Moore Insurance Group opens second office, in Ilion
by Traci DeLore
11/14/2011 11:58:00 AM
ILION — Less than two years after opening for business, Ryan Moore is expanding his insurance agency into Herkimer County with a new office in Ilion.
Moore Insurance Group Agency, Inc. first opened its doors in Rome in April 2010, with Ryan Moore as president and his brother Jonathan (Ty) Moore as vice president.
“We had some good products,” Ryan Moore says, and the agency started to gain traction.
Moore Insurance hired a branch manager and three other employees.
“Before you knew it, we had a really nice, dynamic office,” Moore says.
In that first year, Moore had goals to sign at least 100 policies in his first 100 days in business, write at least $300,000 in premiums, and put between 200 and 250 insurance policies in force.
Moore says he was able to achieve all those goals, and he was soon looking for his next challenge.
It was his relationship with Erie Insurance as a representative that actually provided his next opportunity for growth, Moore says.
Erie was looking for an agent to set up shop in Herkimer County — a market where it had no representation — and approached Moore to see if he was willing.
Moore says he jumped at the opportunity, although it took a little time to find the right location and get the office set up.
Moore Insurance opened the Ilion office Nov. 14 at 130 W. Main St., where the agency leases about 1,000 square feet from John Richards in the Northern Floors building.
The new office makes Moore Insurance Group the first carrier to offer Erie Insurance products in the Ilion, Herkimer, Mohawk, and Frankfort area. Moore hopes those offerings will help his company attract new clients who are looking for some different options.
Erie has even cut its rates by 5 percent in many parts of the county, making it a very competitive option, Moore contends.
Moore Insurance also offers products from Travelers, New York Central Mutual, The Hartford, ING, MetLife, and Progressive to provide commercial, home, auto, business, life, farm, worker’s compensation, snowmobile, and all-terrain vehicle coverage. Moore says his agency will compete with several agencies in the Ilion area including State Farm and Allstate.
Hope Headley, an Ilion resident, is the branch manager for the Ilion office of Moore Insurance. She has more than 10 years experience in the insurance industry and worked previously for Medders Insurance Agency and State Farm.
“She brings a vast amount of insurance knowledge to this office,” Moore says.
Headley says the company will soon launch a marketing plan for Herkimer County. In the meantime, she’s keeping busy getting out and meeting people and getting the agency involved in the community.
“I think they’ll find we’re a little different than others,” Moore says of his firm. Moore, who has a background in commercial banking as well as insurance, says he can help customers with everything from finding the right auto-insurance coverage to developing a business plan. He hopes this value-added service will help his customers grow and allow his agency to grow with them.
Moore declined to share current client figures for his firm or his goals for the Ilion office.
Moore Insurance Group (www.mooreinsuranceinc.com) employs nine people. Moore says he hopes to organize an event to celebrate the opening of the Ilion office in the near future.