Award Showcases W3’s Consistent Workplace Success

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – For the fifth time, W3 Insurance has been named to the Best Places to Work in Insurance list. The honor demonstrates that Business Insurance recognizes W3 Insurance as a workplace where employees feel they can thrive and collectively help the organization to grow and prosper.

“We maintain an employee experience (EX) focus,” says W3 Insurance Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Hammond. “Our ‘Raving Fans’ culture starts internally, with our employees.”

The vetting process to identify leading agents, brokers, providers and insurance companies in the insurance industry included a two-part questionnaire from Best Companies Group. Employees completed a confidential employee survey regarding engagement and satisfaction; employers were directed to answer questions explaining company policies, practices and demographics.

Best Places to Work in Insurance is an annual sponsored content feature presented by the Custom Publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group. As to what makes W3 a consistent honoree, an employee response from 2019 explains it all:

We have a culture of Integrity, Accountability, Success, and Passion. We’re a team and we love what we do…Our employees participate in internal committees that foster relationship building activities within the W3 family. Our employees also create fundraising and volunteer opportunities and activities to support the Tampa Bay Area to improve the overall quality of life for those in need around us.

About W3 Insurance

Founded in 1925, Wallace Welch & Willingham Inc (W3 Insurance) is an independent insurance agency with a rich history of providing quality service and unwavering commitment to clients and community. The agency represents an extensive list of “A rated” insurance companies and offers insurance products to fit the specific needs of businesses and individuals. For more information, call (727) 522-7777 or visit www.w3ins.com.

About Business Insurance

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.

In addition to a monthly print magazine, Business Insurance provides essential news via its website, BusinessInsurance.com; daily and weekly e-newsletters; and breaking news via email news alerts. To subscribe, please contact Business Insurance at info@businessinsurance.com.

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.

Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3 Insurance) has hired Conor J. Fitzgerald  as an employee benefits advisor. Fitzgerald comes to W3 from Bouchard Insurance, where he was responsible for employee benefits and business insurance production. He looks forward to helping W3 clients achieve their financial and organizational goals through innovative and consultative strategies.

“Conor should make a great addition to our team of benefits professionals,” says W3 Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Hammond. “He has proven experience in customer service, sales and benefits.”

Fitzgerald’s civic participation fits in well with the W3 spirit of giving back. An active community member, he volunteers in various capacities, including shifts with organizations such as Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa Bay Frogman Swim and Sal’s Soldiers – The Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis.

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

Sarasota, FL – St. Petersburg-headquartered W3 Insurance describes its new Sarasota location, at 2000 Webber Street, Suite 100, as an opportunity to better serve existing and prospective clients. The central location features Sarasota’s bustling downtown, a covered parking garage and plenty of room to grow.

“This move gives us the opportunity to merge Vestor Insurance, a recent acquisition, with our last Sarasota office. Now, both are joined into one space,” says Erin Wells, W3 personal insurance manager.

The new office site features rising desks. This is a conscious addition: W3 has long been considered an employee wellness advocate and recently was awarded bronze recognition in the American Heart Workplace Health Achievement Index.

Founded in 1925, Wallace Welch & Willingham is an independent insurance agency with a rich history of providing quality service and unwavering commitment to its clients and community. The agency represents an extensive list of “A rated” insurance companies in order to provide the best coverage at the most affordable rates available.  Wallace Welch & Willingham has insurance products to fit the specific needs of both businesses and individuals, offering commercial, homeowners, auto, boat and life insurance, as well as employee benefits coverage. For more information, call (727) 522-7777 or visit w3ins.com.

St. Petersburg, FL – W3 Insurance is part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies named to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) Study Group. The annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies documents the business practices of the highest performing agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices.

More than 1,300 independent agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated to take part in the annual study; only 267 agencies qualified for the honor. To be chosen, the agency had to be among the top-performing agencies in one of six revenue categories. The agency was nominated by either a Big “I” affiliated state association or an insurance company and qualified based on its operational excellence.

“W3’s inclusion in this study demonstrates our commitment to all aspects of company excellence,” says Jonathan Hammond, W3’s chief operations officer. “To be examined as an agency model is testament that we perform at a consistently high level worthy of emulation.”

Each year since 1993, IIABA and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm, have joined to study the country’s leading agencies in six revenue categories. The agencies comprising the study groups are selected every third year through a comprehensive nomination and qualifying process and awarded a Best Practices Agency designation. The selected Best Practices Agencies retain their status during the three-year cycle by submitting extensive financial and operational data annually for review.

W3 Insurance was founded in 1925 and offers Commercial, Employee Benefits, Personal, Marine & Life Insurance products as well as Risk Services Consulting.

Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance – property, casualty, life and health – as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products.  Web address: www.independentagent.com.

Agency affiliation widens scope, increases client service opportunities

St. Petersburg, FL – Unbehagen Insurance, Inc. now has the power of 100+ years of insurance excellence behind it. Unbehagen Insurance, Inc. joined Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3) effective June 2018.

The W3 affiliation brings with it the value of a successful large insurance agency, including access to multiple insurance disciplines and excellent service. W3’s longstanding success in the insurance realm translates to more experienced professionals and markets for Unbehagen Insurance clients.

This affiliation is a natural one, says Jonathan Hammond, W3’s chief operating officer. The two entities share the same passion for customer-centric service, and both have Florida roots: W3 Insurance has called St. Petersburg its home base since 1925, and Unbehagen Insurance, Inc. operates four Florida offices; its insurance division has been active for nearly a decade.

“Our agencies complement each other. We’re excited to see what the future holds for Unbehagen Insurance, Inc. and W3 working together as a team.”

Jon Hammond, COO

Founded in 1925, Wallace Welch & Willingham (W3 Insurance) is an independent insurance agency with a rich history of providing quality service and unwavering commitment to its clients and community. The agency represents an extensive list of “A rated” insurance companies in order to provide the best coverage at the most affordable rates available. W3 Insurance offers insurance products to fit the specific needs of both businesses and individuals, offering commercial, homeowners, auto, boat and life insurance as well as employee benefits coverage. The company is named one of Tampa Bay’s Top Workplaces by the Tampa Bay Times. For more information, call (727) 522-7777 or visit www.w3ins.com.

Learn more about Unbehagen Advisors and their comprehensive services by visiting www.unbehagenadvisors.com.