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Mixing the Past and the Future
When you own a company that is a local landmark, knowing when, and what to change, and knowing what to keep the same, can be a challenge. One O’Fallon, Illinois insurance agency, founded over a century ago, has had to make such decisions. John Kreisler, his son Bradley Kreisler, and Steve Gregov, co-owners of Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov & Associates, Inc., are proud to be maintaining the legacy of their predecessors, but are not shying away from the growth and change that will take them into the next decade.
The agency was founded in O’Fallon, Illinois in the 1890s by Earl Asbury. It remained in Mr. Asbury’s family until 1940 when it was sold to Mose Eckert. Over the next three decades, Mr. Eckert purchased other agencies, growing his business. When it was sold to Russell Warma in 1971, the agency still kept Mr. Eckert’s name and was known as The Eckert Agency. The name was changed to the Warma-Witter Insurance Agency in 1976, when Mr. Warma was joined by David Witter, who had had an agency of his own since 1972.
During this time, John Kreisler, a friend of Dave Witter’s from their days at Assumption High School, was part owner of the Kreisler-Wilson Insurance Agency in Belleville, along with Jim Wilson. In 1979, the Warma-Witter Agency and the Kreisler-Wilson Agency merged. Mr. Wilson decided to relocate to Columbia, Illinois instead of taking part in the merger, so the agency evolved into Warma-Witter-Kreisler & Associates, Inc.
What’s in a Name?
After Mr. Warma retired in 1982, John and Dave decided not to change the name of the agency. Indeed, even after Dave Witter sold his stock to John’s son Brad in 2007 (Dave still works at the agency but decided to retire from ownership) it continued on as Warma-Witter-Kreisler. John and Brad’s decision was based on the awareness that name recognition can be valuable. After countless amounts of money invested in advertising over the decades, John saw no point in changing the business name when Warma-Witter-Kreisler was well known and respected throughout the area.
Thus was the mindset in 2009, when Steve Gregov joined the agency as a partner. Rather than come up with a new, unfamiliar name, it was decided to simply add Steve’s name, resulting in Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov & Associates, Inc. This melding of the old and new will see the agency into the next decade and beyond.
Declaring Independence
Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov & Associates is an independent insurance agent, offering all types of insurance – personal, commercial, life, health and disability. Being an independent agent means that they represent a number of insurance companies, rather than being locked into offering just one. This allows them to choose the best provider for each individual customer’s needs. Currently, Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov can offer policies with the following companies: Cincinnati Insurance, SAFECO, GHP, General Casualty, MET Life Auto & Home, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Auto Owners, Progressive, Allied AFLAC, Mutual of Omaha and Aetna/US Health Care.
With independence comes flexibility for Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov, as it is able to pick and choose the insurance companies it represents. The agency periodically reviews its providers, grading them on various characteristics such as how competitive their premiums are, how they handle claims, the comprehensiveness of their policies and coverage, how they treat their customers, and even how technologically savvy they are and how user friendly their websites are. A low ranking in one or more categories for a company begs the question of whether Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov wants to continue to represent them and it is not unusual for it to drop one company in favor of doing business with another. Ultimately, the customers benefit from Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov’s attention to these details.
Because of Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov’s size, longevity, and the relationships it has established over the years, Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov is able to align itself with insurance companies of the highest caliber, a fact that they feel makes them stand out from the competition. It has also been able to pursue a distinctive niche as a member of the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT). It is currently one of the top ICRMT agencies providing insurance to public entities such as municipalities and universities throughout the area.
Growth Through Technology
Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov has enjoyed tremendous success and growth over the years. “At the time of the merge, Kreisler-Wilson was roughly $600,000 in premium, and Warma-Witter was roughly $600,000 in premium” says John Kreisler. “Today, we do about $14 million.” He cites the emergence of technology as one of the things responsible for such growth. The work can be done much more efficiently these days, allowing for greater volume.
The advent of computers and online business practices has changed the way the insurance industry operates. As Brad explains, these days, customers can go online and get competitive quotes. But he feels that this type of competition does not necessarily hurt. “There are some people who will want to do it themselves,” says Brad, “but there are always going to be people who want to deal with someone they know.” With Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov, customers know that they will be dealing with a person and not just a computer. Since very few people know all they need to know about insurance, the next best thing is for them to know their agent.
While the Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov team offers a time-honored “personal touch” to their customers, it does not mean that they do not also embrace the latest trends in technology. Automation and security are issues that are at the forefront of the services they provide for their customers’ benefit. The agency keeps very few paper files. Instead, files are kept electronically on a web-based server. For added security, that server is in Denver, with a backup in Chicago. Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov is able to offer its customers the protection of their personal information that they have come to expect in today’s security conscious climate.
The Right Place at the Right Time
Technology and a focus on security are just a few of the things that have changed since John Kreisler first started in the insurance business in 1970. After obtaining a degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and serving for six months in the Illinois National Guard, he went to work for a St. Louis based employment agency, interviewing employers to determine their requirements in order to place candidates in open positions. As his very first assignment, he was to meet with a Farmers Insurance claims manager in St. Louis who was looking for an insurance adjuster.
As John and the agent talked, it became apparent to both of them that John was as qualified for the position as any of the candidates he was trying to place. The agent wanted someone on the east side of the river who had a psychology degree. He eventually said “I should just hire you – tell your boss we’ll pay the full employment agency fee.” John did just that, and embarked on a career in insurance.
