Your One-Stop W3 Covid-19 Resource Center

Need answers? Find them here.

As we continue to deal with the ramifications of COVID-19 on our lives and livelihoods, W3 is staying vigilant. We are continually striving to answer the question: What does this pandemic mean for businesses? The answers vary day-to-day; therefore, we have developed a one-stop W3 COVID-19 Resource Center to provide regular updates and issue sound advice.

W3 Coronavirus Resource Center

Within this Resource Center, you’ll find timely information regarding:

  • Insurance coverage – How will your policies be affected? Can premiums be deferred or delayed?
  • Human Resources and Compliance – HR professionals: How will you keep your office in compliance with federal regulations surrounding COVID-19? For those non-essential businesses facing a newly remote workforce, how should you navigate this ‘new world’ of employment?
  • Financial and Tax Legislation – Interested to know the latest financial and tax legislation news? -We’ve done the research for you.
  • Employee Benefits – How does COVID-19 affect employee benefits?
  • Health & Safety – Are OSHA concerns different for remote employees? How can an organization strive to keep the workforce as healthy as possible in the midst of a pandemic?
  • Reasons to Smile – It’s not all ‘doom and gloom’ out there, friends and colleagues. In this time of social distancing, businesses are providing grocery cards to employees, sending heart-warming messages and encouraging everyone to slow down and smell the proverbial roses. Here, you’ll read real-life examples of employers doing what they can to give their employees a reason to smile.

Visit w3ins.com/covid-19 and view our extensive information library. And remember: We consider ourselves your ‘partner in protection.’ This pivot of providing information related to COVID-19 is just one more way we offer you ‘Raving Fan’ service.

Let’s all take care of each other. Hopefully, the W3 COVID-19 Resource Center will make doing that easier.

Business Insurance Names W3 Insurance One of the Best Places to Work

Annual Award Recognizes Outstanding Employers

According to Business Insurance, Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3 Insurance) is a workplace where employees thrive, achieve job fulfillment and assist with company growth. These attributes contributed to the agency’s inclusion on the publication’s annual Best Places to Work in Insurance list, which was announced September 24.

“Being named to Business Insurance’s list of the Best Places to Work in Insurance for 2018 demonstrates that W3 has built a culture in which employees are supported and engaged, which benefits their customers and their employer’s financial performance,” says Peter Oxner, publisher of Business Insurance.

The Best Places to Work in Insurance list includes agents, brokers, insurance companies and other providers who provide the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. Leading insurance industry employers are identified by Best Companies Group through a two-part assessment. The first, a questionnaire, is completed by the employer and encompasses company policies, practices and demographics. The second is a confidential employee survey that measures engagement and satisfaction.

W3 Insurance CEO Scott Gramling points to the company’s ‘Raving Fans’ philosophy as a huge indicator of organizational success. Taking care of employees is extremely important, he says, and the W3 team naturally extends that passion to client services.

“Our company-wide goal is to make clients into raving fans, and we do that as a team,” Gramling says. “There’s a pervasive sense that we’re all in this together.”

This year’s list features 75 companies of various sizes, from 25 employees to more than 4,000. Overall rankings and winning company profiles will be unveiled as a sponsored content supplement in the November issue of Business Insurance and online at BusinessInsurance.com.

Founded in 1925, Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3 Insurance) is an independent insurance agency with a rich tradition of service and unwavering commitment to clients and community. The agency represents an extensive list of “A rated” carriers in order to provide the best coverage at the most affordable rates available. W3 Insurance offers coverage for the specific needs of businesses and individuals, including homeowners, auto, boat and life insurance as well as employee benefits coverage. For more information, call (727) 522-7777 or visit www.w3ins.com.

Business Insurance is the authoritative news and information source for executives concerned about risk and the impact on their business. With information for risk managers, insurers, brokers and other providers of insurance products and services, Business Insurance delivers in-depth analysis on new and emerging risks, case studies of successful programs, market intelligence on trends, and guidance on how to capitalize on opportunities and overcome challenges.

Best Companies Group works with partners to establish “Best Places to Work,” “Best Companies,” and “Best Employers” programs on a national, state-wide and regional basis. Through its thorough workplace assessment using employer questionnaires and employee satisfaction surveys, Best Companies Group identifies and recognizes companies that have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence.

How to Read a Nautical Chart

From our partners at International Marine Underwriters, this post originally appeared on their Company News page, authored by John Beachley, National Product Lines Director.

Whether it’s a big commercial vessel or a small recreational boat, one should always have access to nautical charts on board. Not only that, but knowing how to read one of these charts is important while navigating the waters.

Many may think that nautical charts are the same as maps, when in fact they are much different. Nautical charts specifically depict what a boater should look out for so they have a smooth and safe ride.

In this BoatSafe.com article, the author discusses the basics of chart reading. It provides tips and insights with visuals of charts, and a real-life example of how to navigate the waters.

Before you get out on the water this upcoming boating season, it’s always a good idea to review boating basics such as this one.

For additional tips and articles, please visit imu.com.

W3 Named a Finalist for Bright House Regional Business Award

Bright House Regional Business Awards Finalist

St. Petersburg-based agency lauded for its community service efforts and growth.

According to Bright House Networks, insurance sector innovator Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3) is one of the top businesses in the Greater Tampa Bay Area. W3 was named among ten Bay Area finalists for the award in the medium-sized business category and was recognized for its multifaceted success.“We strive to be a well-rounded organization built on the foundation of integrity, success and passion,” said W3 CEO Scott Gramling. “This award makes it clear that our mission is being met by our talented employees.”

“We strive to be a well-rounded organization built on the foundation of integrity, success and passion,” said W3 CEO Scott Gramling. “This award makes it clear that our mission is being met by our talented employees.”

