Keystone Honors Sheeley Insurance Agency as National Partner of the Year

Business Wire

NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) awarded Sheeley Insurance Agency (Sheeley) of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, its highest honor – National Partner of the Year – on Sept. 19 at Keystone’s national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The announcement was made by Keystone President & CEO David Boedker and Sheeley principal John Hollister.

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From left: Michael Reddy, Keystone senior vice president of field operations; Julie Webb, Keystone state vice president for Pennsylvania; John Hollister, principal, Sheeley Insurance Agency; and Keystone President and CEO David Boedker. (Photo: Business Wire)

The award recognizes the agency that best exemplifies Keystone’s mission: “Independence works better together.” Criteria include demonstrating a commitment to grow through leadership mentoring, engaging in technology advancements, employing best practices to improve operations and developing new income streams to strengthen their business diversity.

Sheeley was one of 10 state winners nominated for the honor. The other nine ‘State Partners of the Year’ included:

GA – MAI Risk Advisors (Augusta, www.mairiskadvisors.com)
IL – Schmale Insurance Agency (Belleville, www.schmaleinsurance.com)
IN – Anderson Insurance (Valparaiso, www.aiwmi.com)
KY – Field and Main Insurance (Henderson, www.lattainsuranceins.com)
MO – Barker Phillips Jackson (Springfield, www.bpj.com)
NC – InSouth Insurance Services (Huntersville, www.insouthins.com)
OH – Hosket Ulen Insurance Solutions (Dublin, www.hosketulen.com)
TN – Strate Insurance Group (Morristown, www.strateinsurance.com)
VA – Nansemond Insurance Agency (Suffolk, www.nansemondins.com)

Hollister explained the extensive work that led the agency to winning the national award and the real reason his agency is part of Keystone.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on staffing,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to have all staff understand they are a critical part of the ‘machine’ and that their actions have positive and negative consequences. But it is our fellow Keystone partners that are the best resource. We’ve made a lot of close friends and generated the ability to talk about ideas, struggles, coverage issues and management/staffing issues. Within the partnership, we can be honest if we’re struggling with something, and you don’t often get to do that in business anywhere else.”

“Keystone partners are of the highest caliber of independent agencies in the country,” noted Boedker. “Sheeley Insurance Agency embodies everything that is extraordinary of the elite – constantly seeking new ways to develop talent and facing the numerous challenges of our industry with an intrepid spirit. We are beyond excited to acknowledge Sheeley’s outstanding performance with the inaugural ‘National Partner of the Year’ award.”

About Sheeley Insurance Agency – Sheeley is an independent insurance agency with four offices throughout eastern Pennsylvania. As a Keystone partner, the agency is committed to providing its clients national resources sourced locally. Learn more at www.sheeleyinsurance.com.

About Keystone Insurers Group – Keystone started in 1983 when four independent insurance agencies teamed up to pool their experience and expertise. Determined and scrappy in the face of a difficult market, this small group believed that agencies could be stronger and more successful if they linked arms -- a passion and spirit that continues. Growing to almost 300 independent agency partners in 11 states, Keystone provides its agents with a community of like-minded agencies, industry expertise and access to specialized products for their clients. Keystone is ranked number three on Insurance Journal's 2017 list of Top 20 Privately-Held Property/Casualty Agency Partnerships. For more information, go to www.keystoneinsgrp.com.