Farmers Insurance agent Jack Alspaugh is confident about the future of his Corpus Christi business, which is slowly transitioning from a sleepy seaside town into an industrial city. Photo by JoAnna Kopp
An insurance agency is built on its relationships with clients, not on the number of transactions it handles, said Jack Alspaugh, owner of a Farmers Insurance branch on the Southside of Corpus Christi. That philosophy has led to Alspaugh’s ranking as the No. 2 growth agency in the city.
“I’m trying to build something Corpus Christi hasn’t seen in a long time,” he said. As a successful businessman, Alspaugh explained that strong ethics guide his work. “I’m good at marketing, that’s my strongest suit, but I can’t do it if it’s not something I believe in. I can’t sell garbage.”
Alspaugh opened his Farmers Insurance branch in 2014. His office is filled with awards and certificates, recognizing that his sales and production levels exceed the average Farmers Insurance franchise. He finds value in the work that he does and said he wishes he had thought about working in insurance sooner.
“What we do has a real positive impact,” he told Corpus Christi Business News. “We protect people’s assets. We put policies in place that will help make you whole again.”
He knew he was in the right business the day he handed a $20,000 check to a widow and her two kids after a spouse’s unexpected death.
“To them, it might have been a million dollars,” he said. “I knew then my passion was insurance.”
A native Texan, Alspaugh grew up all over the world as part of a military family. As an adult, he moved to big cities, including Houston, Dallas and Phoenix, to run businesses, all in sales. Going from big city operations to Corpus Christi was a welcome transition.
“When you’re opening a new agency and trying to make a splash, it’s much easier in a small city,” he said. “There’s no threat of getting lost in the crowd. In a large city, being known is the big issue. I’d have to have five times the budget to do the same advertising I do here.”
Farmers Insurance is located on Yorktown Boulevard in the heart of the suburbs.
“Home and auto is my bread and butter, and I find that here,” Alspaugh said. “Southside is the only place people can build. We’re capturing the residential and consumer market.”
Alspaugh is confident about the future of his business in Corpus Christi, which is slowly transitioning from a sleepy seaside town into an industrial city. While he likes the small-town vibe, he also supports economic growth and welcomes newcomers to the city.
“Corpus Christi is going to grow in size, and we’re going to be here to service its needs,” he said. “When people from the outside come in, we aggressively market towards them.”
In addition to providing insurance, the business supports its community. Farmers Insurance presented a $700 check to Veterans Memorial High School at a recent homecoming game and will continue to support the school through its softball and baseball seasons.
“Community involvement is important to any business,” he said, explaining how philanthropy helps build positive relationships between a business and its potential customers. “If you give back to the community, they give back to you.”
Farmers Insurance is located at 5922 Yorktown Blvd. in Corpus Christi. For more information, call (361) 232-4717.
