Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cook.
David, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Been in the insurance industry since 1995, an independent property & casualty agent/broker since 1998 and also an agency owner since 1998. First agency I was a co-principal and it was located in Woodstock. This agency officially ended in 2008 when it was absorbed into my current agency, Cherokee Insurance Center. As we all know, 2008 was probably not the best year to be starting a new business. Somehow, however, I made it through and it was just myself and one other person, off and on, until 2014 when I hired another producer.
I now have 4 property and casualty producers. 2 life producers and an assistant. We are a 12-year member of AssureAlliance, Inc., an agency ‘cluster’ of approximately 120 agents spread out over northern Georgia and South Carolina. Joining AssureAlliance, honestly, is the best business decision I have ever made. I do feel like now the agency is in a very good position to grow exponentially over the next few years with the producers I have and the insurance companies we represent such as Chubb (only one in the county), Travelers. Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Nationwide, Berkshire Hathaway, MetLife, Amtrust, Grange Mutual, Southern Trust, Foremost, Progressive, and others. Our future is very bright.
Has it been a smooth road?
Most certainly not. Fortunately, I was experienced enough to weather it. Getting through 2008-2010 was very difficult with the economic conditions as many businesses closed or shrunk down to just one person, letting go employees, vehicles and equipment they previously insured. Once I made it through that I contracted a staph infection in January 2011 that put me in the hospital for 23 days and, for all practical purposes, out of work for nearly 6 months, it was quite severe as I could have lost my right leg. Its been much better once recovered from the staph infection as we’ve steadily grown since 2011.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are an independent agent/broker. That means we represent many different insurance companies and brokers so we can provide multiple solutions for our clients. We provide insurance for our clients that runs the gamut from auto, home, life, umbrella, boat, motorcycle to general liability. commercial auto, workers comp, data breach, professional liability, management liability and surety bonds. Contractors is something we specialize in for business insurance as well as for restaurants, professionals, technology and main street type businesses. We also provide personal insurance (auto, home, etc.) for many local residents.
I’m most proud of that this agency was started from scratch and we can now compete, with the companies we represent and the experienced producers who work here, with anyone in the local area on any risk, and its just going to get better. I’m also proud we are the only agency in Cherokee county to represent Chubb Insurance, and no one else is even in consideration for the foreseeable future (according to my Chubb rep.). I think what sets us apart from others, and its something we run across almost daily is we really listen to our clients and we insure them properly from the beginning, not just to get a ‘sale’. This includes explaining concepts like ‘replacement cost’, sub-contractor cost, workers comp rates, audits, risk management, loss control, etc.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I am assuming this means Canton. There are many insurance agencies here, especially captive agencies (State Farm, Allstate) so we may be near saturation point. We are, however, a rapidly growing area so there will be an opportunity for more agencies I’m just not sure right now.
Contact Info:
- Address: 115 Palm St Canton GA 30115
- Website: www.insurecherokee.com
- Phone: 770-720-1314
- Email: david@insurecherokee.com
- Instagram: cherokeeinsurancecenter
- Facebook: facebook.com/cherokeeinsurancecenter
- Twitter: @cherokeeinsctr
- Other: linkedin.com/davidccook
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
