When people ask me how I ended up owning three insurance agencies, I usually smile because it certainly wasn’t the path I had planned. Looking back, though, I can see how every step prepared me for where I am today.
Before insurance, I spent more than a decade in the design industry working with major retailers. That experience taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my career: listen to your customers, pay attention to the details, build strong relationships, and never lose sight of the customer experience.
Insurance wasn’t on my radar until life took an unexpected turn. My late husband had a background in the industry, and together we saw an opportunity to build something centered on relationships, trust, and personal service.
Today, I have the privilege of leading three independent agencies — Insure Pacific, Prineville Insurance Agency, and Gerald Ross Insurance Agency — each with deep roots serving Oregon families and businesses.
Becoming a woman business owner wasn’t something I originally set out to do, but today it is one of the things I am most proud of.
Owning a business means making choices about not only how you grow, but what you want that growth to look like. For me, getting bigger has never meant becoming less personal. In fact, the more we grow, the more important it becomes to protect the relationships and values that got us here.
That matters especially in today’s insurance industry.
Across the country, local agencies are being acquired by large national firms and private equity groups. We’ve deliberately chosen a different path because we believe there is tremendous value in remaining locally owned and independent.
Being independent means we work for our clients, not just one insurance company. With access to multiple carriers and markets, we can compare options, advocate for our customers, and find solutions that fit their individual needs.
Being local means our clients know us — and we know them. They see us at community events, youth sports, fundraisers, and local businesses. When someone calls our office, they talk with people who understand Oregon communities and the challenges of living and doing business here.
By bringing three established agencies together, we’ve created what I believe is the best of both worlds: the resources, expertise, and market access of a larger organization combined with the relationships and personal service of a locally owned agency. Together, our agencies represent more than nine decades of Oregon insurance history, and we’re building on that legacy for the future.
As a woman-owned business, I’m especially proud of the team we’re building. We invest in education, technology, and strong insurance-company relationships, but technology can never replace empathy, experience, judgment, or having someone in your corner when something goes wrong.
Because insurance isn’t really about policies and paperwork.
It’s about helping a family recover after a wildfire. It’s about protecting the business someone spent a lifetime building. It’s about understanding risks before a loss happens — and being there when it does.
I’m proud to be a woman business owner, proud of our history, and excited about what comes next.
Stay local. Stay independent. Keep growing. And never lose the personal service that got us here.
Because at the end of the day, insurance is about people — and that will never go out of style.
