HOULTON, Maine — In today’s every changing world of technology, a business in one small community can easily handle affairs on both a national and international level.
The Varney Agency is one such entity. From its office at 76 North St., the Varney Agency is able to provide a wide variety of insurance products and bonds for both residential and commercial entities. The Varney Agency is celebrating 30 years of business in the Shiretown in 2015.
In 1980, Bill Varney opened the Varney Agency operating from a single desk in his auto parts warehouse representing one company. His brother Jim was an insurance salesman and Bill decided he would create a position for his brother to sell insurance from the family’s auto parts store. During the past three decades, Varney Agency has grown to over 23 locations, several added through acquisition and many as a result of organic growth.
The Varney Agency’s Houlton office opened in 1985 in a small room adjacent to Varney Auto Supplies on North Street. In 1996, Varney Agency acquired the J.R. Harvey insurance agency in Houlton and things really began to take off in the Shiretown and beyond.
“During the past three decades, Varney Agency has grown to 23 locations, several added through acquisition and many as a result of organic growth,” said Bill Varney, founder. “Varney Agency prides itself on being a family owned and operated business, now three generations strong in leadership.”
Today, Varney Agency’s locations are conveniently located from Fort Kent to Tampa, Fla. and from Bethel to Calais. With a commitment to excellence, the Varney Agency employees are driven toward protecting what is important to their customers. Local, friendly insurance professionals are the core of this family owned and operated business, now three generations strong in leadership.
“With a commitment to excellence, Varney Agency’s full service approach to commercial and personal insurance means its clients have a trusted partner to help identify risks, explain options, and find ways to both minimize risk and maximize protection,” said Tim Varney, Bill’s son and president of the company. “Local, professional and friendly insurance professionals are the core of Varney Agency’s business – the exemplary people have made Varney Agency what it is today. We are privileged to employ some of the best, brightest and most well-trained professionals in the industry.”
The Varney Agency is one of the largest independent agencies in the state with additional branches in Calais, Machias, Ellsworth, Bangor, Unity, Belfast, Gray, Dexter, Dover, Greenville, Bingham, Cornish, Lincoln and Waterville.
“With 23 locations conveniently located across the state of Maine and the expansion of new office locations into South Carolina and Florida, Varney Agency is dedicated to providing convenient locations to better serve not only its customers but also the community,” said Mike Varney, a third generation member in the family business.
Although Bangor is consider the home base of Varney Agency, the Houlton office experiences a high volume of transactions from around the country.
“We write business out of this (Houlton) office for the entire country, through brokerage arrangements with other companies,” explained Cathy Davis, managing partner for Varney Agency. “We can get a call from Bangor to Florida for coverage.”
Varney Agency also owns Santee Risk Managers, a nationwide insurance company for coverage in the trucking and forestry industry, and American Loggers Insurance. All of the paperwork for this division of the company runs through the Houlton office.
Davis said insurance doesn’t have to be a mystery. The Varney Agency’s staff works with its customers to determine risks and together they develop a sound insurance program to protect their assets at a competitive price.
For three decades, the staff of the Varney Agency in Houlton has designed customized programs to fulfill the needs of their valued customers. They represent major companies such as Acadia, Allstate, Hanover, Metropolitan, MMG, North East, One Beacon, Patriot, Peerless, Travelers, Progressive and many more. Varney Agency staff have the options available to find just the right product and tailor it to the individual needs of our customers for their personal, professional and business requirements.
Staff at the Houlton office has grown from just two employees to six in the last two years. Staff in Houlton includes Davis; Wendy Webb, personal lines/customer service specialist; Karen Murphy, personal lines; Andrew Peabody, commercial lines producer; Catherine Boone-Matilla, customer service representative; and Leigh Levasseur, life, health and annuities.
The Varney Agency offers:
• Homeowner’s insurance.
• Personal and commercial auto insurance.
• ATV, snowmobile, boat, motor home, antique vehicle and motorcycle insurance.
• Life, health and disability insurance.
• Commercial insurance packages for large and small companies – retail businesses, manufacturers, contractors, restaurants – and other types of businesses.
• Long-haul truck insurance for independent owner-operators with competitive rates, monthly plans, superior coverage and excellent claim service.
• Strong bonding capabilities.
• EFT options with no monthly service fees.
• Account credits when a customer’s home, auto and other possessions are insured with the same company.
• Non-smoker discounts.
• Ultimate service products including towing and rental at no charge with some programs.
• Identity theft protection is free for every customer who insures their primary home with them.
They are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit their website: www.varneyagency.com or call 532-2345.
