Vermont Business Magazine July 2017 marked the 40th anniversary of Jamieson Insurance, owned and operated by Jon Jamieson of Waitsfield. The agency was founded by Jon’s father, Dick Jamieson, in 1977. The Jamieson family’s involvement with insurance goes back even farther. Jon’s grandfather, Mahlon Jamieson, wrote the first insurance policies for Sugarbush Resort when it opened in 1958. Documents exist which show that Jamiesons were selling insurance as far back as 1865. And Jon’s family came to the Mad River Valley even earlier, settling in Waitsfield in 1798.
After graduating from Harwood Union High School in central Vermont’s Washington County, Jon entered the University of Colorado, graduating in 1990. After college, Jon gained valuable experience in sales working with companies in the outdoor equipment manufacturing business on the West Coast but in 1992 he moved back to Vermont, joining the Jamieson agency and taking over the fledgling branch office in Richmond.
In 2000, Jon left to work for Progressive Insurance Company as a territory sales manager. It was a huge jump in responsibility and revenue as he oversaw sales operations of 163 agencies. Looking back, he recalls that “it was a little like getting an MBA in agency management.”
Dick Jamieson sold the agency to Jon in 2003 and retired in 2005. Today, the agency sells primarily personal and small business insurance, with special focus on nonprofits and specialty food providers. Since taking over, Jon has increased sales from $5.3 million to $8 million. He’s added a third office in Waterbury and increased employee numbers from nine to twelve, every one a licensed professional. Jamieson Insurance now directly represents 18 insurance carriers, up from 12 when Jon became CEO and principal.
Jamieson cites several key factors for such dramatic growth. One is putting the customer first: “We don’t make any changes in our business operations without considering the impact on the level of service we deliver to our clients,” Jamieson states. Providing such superior service that exceeds clients’ expectations means having more employees than most agencies of similar size. “We pride ourselves in not putting people on hold,” Jamieson emphasizes.
Mindful of his 18th-century roots, Jamieson believes in giving back to the communities that have supported the success of Jamieson Insurance. He’s served on boards for schools, the town, and other businesses. The agency has a record of generously supporting community organizations and events though volunteer time, sponsorships and donations.
Today’s business environment presents challenges that would have mystified Jon’s forebears. The agency introduced a client service focus website portal this year, is currently updating their client management software, and continues to seek out better ways to deliver fast, accurate service and competitive products to customers.
“We make a commitment to our clients that we will seek out the best coverage and competitive pricing. We constantly invest in the staff and tools to do that. It’s been a formula that worked for my family for decades and we plan to keep at it!”
Source: Waitsfield, VT—Jamieson Insurance