Q&A with Jeff Olsommer

Rep. Jeff Olsommer, CIC is president of Olsommer-Clarke Insurance Group, an IA&B member agency with locations in Hamlin, Honesdale, and Moscow, PA. A long-time IA&B Government Relations Committee member, he won a special election in April 2024 to fill the open seat in the 139th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Olsommer also won the primary election to become the GOP nominee for the seat in this November’s general election.

Q. It’s always interesting to learn how people got their start in the insurance industry. What’s your story?

A. I grew up with insurance in our household. When I graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a political science degree and was looking to get into politics, my father was in my ear, encouraging me to consider insurance. I had the opportunity to do an internship at the Republican State Committee in Harrisburg, and it gave me an opportunity for a position in Washington, D.C. What I found is that it paid very little, so I decided to give insurance a go.

Q. Tell us a bit about your agency, Olsommer-Clarke Insurance Group.

A. My father, Don Olsommer Sr., started the agency in 1972. It began in our house before Dad moved the office to Hamlin, where we are headquartered today.

I came into the agency out of college in 1991 and, along with John Clarke, bought out my father in 2000. Together we bought another smaller insurance agency and folded that into our operation, and then we went on to open two additional locations through the years.

We are a family-run agency, currently owned by me and my brother Don Olsommer Jr. Through the years we have had wonderful staff who make service to our customers and our local community their top priority. I also have been fortunate to work with my family and my wife, Kelli.

In 2015, we opened a satellite office from scratch in Kentucky. One of our insurance companies was new to Kentucky and that allowed us to go down there. We seized the opportunity and spent a good bit of time getting it started, which Kelli was instrumental in doing. We were blessed to grow our agency in Kentucky, and in 2022 we were able to sell.

Q. You’ve been involved in local government for many years, as well as a member of IA&B’s Government Relations Committee. What drives your passion for politics?

A. When I really dug into this race [special election], I came to realize the reasons why I’m so drawn to it. My father was a four-term county commissioner in Wayne County, and as a kid growing up, I loved handing out bumper stickers and putting up posters with my brothers. That appealed to me. There was always this charge I got out of being around political events. Plus, both of my grandfathers were politically active, so I guess you could say that it’s in my blood. Ten years ago, I was elected as a local township supervisor. I ran because I cared about our community and wanted to give back, and I have those same beliefs today as a State Representative.

Q. Thank you for your generous support of AgentPAC, IA&B’s political action committee, over the years. Now you have been a recipient of our PAC’s support during your recent campaign for state representative. What would you say to other IA&B members about the value of AgentPAC?

A. PACs – and AgentPAC is no exception – play an important role in helping educate legislators on key issues, and issues specific to our industry that affect all of us. It is critical to have a strong AgentPAC representing our interests.

Q. Reflecting on your first months as a state lawmaker, what surprised you the most? And what are you most proud of?

A. What surprised me the most is the amount of chaos in my schedule, the unpredictability of it. We’re in session, we’re not in session. It’s delayed, it’s delayed again. I come from a small-business perspective, where I open the doors at 8:30 in the morning and close at a predictable time each day.

What I’m most proud of is being appointed to the Insurance Committee. I lobbied hard for that and didn’t know if I, as a freshman legislator, would get that. Having 35 years in the insurance industry, I feel at home on that committee. I was just thrilled to get that appointment. I am really looking forward to serving on this committee and providing an agent’s perspective on issues.

Q. What current legislative issues should independent agents be aware of?

A. There are things that, unless you’re in the insurance industry, you don’t understand the impact. There are addons and line items that mandate coverages or eliminate copays or deductibles. Oftentimes legislators feel good about these bills and don’t understand the impact these have on the premiums that people and small businesses pay.

Q. You’re obviously very busy – overseeing a business, holding elected office, and running for reelection. When you do find free time, what do you like to do?

A. It is very hard to find free time these days, but I enjoy spending time with my wife, Kelli. That’s my number one priority. I love spending time outdoors with my friends, family, and dogs. I like traveling, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, football, and hunting. Anytime I can do something like that, I’m in my element and get some sense of peace and relaxation.