In the West Michigan Is Going Places series we are talking with local business owners and community leaders about their business successes and challenges and highlighting the resources available in the West Michigan business community.
In this interview we talked with Corey VanderMeer of Navisure Insurance Group about his business. Navisure Insurance provides the knowledge, accessibility and assurance everyone needs to make informed decisions with regard to their insurance.
RM: Could you tell us a little about what your business does and how it got started?
Corey VanderMeer: We’re an independent insurance agency that provides personal and commercial insurance from many different carriers. I worked for a couple of other independent agencies and thought the process could be made easier for the consumer to procure an insurance quote. I did not have the ability to change processes at my agencies, so together with Troy, we started our own. Our idea was that we could leverage different types of technologies to make it easier for our clients to get insurance.
How has your business changed since you first started out?
Corey VanderMeer: We’ve learned a lot and have added a lot of product offerings that we did not have access to when we first started out. We’ve added products like parametric insurance, AI-powered workers compensation, and various personal lines products that help protect our clients. We’ve streamlined our quoting process and made it simpler for our existing clients to service their policies.
What makes you passionate about what you do?
Corey VanderMeer: We love working with people and helping educate them about insurance. Whether it’s a recent college grad looking for their first insurance policies or an experienced business owner, we enjoy the process of educating our clients about their policies. We’re passionate about providing great coverage rather than cheap coverage. In our experience, the least expensive coverage often leaves gaps in coverage that can lead to huge issues when a client needs to file a claim.
How has being here in West Michigan helped your business?
Corey VanderMeer: We both grew up here and have lived here our entire lives. Our community does a great job of supporting local businesses, and we are thankful for that. Knowing there is a community of business leaders you can lean on for help and advice is also incredibly valuable.
What’s your approach to customer service and connecting with the community?
Corey VanderMeer: We make it easy for our clients to get in touch with us. Whether by phone, text or email we prioritize open communication with our clients. The insurance industry has been volatile for the last couple of years, and rates have increased greatly. This leads to a lot of questions from both prospective and current clients, and we pride ourselves on giving honest answers as to why rates are increasing. We’re involved in the community in various ways. We’re members of various business networking groups that helps us connect with other business leaders. We also serve on various non-profit boards and committees.
How do you plan to grow or adapt your business for the future?
Corey VanderMeer: The insurance industry is always changing, so we do a lot of reading. We’re always looking for new products to offer our clients. We’re also always looking to identify new technologies that can help make our business run more effectively. We grow through referrals from existing clients, networking with other business leaders, and various online marketing strategies.
Are there any local organizations or networks that have been particularly helpful for you in building your business?
Corey VanderMeer: When I was brand new to the industry I joined an organization called Business Networking International. The relationships I developed in that group were and continue to be pivotal to growing my business. I met many of my most important mentors, business partners, and friends while in this group. I also was fortunate to bring in many great clients. We’ve also recently joined the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and look forward to becoming an active member.
