Meet Kaitlin Ponce of State Farm in Buckhead Peachtree Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin Ponce.

Kaitlin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a State Farm family, my dad has two agencies in Florida. I spent my time working after school and over summer breaks in his office, mostly helping with administrative duties. I understood the concept of insurance and generally, what my dad did for a living but not much more than that.

When I was in college at Stetson University (Go Hatters!), one of my management courses required an informational interview. I chose to interview my dad’s territory manager. In the interview, I questioned her on her reasoning for working in insurance and why she chose State Farm. She compared the insurance profession to that of a doctor; a doctor meets with patients, reviews their health, points out various illnesses or diseases for which they’re at risk and suggests how to avoid them. If you have an illness or medical issue the doctor works to cure the illness or provide treatment. Following treatment, the doctor makes recommendations and over the years you cycle through the same process.

What a State Farm Agent does is very similar, we regularly meet with customers and review their risks. We guide customers on how to properly protect the things they’ve worked hard for, their dreams and their plans for the future. We point out gaps in coverage and review ways to close those gaps. If there is a disaster, for example, a lawsuit following an at-fault car accident, an unexpected death or disability or a house fire, we help our customers to recover and get back on their feet. The same cycle continues and our goal is, as State Farm’s mission states, to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

One of the requirements I set for myself for a career after school, was that I wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on people; I wanted to help people. I wasn’t any good at science so being a doctor was out, but I was business savvy and I’d spent much of my time in school studying finance and risk. After my informational interview, I had a clearer idea of what I wanted to do with my life.

I moved to Atlanta after I graduated in 2010, for a job with State Farm as an account representative at Todd Shambo’s office in Conyers, Georgia. I worked hard to learn the ropes and meet with as many customers as I could. I enrolled in State Farm’s Agent Aspirant program, a learning and development program for those that want to be Agents. I can tell you that yes, as it is said, hard work really does pay off. I opened my own State Farm Agency in Buckhead in August of 2014.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Relatively speaking, yes it’s been a smooth road. State Farm offers a tremendous amount of resources to me as an Agency Owner. However, what I think has been even more beneficial in the success of my career, are the relationships I’ve built within the company and the Atlanta community. I have so many people I can reach out to for advice or assistance and thankfully, my dad has been behind me every step of the way.

There were certainly times, especially in that first year after I opened my agency, where I doubted myself and my abilities. I was more stressed than I’d ever been. The statistics were daunting, a third of businesses don’t survive their first year! However, I truly believe that your mindset is a driver of your ability to succeed. If you think you can then you can. “Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.”, Michael Jordan said that. As cheesy as that may sound, I think anyone can apply that to nearly any aspect of their life.

Kaitlin Ponce State Farm – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think many people don’t understand insurance. The state says you have to have it to register your car or your mortgage company says you need it if you buy a house. You may think because your employer offers you life insurance or disability you’re fully covered. But, really that’s not the whole story. Most people need more coverage than the state requires or their employer offers but aren’t aware that this is the case. It’s not something we’re taught in schools. Unfortunately, many people learn they don’t have enough coverage after a disaster, when it’s too late.

At my agency, we strive to sit down with every single customer once a year and review their concerns, their needs, their assets and liabilities so that, if a disaster occurs they have peace of mind that everything is going to be okay. We want to make sure our customers understand what their insurance does and the benefits it provides them.

I’d have to say, I’m most proud of my team. Finding good people is not easy, however my team is outstanding. I know they truly care about our customers and just like me, they want to help people. My team takes the time not only to educate our customers on insurance, finance and risk, but furthermore, they take the time to get to know them, as people. We’re taking this massive city that is Atlanta and turning into our own community. We’re on a first name basis with our customers. I’d like to think they take note from me as a leader and follow my footsteps but I know much of it is intrinsic. And in turn, I think that’s what sets us apart.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
I’d really like to continue to mentor and grow my team. Atlanta is thriving, people are moving here from all over the country in droves. Have you walked the Belt Line lately? Not only, is it packed with people on a sunny day but everywhere you look they are building apartments and condos. I want to help those who are making Atlanta their new home and to do that I’m going to need more good people by my side.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2285 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 204 Atlanta, GA 30305
• Website: kaitlinponce.com
• Email: Kaitlin@kaitlinponce.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kponcesf/
• Twitter: @SFagentKaitlin

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