Insurance Associates of the Triad

insurance associates of the triAD Growing to Better Serve Your Needs

The Triad Business Journal listed Insurance Associates of the Triad (IAT) as the 13th largest independent insurance agency in the area this year. On July 1st, when Art Martinez & Associates completes the merger with IAT, they will become one of the top 10 independent agencies in the Triad, based on the number of licensed agents in their office. Insurance Associates of the Triad grew from the merger of two locally owned and operated agencies in Randolph County: Neely & Lisk and Midstate Insurance. Neely & Lisk was formed in 1959 and as they grew the agency, they purchased other local agencies to add to the fold. They acquired Johns & Redding in 1986, the Keenan Insurance Agency in 1995 and the North State Agency in 1996. Midstate Insurance opened in 1948 and purchased the Worth Insurance Agency, before merging with Neely & Lisk in 2005 to become Insurance Associates of the Triad. IAT purchased Family & Business Insurance in 2007 and the Pioneer Insurance Agency in 2017. Art Martinez relocated to Asheboro in2005 and took over the Leon Brown Nationwide office in 2006. In

2008, he acquired the Jean McMasters agency, in 2016 he purchased Trudy Jones’ agency, and in 2018 he purchased the Cory McCray office to become one of the largest Nationwide offices in Randolph County. Eight years ago, IAT began to consider their succession plan, knowing that within the next 10 years the principals would be retiring. At that time, they were being approached to buy the agency by banks and larger insurance agencies, but they did not want to be owned by a large out of town company. The core of the agency had been locally owned in Randolph County since the 1800s and focused on the community and they wanted that tradition to continue. During that time, Reynolds invited Art to lunch. They were on the Board of the United Way together, had served together in many capacities at the Chamber, and were well known to each other. At that lunch, Reynolds first broached the subject of some kind of merger, partnership or something that had Art taking over IAT when the others retired. While flattered, at that time Nationwide was a captive agency, and while there were discussions

about allowing agencies to become independent, it seemed an impossible idea. They continued to stay in touch, and three years later the discussion became more serious as Nationwide began to seriously look at allowing their agencies to become independent. Nationwide finally allowed their business lines agents to become independent first in 2017, and that opened the door for Art. As Charles Swiers neared retirement, he introduced Art to his business clients and began to transition them to him. Since that time things have been moving forward and falling into place to combine the two agencies into the new improved Insurance Associates of the Triad. On July 1st, when the transition is complete, IAT will have 27 licensed agents who are able to offer their customers a wide range of products from consumer insurance for a moped to a mansion, and business insurance for the mom and pop corner store to the multinational corporation and everything in between. Zac Beane will take on the role of COO of the company at that time as well.

But bigger isn’t what makes them better. What sets Insurance Associates of the Triad apart is their focus on doing the right thing for their clients and giving them the best options for what they need. As an independent agency, they can offer clients the best solution for their situation, no matter who the insurance carrier is. IAT is very community minded. “We want to make a difference outside of the insurance business in our community, because the community supports us.” Through the agency, and individually they are involved in many local organizations including the Asheboro/ Randolph Chamber of Commerce, The United Way, Rotary, Randolph/Asheboro YMCA, Kiwanis, and the Boys and Girls Club, to name a few. Each agent is given two hours of company time each month to volunteer for a local non-profit, because IAT values community service, but many volunteer many more hours than just those two. For the past five years, the office has been hosting a Christmas Party for the Boys and Girls club and asheboromagazine.com | 9

everyone gets involved and has a great time. They host a blood drive in honor of Angela Joyner, a coworker who passed away, each September and that has helped many hundreds of people through the donation of blood. The agency is also at the top of the per capita giving each year for The United Way. Richard Garkalns retired from IAT in 2014, and Charles Swiers retired in 2017. Art and Reynolds have worked extremely hard for the past two years to complete the merger. Their main focus has been blending the culture of both IAT and the Art Martinez & Associates offices into a seamless functioning agency. They took the best practices of each office and combined them so that moving forward, the agency will be even better. By happenstance, the suite next door to IAT became available when Asheboro Oral Surgery built their new building downtown Asheboro, and Art was able to purchase that suite, sell his office building on Cox Street and move in next door, making the transition much easier. Over the past few months, they have taken down walls and renovated the space to incorporate it into the IAT office, so it occupies all three units and customers now enter through the door at Suite 3. On December 31st, Reynolds Lisk will retire, and Art will take over as President of Insurance Associates of the Triad. A plan eight years in the making will finally be complete. “I truly believe Insurance Associates of the Triad is the best it’s ever been, and they will take the agency to the next level,” Reynolds Lisk. “I’m going to miss the people – the agents I work with and the wonderful customers I have served over the past 40 years.” On November 2nd, Reynolds will celebrate his 40th anniversary at the company his dad built.

When I asked Art what the future holds for Insurance Associates of the Triad, he offered two main points: “ To maintain the focus on current clients, with so many new options opened, making sure that they have the most comprehensive insurance available to them.

Look for new opportunities and expand our coverage area. ”

To celebrate the merger, IAT is hosting the Business After Hours for the Chamber of Commerce in September 2020. If you are looking for a local, hands on approach to your insurance needs instead of a 1-800 number, Insurance Associates of the Triad would love to help you achieve your goals and cover your assets. Call the office at 336.626.3030 to make an appointment today.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, they are practicing social distancing in the office, wearing masks when in the hallways of the office and ask that if you come to the office, you also wear a mask and please don’t come if you feel unwell or have a fever. They want everyone to be safe and stay healthy!