Helping a Business Navigate Exponential Growth

Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a Maine success story. What started as a fledgling business in a farmhouse attic in the 1970s grew into an international seed purveying powerhouse with over 400 employees, a research and development arm, and a diverse client base. Headquartered in Winslow, Maine, Johnny’s is 100% employee-owned. When the pandemic hit, their business exploded as more and more people explored growing their own food and planting home gardens. As their seed inventory increased to meet the booming demand, and supply chain disruptions began to present new challenges, Johnny’s Director of Finance Michelle Pyle began to consider “what if” scenarios the company had never thought of before. United Insurance was able to be a resource and a partner for Michelle. “For me, Ryan [Madore] and United Insurance are a huge sounding board for my questions and concerns as we evolve. I want to know, are we adequately covered?”

Paving the Way to Better Business Coverage

Thyng Paving, a fourth generation residential and commercial paving business, was expanding their fleet of trucks and opening a new office location. They connected with Jason Duval at United Insurance and learned about the options they had to protect their unique business. In the process, they built a true partnership. “I can always get a hold of Jason," says Krissi Thyng. "I’m not just getting an answering machine. United Insurance just makes us feel a lot safer because you often don’t know about a problem until it is too late.”

Building a Lasting Relationship... From Scratch

Starting a business from scratch is no easy task. When Bob Johnson, co-founder of Scratch Bakery, asked his mortgage broker for an insurance guy, he was connected with a fresh-out-of-college Tim McGonagle at United Insurance. Almost 20 years have passed, with hundreds of changes, updates, and lots of growth. “Tim knows my business," Bob explains. "He’s spent time in the bakery and has a sense of our culture. We’ve developed a relationship and I can ask him for counsel and advice. We have a complicated portfolio and we get together annually to go over everything. The bottom line is we have a great relationship and they provide a great customer experience.”

Partners in Helping a Community Thrive

Helping people - that is what SKILLS, Inc. and United Insurance is all about. SKILLS is a central Maine non-profit that provides home and community-based services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are a lot of moving parts to their organization: 15 residential homes, support for over 185 individuals, three community support programs, and a fleet of 50 vehicles. Fortunately, they found a partner to keep them covered with United Insurance. “I trust them with everything,” says SKILLS Executive Director Stephanie Johnson, CPA. “Beth Smith (Pittsfield Agency Manager, Commercial Lines Account Manager) is fabulous...always positive and smiling! She’s worked with us for 12 years and has been a constant for us. The relationship is not a transaction, United Insurance really cares about us as an organization.”

Helping Clients Drive Towards Growth and Success

Marcus Sibley’s family has been in the trucking industry since his great grandfather delivered groceries and goods to logging camps back in 1910. When Marcus took over the family company, Sibley Transportation, he was looking for avenues to grow and knew he needed to find the right long-term partners to help him. “Marcus knows he can call me for more than just insurance questions. We have the sort of relationship where we can have frank conversations and he knows I’m looking out for his best interest,” says Ed Therrien, Senior Vice President and Transportation Director at United Insurance. “We constantly talk about where he wants to be in five years and if that’s where he wants to be, how can we get him there. I want to get him to a position where he can grow if he chooses. I’m invested in his success.” Marcus concurs. “Ed and his entire team, they genuinely care. The mentality at United Insurance is always ‘What can we do for you?’ They could just sell us insurance. As we continue, things are going to get better and better with a partner like United.”

Communication and Trust Form the Bedrock of a Good Relationship

M&H Construction has been providing the Rangeley Lakes Regions with commercial and residential excavation, road building, and logging services for over 40 years. From bonding to general liability, to a comprehensive equipment policy, United Insurance has been a trusted partner for M&H, supporting them to operate safely and successfully. Beyond being a mere business partner, United Insurance is a neighbor to M&H, and part of the same community. “I could drop every bond in the mail, but I never do,” shares Nikki Knowles, United Insurance Agency Manager and Account Executive. “Building a relationship is about being face-to-face. I like dropping by to say ‘Hi’ and make sure everything is OK. Everytime [M&H Office Manager] Kenny needs something, we’re there.” Kenny Haley has felt the difference working with Nikki and her team at United Insurance. He shares, “Nikki has done a wonderful job since day one. She’s taken us to a whole new level. United Insurance is always looking at what they can do to help us. At renewal time, Nikki comes and sits down with us to review our policy. If we have any concerns, the team gets us answers. They take care of us. It’s a big relief knowing that if we need something, we get it.”

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