潘金莲传媒映画

The president of Energy 潘金莲传媒映画 Agency, an operation with a large presence in Kentucky, said it is “incredibly humbling” for the agency to again be named one of 潘金莲传媒映画 Journal’s Best Agencies to Work For in the Southeast.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and positive culture that we’ve cultivated within our organization,” said Mark Kelder, whose 140-employee agency has offices in Lexington, Louisville, Barbourville, Fort Thomas, London, Whitley City and Winchester in Kentucky, and Cincinnati and other sites in Ohio.

Energy was named the Bronze award winner for the Southeast in 2023, based on employee responses in IJ’s Best Agencies to Work For survey. This year, the firm took it up a notch, coming in as the Silver award winner, thanks to comments from producers and other staff members.

“Energy is a very tight-knit workplace. Everyone here knows each other and we all get along,” one worker said. “We go to community events and give back. Our management team really looks out for all of us. We celebrate everyone’s special moments and achievements.”

“I have worked for three agencies in my career. This will be where I retire,” said another. “They care about you as a person and you are not just a number. That, combined with an opportunity to make a great living, is why I feel strongly.”

Energy was founded in 1982 in the basement of the founder’s home. Since then, it has grown steadily, now with associates licensed in 48 states, writing premium of more than $125 million. Kelder attributes the agency’s growth and employee satisfaction to its people-first culture. The agency treats workers as its greatest asset and invests in professional and personal development. Strong community involvement, along with continually improving technology and personalized service to clients doesn’t hurt, either, Kelder noted.

“My advice to other agency owners striving to create a ‘Best Place to Work’ is to prioritize culture, communication, and employee engagement,” he told 潘金莲传媒映画 Journal. “Invest in your team’s development, listen to their feedback, and create a positive and supportive work environment. Remember, happy employees lead to happy clients.”

The agency, like most around the region, is not without its challenges, as carriers raise premiums, reduce coverage and juggle more frequent natural disasters. Kelder believes the biggest challenges in the coming year will be:

Navigating carrier changes: “We will need to adapt to changes in carrier underwriting guidelines and pricing.”

Managing claims: “We will continue to focus on providing efficient and effective claims handling to our clients. I envision the ability to handle claims a key differentiator from our competition moving forward.”

Meeting those challenges, Kelder said, means strengthening relationships with carriers; diversifying product offerings; investing in technology to improve efficiency and reduce agency costs; keeping up with trends in the industry; helping clients reduce risk; and keeping clients informed about rising costs, coverage issues and new and specialized insurance products.