Huneycutt Credits Hiring Process, Communication as Keys to Success

Like other insurance agencies that have been named Best Agencies to Work For, the Huneycutt Group in Wilmington, North Carolina, credits its family atmosphere and regular group activities for promoting an environment where employees and owners can thrive.

But to get to that point, the agency first had to have the right family members.

“The hiring process is very extensive. We have a serious vetting process,” said Chad Huneycutt, president and CEO of the agency that is this year’s Bronze award winner for the Southeast. “We have to make sure the person is a good fit. That plays a vital role in our agency’s experience and peoples’ happiness.”

The pandemic-fueled labor shortage has made it more difficult than ever to find the right people for the rapidly growing all-lines firm, which places insurance throughout Coastal Carolina and several other states. Once the pieces are in place, the agency holds regular events to help employees feel like they’re all part of the family, Huneycutt said. Those include gatherings away from the office as well as office parties for birthdays and work anniversaries.

“We do try to work hard and play hard together,” said Chad, who runs the agency with his wife, Tara, who is the marketing director and also is owner of a clothing store in nearby Wrightsville Beach.

Employees agreed.

“The main thing that stands out about our agency is the family atmosphere,” one wrote. “THG is backed by a great family.”

Chad Huneycutt started his career in the banking arena but had long wanted to manage his own business. That came in the form of a captive agency for a major carrier. When that carrier decided to reduce its presence in some coastal areas, it opened up the opportunity for the Huneycutts to launch an independent agency in 2007. Since then, it has steadily expanded, acquiring three regional property and casualty agencies and a title insurance agency. About 70% of the group’s policies are for residential property, Chad said.

The Huneycutt Group has made of point of keeping up with technological changes, including cloud computing and internet-based phone systems. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, “that made it easy to make the transition to people working at home,” Chad said.

“I’ve been supported as a work-from-home employee since the pandemic with whatever I need,” one employee wrote in comments in the survey. “The flexibility shown by my boss has allowed us to adapt and become even better.”

For those who chose to return to the office, Huneycutt installed generators to keep the lights on when storms knock out power to the area.

Employees also noted the employee review process and incentives program.

“We have a fair evaluation process for producers and have a great opportunity to earn,” one commented.

“There is a constant discussion about salaries and everchanging payment structures to benefit the agents,” said another.

The agency also is involved in the community. Early this year, the team helped build a house with the local Habitat for Humanity. “It was great to see that our organization is committed to both insuring and creating places for people to live,” one employee wrote in the survey.