anne Foster Senior Account Executive

Ian Simpson Senior Account Executive

Kerrie Depalma Office Manager

HAVING been with Griffiths and Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) for the past 25 years, Jo-Anne Foster took on the role as office manager because she was excited by the prospect of working for a locally owned business that she saw was set to grow.

She moved from Melbourne to Shepparton in 1989, where she met and married husband, John and the two have two children, Jessica (23) and Nicholas (21).

The success behind the business’ growth, Jo-Anne believes, is due to the firm’s management team thinking outside the square and putting together a variety of innovative insurance solutions for their customers.

Jo-Anne sees the business continuing to grow and employ even more local people, becoming one of the best insurance brokers in Australia.

WITH his previous employer, NZI Insurance, closing its doors, Ian Simpson was invited to join the team at Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) in 2000.

At the time Ian joined GGIB, the culture of the business was heavily weighed towards customer service and care and he enjoys working as a part of a professional team all working in the same direction.

Ian sees GGIB continuing to grow because of its long term experienced staff who have maintained the same culture and loyalty towards the company’s base of customers and believes that through the injection of two fresh directors at GGIB, the firm has maintained and strengthened its relationships with insurers and has the latest in all fields of technology development.

Ian has been married for 39 years and has two sons and one granddaughter.

OFFICE manager, Kerrie Depalma says that it is the drive of the business to be successful, staff support and the quality of service provided to clients that is what sets Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) apart from others in the industry.

In 2000, Kerrie saw the opportunity for a new career in a small local business that offered quite a diversity of employment options within the one career and made the move to join the team at GGIB. As the office manager, Kerrie gets the most out of interacting with other staff and overseeing staff development. She enjoys being in an environment where she can observe others learning, gaining new skills, new qualifications and growing and of course providing support to assist in building their broking careers.

The growth of the business is what Kerrie sees for GGIB’s future, where there will be the potential for more local employment and staff options and where the firm will provide the best of broking services in the industry.

Kerrie is married with two beautiful children and has lived in the Shepparton area since she was five years old.

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EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

MAHDI’S SUCCESS STORY… Griffith Goodall account executive, Karah Bothwell and trainee broker, Mahdi Ayubi. Photos: Emma Hillier.

David Ryan Claims Technician AFTER being approached by Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) director, Benjamin Goodall in October 2002, David Ryan was asked to join as a claims technician.

David was, at the time, in a transition period between jobs in the motor industry and loss adjusting and decided to take on the challenge.

David’s first tenure at GGIB was five and a half years, but he left the business in 2008 to take up a position in a loss adjusting firm, still maintaining his relationship with GGIB and managing numerous claims for their book of clients as an independent adjuster. In November 2012, David returned to the firm and his rewarding tenure continues to this day.

According to David, GGIB is a professional business with a focus on customers and ensures their systems, procedures and processes are followed, changed and enhanced to protect their client’s interests.

David has been happily married to Michelle for 39 years and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Naomi and Krystal.

Lorraine Belcher Claims Department Manager LORRAINE Belcher joined Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) in 2011, with her drive to join the firm coming from the fact it had been built into a large company with many opportunities.

While she says there is never a dull moment, Lorraine believes that it is the extent on knowledge that is shared within GGIB that makes it unique and that this, along with the business’ increasing growth, is why it will always be ahead of others in the industry.

Lorraine is married with three children and has enjoyed living in the local, rural area all her life.

A self driven addition to GGIB THE directors at Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) know a self driven person when they see one and just as in the case of Mahdi Ayubi, they don’t let a good opportunity pass by to build on their exceptional staff.

MAHDI was just 16 years old when he came to Australia in 2012. He travelled from Afghanistan, spending three days and three nights battling harsh conditions on a boat, before spending three and a half months in a detention centre, which he says was a tough time living in poor conditions.

After finding his way to Shepparton, he put himself through his final years of high school at Shepparton High School, and when he graduated in 2015, he was snatched up quickly

by GGIB and has spent the past six months working hard at training to become a professional

insurance broker.

“At school, I completed accounting and business management. I have a deep interest in the business world,” Mahdi said.

“I love my job with GGIB and am hoping to move up in the business as I gain more experience.”

Director, Nathan Goodall said, “Mahdi is very intelligent and a valuable addition to the team here at GGIB. He’s doing quite well and has a real grasp on Australian business ethics.

“In a couple of years we are looking at allocating him his own clients.”

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EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

Janine Bassett Financial Controller WHILE Janine Bassett only began her role as Griffiths Goodall Insurance Broker’s (GGIB) financial controller at the beginning of this month, she was eager to work within a family owned and operated business with a team of highly motivated individuals and welcomed the challenge of learning about a new industry.

In her previous role, Janine had worked with GGIB director, Benjamin Goodall whilst he was chairman and director with the company she was working for.

Janine said it was Benjamin’s professionalism and eagerness to grow and diversify that business that was a major part for her wanting to join the reputable business that is GGIB. Janine grew up on an orchard in Invergordon, is married to David and the two have three children together, the eldest of which is in her final year of a Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Michelle Stevens Sales Account Executive MICHELLE Stevens has been with Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) since 2014 and is one of the firm’s sales account executives, taking up the position as she thought it was a great opportunity to work with the biggest broker in Shepparton.

