BY JEFF BACON
Harrison Insurance has been serving the Wood River Valley since 1988 and for owner Kathy Harrison, she couldn’t imagine being any place else.
“We love living in the Wood River Valley,” Kathy notes. “Whether it’s the skiing in the winter or the camping and waterskiing in the summer, we’re always out enjoying everything that southern Idaho has to offer. Knowing that the great outdoors is waiting for us after work is quite a company perk.”
Being a longtime Valley business, Kathy knows that it takes a high-level of service to retain her clients, especially in the insurance industry. “Insurance isn’t one of those things that people necessarily like dealing with,” Kathy said during a recent interview. “For most of us, we just want to know it’s there and will work if we ever need it and that’s where my team comes in.”
So how does Kathy get people to talk about insurance? “It all starts by breaking it down into its simplest pieces,” Kathy notes. “We usually start by looking at the types of coverages people have and compare that to what they need. Too often we’ve had clients that have purchased different types of insurance at different times and they’re ultimately not getting the best deals for the right coverage. Sometimes just translating it into simple English is all they need.”
And insurance in the Wood River Valley can mean a lot of different things. “We work with many different carriers so we can offer a full suite of insurance types,” Kathy says. “In addition to all the expected policies, we also have specialty insurance for more unique categories like log homes, equine and small farms.”
Last year Harrison Insurance started donating cash to The Advocates for every new client they sign up for a policy. “We’re really excited about this new program,” Kathy said. “Last year we had 100 new clients and that gave us a great first-year donation for The Advocates. Our clients like knowing that in addition to getting the insurance coverage they need, they’re also helping the community. It’s a great win-win.”
In addition to her work with The Advocates, Kathy has been president of the Blaine County School District Education Fund and served on the Chamber board. “I’ve met so many people through my work with the Chamber and other organizations in the Valley,” Kathy adds. “I am encouraging my team to get involved in the great work that the Chamber is doing. It’s important that Chamber members take advantage of all the great networking opportunities that are available.”
Jeff Bacon is the Hailey Chamber of Commerce’s membership director. For more information, visit www.haileyidaho.com or call the Chamber at (208) 788-3484.