During an awards ceremony held February 11 at the Tampa Convention Center, Bright House representatives commended the honored businesses for improving the Bay Area as a whole. The nominees were thanked for seeing possibility where others see problems, and encouraged to continue their tradition of excellence.


This is the second year that W3 was named a Bright House Regional Business Awards finalist, with it’s first time being in it’s 2014 inaugural year.

Jonathan Hammond Promoted to Chief Operating Officer

Jonathan Hammond - W3's New COO

Jonathan Hammond, CRIS, CRM, CIC

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Jonathan Hammond to Chief Operating Officer. Hammond began his insurance career with Wallace Welch & Willingham in 2000 as a sales producer. Later, he was promoted to sales manager and earned three designations: Certified Risk Manager, Certified Insurance Counselor and Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist. He has been a sales leader throughout his career and has won accolades that include the distinguished national award from Marsh Berry, Senior Producer of the Year. Hammond was selected as a member of the Leadership St. Petersburg class.

“Jonathan has the formal education and the hands-on experience to fulfill the vast responsibilities of COO,” says Wallace Welch & Willingham CEO Scott Gramling. “W3’s entire staff respects him for his work ethic and his values, and we look forward to continued agency success with Jonathan’s leadership.”

Please join us in wishing Jonathan a well with his new position.

Sondregger Insurance Joins Wallace Welch & Willingham

Wallace Welch & Willingham BuildingWallace Welch & Willingham (W3) is pleased to announce the addition of Sondregger Insurance agency, an independent agency based in St. Petersburg, Florida. With this addition, made final on December 9, 2015, W3 continues to exceed its growth objectives.

Sondregger Insurance specialized in personal insurance and business insurance. The agency brings one employee and approximately 800 clients, increasing W3’s personal lines book of business by approximately 40%. Sondregger’s book of business consists primarily of homeowners policies with a number of commercial, auto and life as well. Clients will continue to work with their agent and will be serviced out of W3’s current Downtown St. Petersburg location.

This  was a perfect fit for W3 and Chris Sondregger, the owner of Sondregger Insurance. W3 was looking to maintain steady growth goals while maintaining its ownership model of internal perpetuation. Keith Gramling, W3’s President, stated, “Through the addition of Sondregger Insurance, we continue to achieve our agency growth goals. We are pleased to welcome each of our new customers and look forward to the next agency owner who would like to be a part of our culture. Celebrating our 91st year, we are now a composition of 27 independent agencies.”  This recent addition marks the third in three years, and includes the acquisition of Al Malin’s Insurance in 2013 and a large book of nonprofit business in 2012.

W3 Named Best Place to Work by Business Insurance

Best Place to Work - Wallace Welch & WillinghamWallace Welch & Willingham (W3) is pleased to announce that they have been named a Best Place to Work by
Business Insurance, a national publication for independent insurance agents and brokers. This is the tenth award that W3 employees have won or have been named as finalists for this year.

W3 employees participated in an independent, confidential survey by Best Companies Group, commissioned by Business Insurance, which was then analyzed based on the eight core areas believed to show company culture and employee engagement and satisfaction. These core areas are leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training, development and resources; pay and benefits; and overall engagement.  W3 placed  13th in the U.S. Small Employer Category. Walt Grayson, W3’s COO, stated, “The acknowledgement as “Best Place to Work” is the result of all 92 employees wanting to be a “Best Place”.  This couldn’t be done without the commitment from everyone.”  Business Insurance covers core risk management and insurance areas such as property/casualty insurance, health insurance, captive insurance and other risk management.

W3 Awarded Best Agency to Work For

Best Agency in the SoutheastW3 is pleased to announce that we have been chosen as Insurance Journal’s 2015 Best Agency to WorkFor, Gold Winner – Southeast. The Insurance Journal is a national publication that is considered the most read national property and casualty publication for independent insurance agents and brokers. They break their readership into five areas of the country and award a gold, silver and bronze winner for each division, as well as an overall winner. Read the Insurance Journal’s full article featuring the agency.

W3 employees nominated the agency back in September by answering a short, informal survey. A customer-centric focus, strong value system and a family-matters philosophy helped propel W3 to the top of the list. Scott Gramling, W3’s CEO, stated, “Over the past 90 years, W3 has been a top shelf employer, because the leadership acknowledges that constant attention is necessary to attract and retain the highest caliber professionals.” “Our goal is to actually be the best place to work. We don’t do it for the awards, it’s really about the employees,” said COO Walt Grayson.

WWW Awarded Top Place to Work

PrintWallace Welch & Willingham (WWW) is pleased to announce that it has been selected again as one of the Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces. The determination of Top Workplaces is based solely on employee feedback. A winning combination of competitive compensation (including profit sharing bonuses, a merit program and 401(k) retirement plan with match), robust benefit package, and overall company culture is what makes WWW a Top Workplace.

The employee survey is conducted annually by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm on organizational health and employee engagement. Walt Grayson, WWW’s Chief Operating Officer, stated, “To be named to the list for second consecutive year confirms that consistency in our message and our actions is as important to employees as compensation and benefits.”

WWW seeks to maintain a healthy and happy staff.  A good work-life balance is important to our employees so it is important to WWW as well. The Top Workplace survey had the following comment: “I am a valued employee. Most management say they are family oriented but W3 actually is. They make employees feel welcome from their first moment. They put on company events for the employees and their families. My peers are friendly and helpful and make you feel wanted. There are no lunch clicks that you can’t sit with. It is a friendly, professional place to work.”

The Tampa Bay Times published the complete list of Top Workplaces on April 12. For more information about the Top Workplaces lists and WorkplaceDynamics, please visit www.topworkplaces.com and www.workplacedynamics.com.