Business Refocused

In this episode, Carey Wallace and Lindsay sit down with Christos Provistalis about the recent sale of his family's business, Pleasant Pizza. They discuss the history of the business, the decision to sell, and the emotional impact of letting go. Christos shares how his family announced the sale to their staff and the community's response. He also talks about the future plans for each fam...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Patty and Vanessa Lares to discuss how mother-daughter duos are revolutionizing the insurance industry. Breaking gender stereotypes, they unveil the secret ingredients for building a successful multi-generational agency, emphasizing how consistency, dedication, and proactive referral requests fuel their agency's growth. Vanessa shares her exper...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Michael McCormick and Taylor Dobbie, founders of Insurance Soup, a Facebook group revolutionizing agent collaboration. Join the conversation as they discuss breaking down industry silos, creating a safe space for agent-to-agent learning and growth, and pushing each other to excel. Discover how Insurance Soup is transforming the landscape of agent re...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Missy Stallings, owner of Stallings Insurance Agency, as she shares her journey in the insurance industry and how she navigated challenges such as long commutes and starting her agency during a recession. She discusses the importance of mindset and how she draws inspiration from Tony Robbins. Missy also talks about the use of tools like Culture Inde...

In this episode, Lindsay and Carey sit down with George V. Pilat, a partner at Gertzberg, Lakata law firm. George has extensive experience working with insurance agents and agencies, particularly in M&A transactions. He provides legal services related to errors and omissions defense, coverage analysis, administrative proceedings, and more. The conversation covers topics such as non-compete and...

In this episode, Lindsay and Carey sit down with CJ Hutsenpiller, a Private Client Advisor at Hutsenpiller Insurance, Co-owner of CAC and TacoBot. They discuss the implementation of AI in insurance agencies and the various ways it can be used, such as content creation, personal AI training tools, and accounting reconciliation. CJ also explains the difference between TacoBot and ChatGPT, highlighti...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Dr. Billy Williams, an expert in insurance sales, shares his insights on the biggest misconception in sales and the role of technology in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of scripts and templates in effective communication and provides practical advice on creating an elevator pitch.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversation...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Austin Moorhead from LAVA Automation to discuss how integrating sales and marketing into your agency can double your manpower and cut costs. Learn about the crucial roles that Virtual Assistants and CRM systems play in achieving this efficiency boost. Tune in for insights into optimizing your agency's operations and maximizing productivity thro...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Morgan Harriss from Live Oak Bank to talk about financing acquisitions, buyer considerations and the market shift impact on M&A.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at https://agency-focus.com/ Show previously named Insurance Refocused

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Rob Bowen from Patriotic Insurance Group to talk about the recent process he wen through of acquiring an insurance agency. They discuss the importance of getting your own agency in order before considering acquisitions, the red flags to look out for when evaluating potential agencies to buy, and the challenges of integrating paper-based agencies int...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Casey Nelson from Stakwise to talk about how automation can give your agency back valuable time, help build processes and expectations with your customers.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at https://agency-focus.com/ Show previously named In...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Lisa Hengel from Willow Wood Insurance Agency to talk about her journey buying an agency, or as she calls it, her 'internship.' We delve into the real-world lessons she learned, what it was like bringing a new team member on board, and how she stumbled upon the two agencies she now owns. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more convers...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Mother and Daughter Duo Christy & Chasity Ross from Cecil A. Ross Investment & Insurance Group to talk about how they are utilizing technology in their multi-generational family agency, what training looks like, and their take on how being a family agency gives you an edge on a hard market.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conver...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Thomas Mann from Aureus Analytics to discuss agency data, the utilization of predictive processes for safeguarding your human capital, and the technological strategies employed by agencies. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at https://agency-f...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Keith Savino, Managing Partner at PCF Insurance Services, to discuss navigating M&A decisions, keeping 'the point of sale' in mind after 'the point of sale,' and the transformation that occurs when you begin to view your agency as a business rather than just a lifestyle. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversati...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Mike Wagar from Westfield Bank to talk about what goes into buying an agency from a banker's perspective, how agencies are positioning themselves for success, and what a couple of the different options are. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn mo...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Pat West from B Atomic to break down the true meaning of "data-driven," the significance of prioritizing your agency's data, and how B Atomic can support you on your data-driven journey. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at http...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Angela Trimble, owner of TrustPoint Insurance & Real Estate, to discuss the dynamic journey of owning an agency with a partner, merging acquired agencies, and navigating the ensuing challenges. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at https://...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Nicole Ostander from Vault Insurance & Risk Management to talk about how her agency has pivoted their way through the hard market so far, their experience going through a name and branding change, and how she makes sure her staff are in the right seats for their skills.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with Daniel Rohrbaugh, President of Raleigh Insurance Group, to discuss his journey in growing his scratch agency, staff expansion decisions, his strategy for choosing the right network, and the role of industry involvement in his success. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and lo...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Mike Crowley from Crowley Insurance to talk about how his agency creates the connections that customers are craving, what it's like to innovate in a generational family agency, and how to take action to ideas you learned at a conference.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence...

In this episode, Carey and Lindsay sit down with another mother-daughter duo, Teresa Kitchens, owner of Sterling Insurance, and her daughter Kaleigh Kitchens, Risk Management Specialist and Account Executive at Sterling Insurance. The four talk about onboarding a family member to an existing agency, how it impacts the agency's culture, and what it takes to maintain healthy family relationship...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Terren Moore to talk about how opening his own farm at 15 led him to open his own insurance agency, how he stays focused while balancing the two companies, and how relationships have helped both his farm and agency.  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Lear...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Emmanuel Osuyah from Alpha Direct Agency, LLC to talk about his philosophy behind his agency's culture, how remote work fits into it, and the road that got them to having a waiting list for future employees!  Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn m...

In this episode Carey and Lindsay sit down with Chris Greene aka the Flood Guru to talk about health risks and protecting your agency, building a solid agency culture and how Chris encourages his  employees to help organize the future of his agency. Connect with us: Follow AgencyFocus for more conversations that help agency owners build clarity, confidence, and long-term value. Learn more at https...