Tennessee Young Agents '23 Future Leaders Spotlight

presented by John James • Carnal Roberts Agency • Lexington

John James is one of the youngest subjects of the Future Leaders Spotlight. His is a compelling story and points to the many opportunities available to young people in our business. While some insurance professionals take a more circuitous route through college or employment in other industries before landing in the industry, John James is taking a more direct path to a career in insurance. This story underscores the reality that there are multiple ways to create a rewarding career in the world of insurance.

Before John James even graduated from high school, he ran for public office at eighteen years old as a candidate for County Court Clerk of Henderson County where his hometown of Lexington, Tennessee is located. While John did not win the 2022 election, he did place third out of a field of six candidates as an eighteen-year-old in his first attempt at elected office in a county-wide race. It should be noted he did have some experience with elected office serving on his high school’s student council as secretary for three years. John’s interest in service to members of his community attracted the attention of a key figure in the Lexington business community.

In the Summer of 2022, after John graduated from Lexington High School, Tim Roberts, principal of Carnal Roberts Insurance Agency, Lexington, offered John a position for the Summer doing various jobs around the agency. By the end of the summer, John had become quite interested in the insurance industry and the career prospects it offered. At the same time, Tim Roberts saw real potential in John and offered him a permanent job leading to his current position as a producer with the agency. While John was considering going to college, he determined that he could get a head start on a career by going straight into the insurance industry via the path offered to him by the Carnal Roberts Agency.

After John earned the requisite licenses to become a licensed producer in Tennessee, he started work on the CISR curriculum to further enhance his professional development. He quickly understood that beyond the product, price, and service he can deliver to clients as an insurance professional, his insurance and risk management knowledge is his most powerful competitive advantage. It is good to see John getting an early start on the path of continuous education that is one of the hallmarks of most successful careers.

At present, John focuses on working with clients to provide personal insurance and life insurance. In time, he plans to expand his portfolio to include small business and commercial insurance. John is quick to point out that Tim Roberts is a great mentor and is always available to answer questions or provide guidance. He also emphasizes that his colleagues, including two with over 40 years of industry experience with the agency, are supportive and helpful.

When asked about the most significant thing he has learned since starting his insurance career, he states “How you treat people will take you a long way.” He knows being kind, respectful and delivering on your promises is a big part of being successful in business and in life. He has already established himself as a person who seeks to serve others through public service and in business. After all, the insurance business is about protecting the interests of people and businesses and being there for them when disaster strikes.

John has very diverse talents and interests. For instance, he plays the piano at his church and even for other churches when they need a piano player. His interest in music originated from members of his family playing bluegrass music. While John had a couple of years of piano instruction, much of what he learned is self-taught.

John and his family also enjoy drag racing at a local drag strip in Jackson and other regional drag strips. He mentioned that a drag strip in Memphis recently closed leaving them with one less track to race his modified Chevrolet. Consistent with the car theme, John and his family enjoy restoring classic cars bringing them back to life to be enjoyed by another generation. Through his interest in drag racing and classic car restoration he has developed solid mechanic skills over the years learning from his dad and other members of his family.

John intends to pursue his career in insurance and risk management over the long-haul and looks forward to serving the people of Lexington and across the region. He and his family have deep roots in the Lexington area and he greatly enjoys the town, its people and the way of life. He loves living in a place where you know most everyone and the sense of community. He very much appreciates the opportunity offered to him by Tim Roberts and the Carnal Roberts Agency. u