Good ‘Energy’ Powers Winning Kentucky Agency

October 17, 2022 by

From launching in a basement to pulling in more than $135 million in written premiums, Energy Insurance Agency’s rise during the past four decades has been marked by big growth and a deep commitment to employees and customers.

EIA recently earned a Silver Regional Award for the Southeast in Insurance Journal’s Best Agencies to Work For competition. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the agency claimed the honor based on employees’ responses to IJ’s Best Agencies to Work For survey.

In an email, Mark Kelder, president of EIA, expressed satisfaction that EIA employees appreciate the efforts of management to recognize and reward the agency’s staff.

“Simply stated, it’s our team; this is what sets us apart and makes Energy Insurance a great place to work,” Kelder shared. “We are fortunate enough to have a unique group of talented individuals whose abilities and strengths complement each other and serve our clients well. I am proud to say I get to work with some of the most knowledgeable and customer-centric folks in the business.”

Established in 1982, EIA is an independent insurance agency providing personal insurance, business insurance, employee benefits, life insurance and bonds throughout the United States.

The agency’s roots can be traced back to the basement of its founder’s home. Over the course of 40 years, EIA has developed into a business with seven locations and more than 100 associates.

In their survey responses, employees highlighted the organization’s culture of support, respect and growth. Respondents shared how Energy Insurance is committed to encouraging and empowering team members to develop individual strategies to thrive.

“Energy Insurance Agency is the absolute best to work for,” wrote one employee. “We have a great supportive leadership team that is very knowledgeable in the insurance industry. They care not only about their staff but their customers, as well. The coworkers are also very supportive and knowledgeable. We truly are a team at Energy Insurance Agency.”

Another employee described EIA as “a large agency with small agency relationships,” adding that it’s “exciting to work at a place where you have so much capability. The leaders care about the employees as people.”

As businesses continue to tweak their office models in a world rocked by COVID-19, EIA has found success in offering hybrid and remote work options. Kelder believes this flexibility has given EIA an edge in attracting and retaining talent.

“We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance, especially with the post-pandemic burnout so many of us endured,” he wrote. “We try to accommodate associates as much as possible while still meeting business needs.”

An excerpt from the organization’s website states that while EIA’s first insurance clients came from the coal and natural gas industries, that wasn’t the only reason the name “Energy Insurance Agency” was selected.

“We were passionate about making sure the name conveyed the energy that the Energy Insurance team puts into working with each and every client we meet,” the website reads.

“Stay engaged with your team, be transparent as possible and share a common goal,” Kelder wrote when asked for advice for owners striving to improve their agencies.

“Actively listen and sincerely seek to find solutions to everyday hurdles,” he said. “The workplace has evolved drastically in the last 5 years. Make sure you are evolving with it.”