Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Vallejo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Angela. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Shortly after receiving my Bachelor of Business Administration from Midwestern State University, I took my first full-time job in a District Office for Farmers Insurance. During my time there, I got the appropriate licensing and learned the good and the bad of becoming an agent-it didn’t take long to realize that it isn’t for the faint of heart!
I really enjoyed working with and assisting the various insurance agents in our district, learning their success stories, and also how they overcame difficult situations they faced as agency owners. After working in the District Office, I tried my hand at working from within an insurance agency.
This was quite different from my first job because it required me to work with the general public instead of with insurance agents daily. I loved connecting with clients while being able to protect the assets they worked so hard for. In addition to meeting with clients and selling policies, I was also given the opportunity to assist the agent with interviewing and hiring additional staff members.
This was the first time I had the opportunity to apply the HR knowledge I had learned in college and implement it into my career which was really fun! While working in the agency, an opportunity arose for me to work in corporate America and I felt that I could not pass it up. Before I graduated college, I had worked in retail for over five years, so this was not unfamiliar territory to me.
While working in corporate retail, I learned about things like planning a product assortment, product development, inventory planning, pricing strategy, and how to provide a seamless shopping experience online. My career in corporate retail was a lot of fun, and I met lots of great people, but at times, I felt like I was lacking a sense of fulfillment.
About the time I started feeling this way, I got a call from the District Manager that I had previously worked for. He had an “interesting opportunity” for me. I really had no idea what our conversation would be about, but he wanted me to become an agency owner!
This really caught me by surprise but was an obvious choice for me. I wanted to be a business owner my whole life, and I had kept my licensing current throughout the years because I’d enjoyed my time in the insurance industry. A year into being an insurance agent, I no longer lack a sense of fulfillment since I am able to help protect so many families with our product offerings. I am really enjoying it and am so happy with my decision!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This has been anything but a smooth road, and many lessons have already been learned! As the owner of an insurance agency, you wear many hats. To name a few, you are responsible for recruiting and training, business strategy, bookkeeping, marketing, compliance, community involvement, operations and much more.
One of the biggest struggles for me so far has been recruiting aspect of the job. Finding and hiring quality talent has been challenging. I don’t think this is specific to my agency or even the industry, but it took me a few months to fill a position in my agency with the right person.
Luckily, I remained patient, and surprisingly, I found an awesome fit via Facebook… who knew?! Learning how to get out of my comfort zone is another one that I am working on daily.
Being in sales requires getting out, talking to people you’ve never met, and asking for the opportunity to earn their business. Little by little, this is becoming easier as we help more and more families. We really have a great product, and my team has a genuine concern for the well-being of our clients. Another struggle for me is that like a lot of people, I want instant gratification. This is both a blessing and a curse.
Because I tend to be impatient and want to see immediate results, our goals are set high. I think high expectations help motivate my team and me and push ourselves and be the best we can be. Other times, it can be frustrating when I compare myself to agents that have spent a lifetime in the industry. When I take a step back, I see all we have accomplished as a team, and I am so excited for the success that lies ahead!
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Instilled in my agency is a “customer first” mentality. We have compassion for our clients and their families, and we strive to provide the highest quality coverage in the most cost-effective manner possible. We provide direction through education of our coverage options. Reviews of current insurance coverage is a service we provide to everybody at no cost, even if their current coverage is not with our agency.
Our customers also love our top-notch service. Customer service and convenience is something we do very well! We have 24-hour texting capabilities, and we can be contacted whenever you need us. My team and I are flexible and can schedule appointments in the evenings and on weekends as needed. We’ll even meet you at Starbucks!
My agency offers the following types of insurance:
• Auto
• Umbrella
• Home
• Renters
• Life
• Business
• ATV
• Motorcycle
• Boat
• RV
• Golf Cart
• Pet
• Collectible Auto
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people that deserve recognition for being by my side and me helping through this journey. I would like to recognize my family, especially Mark and Alice Vallejo and Rob and Connie Wylie who have encouraged me from the beginning. With the help of their support, I was able to break through the barriers of my comfort zone to move to a new city and open my own agency. My entire family has been supportive in so more ways than I can count, and I can’t imagine how different this process might’ve been without them. They are the calm through the hard times, and I am so blessed to have them in my life!
My significant other, Travis Wylie also deserves more recognition than I can express! He has been my business partner and a key person in helping develop our business plans, strategies, and agency goals. He is meticulous when it comes to taking a deep dive into the business, and he’s awesome at helping me crunch numbers. This first year would’ve been much more difficult without his love and support both at work and at home, and I am truly grateful to have him by my side!
I have also had the support of the District Office staff (Abigail Kimbrel, Brenda Wise, and Scott Hodges) who make themselves readily available to share their knowledge and expertise on anything and everything I throw their way. This team of advisors have invested countless hours providing guidance, sharing ideas, and doing everything they can to help my business be successful.
I would also like to thank Jessica Hoag who is second to none at customer service. She is passionate about helping clients and great at getting things taken care of as accurately and efficiently as possible. She displays genuine compassion for our customers and their families and provides a great experience for our clients.
Lastly, I want to give a shout out to all the friends and family that have already supported my small business or plan to do so in the future. Did you know I do a happy dance every time y’all purchase insurance from my agency? Nothing at work makes me happier than knowing you have entrusted us to protect your precious assets! Thank you all so much!
Contact Info:
- Address: 749 Gateway Street, Suite F704 Abilene, TX 79602
- Website: https://agents.farmers.com/tx/abilene/angela-vallejo
- Phone: 325-695-1003
- Email: avallejo@farmersagent.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelavinsura
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