Also: Promotion, hires for George Peterson, Wells Fargo Insurance
Ukiah-based Diane Daubeneck Insurance Services announced it has entered into an alliance with Placer Insurance Agency of Roseville, significantly increasing the reach of both agencies in Northern California.
The new relationship will enable DDIS to grow its presence and to offer improved technology with more insurance products at more competitive rates to its existing Mendocino County clients, DDIS Principal Diane Daubeneck said.
"This addition of services is really welcome news in these difficult economic times," she said in announcing the alliance.
Placer Insurance Agency's already-established services – which include vehicle, home and renters, farm and agribusiness, workers compensation, liability, and life and health insurance – will provide a much more diverse offering to Mendocino County, Ms. Daubeneck said.
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Tony Guerrero has been named as the newest partner at George Petersen Insurance – only the eighth in the firm's 76-year history.
Mr. Guerrero joined the firm in 2001, after an early career in the technology industry, where he was part owner of a software firm.
"We're very pleased to make him a full partner," said Doug Dilley, Santa Rosa branch manager and chief operating officer. "It is richly deserved."
George Petersen doubled in size last year after it acquired rival NorthWest Insurance, bringing its total offices to 12 spread from Santa Rosa to Bend, Ore.
The expansion increased the firm's personal lines operations enough to bring on additional staff to oversee that end of the business. It has done so with the hiring of Rich Stark, who will manage personal lines staff in all 12 locations from Santa Rosa.
"We'd long maintained an efficient and effective personal lines department, but it wasn't quite big enough to warrant a manager until the NorthWest purchase," Mr. Dilley said.
Mr. Stark, a 33-year insurance industry veteran, joins George Petersen from Wells Fargo Insurance Services. He began his career in Sonoma County with the former Ellingson & Jones in Santa Rosa and stayed on through mergers as it ultimately became part of Wells Fargo.
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[caption id="attachment_31637" align="alignleft" width="154" caption="Tom Byrne"][/caption]
Meanwhile, the North Bay branch for Wells Fargo Insurance Services has hired Tom Byrne as the Petaluma office's new property and casualty producer. Mr. Byrne joins Wells Fargo from Costello & Sons Insurance Brokers in San Rafael.
Mark Stokes, regional managing director, said Wells Fargo Insurance Services plans "aggressive hiring" and looks to expand its presence across the North Bay.
Wells Fargo "sees insurance as a real opportunity as the economy grows out," Mr. Stokes said. "We're looking to hire more sales executives in the North Bay, and we're also looking for acquisitions and growing our franchise."
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Submit items for this column to Dan Verel at dverel@busjrnl.com, 707-521-4257 or fax 707-521-5292.