What makes GGIB different than other businesses in the industry are the unique policies and procedures that GGIB follow, says Michelle and she sees growth in the firm’s future, with more staffing positions and clients.

Michelle moved to Shepparton in 1994 and has worked in various sections of the insurance industry. She has three children, who are all over 18, giving her time to focus on the career she is loving being a part of.

Michael Stephens Financial Services /Risk Insurance Executive GRIFFITHS Goodall Insurance Brokers’ (GGIB) financial service/ risk insurance executive, Michael Stephens has brought a wealth of experience in life insurance, financial planning and general financial industries knowledge to the firm.

Having worked with GGIB for the past 10 years, Michael heads the financial services area and has a vision to grow the business’ financial services side in the future and continue to provide a value add for its existing clients.

Strong local connections THE iconic J Furphy & Sons has had a long established relationship with Griffiths Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB), with the firm providing insurance to Furphys’ since 1991.

J Furphy & Sons financial controller, Herb Goonan said, “Jo-Anne Foster has been our account manager for most of the time. It’s an advantage to have an account manager who is interested in our business.

“If Jo-Anne is not available, someone else at GGIB is, so if we have a problem, we always have someone to talk to. We regard GGIB as a partner because of this.”

J Furphy & Sons managing director, Adam Furphy said, “We get the best overall premium deal year-in-year-out and the best policy conditions. They do the shopping for us and this saves us time and money.”

GGIB senior account executive, Jo-Anne Foster said, “I feel very privileged to have been able to provide insurance services to businesses within the Goulburn Valley, such as J Furphy & Sons, for over 20 years. I have seen many of these businesses grow and prosper and formed many strong business and personal relationships with my clients.”

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A GROWING RELATIONSHIP… Griffith Goodall Insurance Brokers senior account executive, Jo-Anne Foster with long time client, J Furphy & Sons managing director, Adam Furphy. Photos: Emma Hillier.

EXPANSION FEATURE INSURANCE BROKERS

“Any industry, any hazard, any problem” IT’S a motto that Griffith’s Goodall Insurance Brokers (GGIB) stands by. They service any industry and offer services to handle any hazard or any problem.

Commercial/Industrial GGIB are industry leaders in providing insurance solutions and risk management and are commercially astute and work hard to understand their clients’ businesses, in order to use their expertise and experience to provide tailored solutions that align perfectly with any client’s vision.

Services include: • General commercial insurance • Industrial special risk • Liability • Agri-risk • Farms

boating insurance GGIB can help. The firm offers an exclusive marine insurance product specifically developed for houseboat owners.

They insure anything from houseboats and speedboats to jet skis and dinghies with a single low excess, agreed value policy.

Also covers: • A wide definition of equipment, accessories and contents • Automatic water skier’s liability • Protection against accidental damage, theft, impact, sinking and fire • Protection against damage from storms, malicious acts or transportation

Industry Specific GGIB have focused on alignment with a number of industries and association groups with specific risk requirements, and whom require expert industry knowledge.

Services include: • Stockfeed manufacturers • Grain carriers and grain industry • AFIA • Livestock carriers • Construction

Truck and Motor As heavy fleet and commercial fleet industry leaders GGIB are one of the largest motor brokers in Australia.

Services include: • All types of fleets • Transport fines and penalties

Houseboats If you’ve had trouble finding the right

Personal and Life Insurance GGIB’s sister firm, Griffiths Goodall Financial Services (GGFS) is there to help keep their clients on track as much as possible when life just doesn’t go to plan.

Michael Stephens heads the financial

services area of the firm, utilising his decades of experience to get the best possible results for his clients.

Services include: • Life/risk insurance • Financial planning • Superannuation • Key person insurance • Business buy/sell insurance Trade Credit Insurance Through its strategic alliance with National Credit Insurance Brokers, GGIB can facilitate trade credit insurance solutions to suit any business to help protect against losses relating to commercial risk such as customer insolvency and protracted default.

The policies can also be extended to include cover for export and political risk exposures such as contractual frustration, inconvertibility of currency, cancellation of import/export licences, contract cancellation through offshore government actions and contract repudiation.

Benefits: • Preserve profit • Protect liquidity and cash flow • Confidence to expand • Strengthen credit management • Add security Corporate Travel Insurance GGIB can help to ensure their clients, client’s businesses and staff are taken care of in the event of a loss during interstate and

international travel through their corporate travel insurance cover.

Benefits: • Access to worldwide services for emergency assistance • Advice and assistance with lost luggage (including passport) • Overseas medical expenses, personal accident and sickness • Travel disruption • Baggage coverage including loss or theft, or damage • Political unrest and natural disaster evacuation • Vehicle excess waiver to cover both rental and private vehicles • Personal liability • Kidnap and ransom cover Management Liability Insurance Understanding their client’s responsibilities as a director or executive of a company and their exposures in relation to liabilities is a strong point of GGIB, and they are able to deliver with their management liability insurance.

Covers: • Standard directors and officers cover • Company reimbursement • Corporate liability • Employment practices liability • Crime • Fidelity • Statutory liability (fines and penalties cover) • Superannuation trustees liability

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