John learned the business as an adjuster and within a few years was working as an attorney specialist handling litigated claims. He took a few law classes, but decided that he was better suited to sales and the agency side of the business. His choice was obviously the correct one, as the success he has enjoyed with Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov & Associates illustrates.
The Next Generation
John Kreisler recalls the sign that his son Brad had on his bedroom door when he was young. “It said Brad Kreisler, Insurance Agent” he laughs. Despite this, Brad insists that he never consciously intended to follow in his father’s footsteps. He went to McKendree University for a few years, and did some work for the county as a laborer and laying asphalt, but didn’t really find anything that appealed to him. In 1999, he started working at the agency, handling walk-in customers and a few small accounts. “I lived right down the street, so it was convenient” he remembers, “but I really started to enjoy it. I really didn’t see that coming, but it’s been a good thing.”
He spent the next several years learning the business. In 2007, Dave Witter’s decision to retire from ownership afforded Brad the opportunity to buy him out and become part owner with his father. In doing so, he became Vice President of the agency.
Injecting New Ideas
As the newest member of the Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov team, Steve Gregov didn’t originally plan on entering the insurance industry either. A native of New Baden, Illinois, Steve pursued a degree in Business Management from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. He participated in a co-op with General Electric, in which he interned for the company in exchange for a nearly guaranteed opportunity to work for them upon graduation.
As he neared completion of his degree, he participated in some practice interviews, one of which happened to be with an insurance company. He was intrigued by the opportunity that was presented and decided to forgo working for GE and instead dove into insurance.
Steve enjoyed a very successful career, first with Federated Insurance, and later with Cincinnati Insurance and rose through the ranks to the position of Regional Sales Manager. He was familiar with Warma-Witter-Kreisler, as Cincinnati is one of the companies that they represent. “I really enjoyed what I did for Cincinnati,” says Steve, “but I was often approached with opportunities from various agencies; the fit just never seemed to be right.”
They had a good business relationship for years, but in about 2007, John Kreisler began seriously talking to Steve about the possibility of coming to the agency side of the business. Steve was impressed with the way the agency was run. “I had a unique perspective in that I could compare Warma-Witter-Kreisler to 20 or so other agencies in southern Illinois, southwest Missouri and western Kentucky.” After two years of discussing it, Steve felt the time was right and bought into the agency in September 2009.
Efficiency and Education
Warma-Witter-Kreisler’s strengths in two particular areas appealed to Steve, and bear much of the responsibility for its success over the years. “The amount of revenue that’s generated from the number of people here is amazing” says Steve “it is as lean an agency as you’ll ever see.” Additionally, from an education standpoint, Steve thinks it is one of the smartest agencies he’s seen. “We place a lot of value on education.”
Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov consists of only nine people, but their credentials are impressive. Two are CISRs (Certified Insurance Service Representatives), four have earned a CIC designation (Certified Insurance Counselor), one is a CSRM (Certified School Risk Manager), one is a LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow), and one has earned her MBA.
In addition to John, Brad and Steve, the agency includes Dave Witter, CIC, who specializes in life and health policies; Al Orelt, LUTCF, who deals with life, health and group insurance; and Leo Stephan who handles municipalities. On the administrative side, Sharon Castillo, CISR, CIC, handles commercial accounts while Barbie Stover, CISR, maintains personal accounts. Sharon McMillan, MBA rounds out the group as the Office Manager. All have been with Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov for a long time, adding to the reputation of the agency as a solid force in the community.
Consulting is the Key
Along with solid long-term relationships with their employees, their customers, and the insurance companies they represent, Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov also enjoys a long running relationship with Diel & Forguson Financial Group. When Dave Witter and John Kreisler went into business together, they went to Ken Diel for accounting and tax services. They knew him from around town and the Rotary Club, but they also knew him from long before that. They had all played in band together when they were classmates in high school.
Over the years, Diel & Forguson has provided the agency with financial statements, tax returns, and other accounting services, but the partners agree that the consulting services offered may have been the most valuable. “We call Ken in whenever we experience big changes” says John. “Ken’s consulting has been instrumental in some of our most important transitions. When Dave wanted to sell, Ken had numerous discussions and meetings with the lawyers, creating a buy/sell agreement that worked for all involved. He also helped to draft our employment agreement with Steve when he came onboard. I’m not sure we could have gotten it done without Ken.”
A Bright Future Ahead
With the addition of Steve Gregov as part owner, not only the name of the agency has been altered. His arrival has also precipitated some changes for the agency that will start the next chapter for Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov. The leanness that impressed Steve is still there, but with a little more room for growth. “Sometimes being lean means a tendency to be a little overwhelmed” observes Steve. Since he has joined the agency, they’ve had the manpower to take on some tasks that had been on the backburner for awhile, like collaborating on a Security Information policy and rewriting the Employee Handbook. They have also created a new website that can be viewed at www.wwkginsurance.com.
The agency’s goal is to maintain and increase its impressive public entity sector while also growing its commercial and personal lines. John, Brad and Steve are all confident that the New Year and the new corporate structure will bring new and exciting opportunities to do just that.
Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov intends to continue with one eye on the past and one eye on the future. In keeping the long-held practices that work best for its customers, while taking on new technology and ideas that move it forward, it is creating a template for the decades ahead.¿
Warma Witter Kreisler Gregov & Associates, Inc.
109 West First Street
O'Fallon, Illinois 62269
618-632-7555
www.wwkginsurance.com
John E. Kreisler, CIC
President
Bradley J. Kreisler
Vice President
Steve Gregov, CIC, CSRM
Corporate Secretary
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