Twenty-five years ago, Billy Griner purchased a small insurance company on the south side of Milledgeville.
Economy Insurance was located in the Town and Country Shopping Center and Griner kept the Economy name for a while.
“He changed the name to Griner Insurance 15 years ago, then incorporated in 2002 when we changed the name to Central Insurance Group,” Griner’s son and business partner Bryan said.
Following a move to North Jefferson Street, the agency continued to grow. Bryan Griner said the company mainly dealt in high-risk automobile insurance when it first started but that through the years the business has transformed into a standard line agency.
“We are A++ rated,” Griner said. “That is the highest rating. Financial solvency determines the rating. Our customers’ needs have changed throughout the years and Griner has changed to meet them.”
After the North Jefferson Street location, the Griners moved the agency to its current location on Heritage Road where Billy and Bryan are joined by Cindy Griner, Lisa Weeks and Jennifer Hall in the office. Central Insurance Group has been at their new location for four years.
Griner said the business has met or exceeded its yearly goal in all but one year since the business started in 1984.
“We set a yearly goal of 10 percent growth,” he said. “We have either met or exceeded that goal since we have been in business, except for one year 10 years ago. We grew that year, but not quite at 10 percent.”
Griner said the motto of the business is professional service on a personal level and the company lives up to that motto by meeting in person with clients to determine needs. Griner said that by having a conversation with a client, you get to know them and their insurance needs.
“Right now, our agency has 5,000 active clients,” Griner said. “We only deal with A-rated carriers. We want to make sure we give the best coverage possible for the lowest premium. We like that personal touch and meeting face-to-face.”
Griner said the advantage of using an independent agent is that personal connection.
“Large companies are order-takers,” he said. “They’re not really worried about proper coverage, they’re just trying to hit a price point and you are a number to them. We encourage local trade and use local companies to do business, as well.”
Griner said their record is spotless, and through storms that came through the area in 2008, the company fared well.
“In 2008, we had three major catastrophes hit central Georgia,” Griner said. “We have lots of customers in Macon and we had zero complaints with claims handling, even through the Mother’s Day tornados that hit.”
Central Insurance Group will offer customer appreciation Friday for future as well as current customers according to Griner. Radio remotes, barbecued chicken, slaw and beans are on the menu as the company says thank-you.
“Since we first started off, we’ve grown to 10 times the original size in 25 years,” Griner said. “We do it through trying to provide the most competitive price for the best coverage.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Jonathan Jackson
Discussion
Central Insurance celebrates 25 year anniversary
- Local News
-
-
Harriet’s Closet is open Monday
Harriet’s Closet, a free supply closet to help fill the needs of cancer patients, is open from noon to 4 p.m.
-
Saturday Farmer’s Market will be held
The Saturday Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church, 210 S. Wayne St., featuring an assortment of farm-fresh, nutritious and delicious foods frm 9 a.m. to noon.
-
UPDATE - Victim identified in fatal shooting
Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said 32 year-old Niquitta Ashley was killed after being shot by her husband in an apparent accidental shooting early Friday morning.
-
Chicken dinner plate sale will be held
A chicken dinner plate sale will be held at Bible Revival Church, 101 Deadwood Drive, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-
Digital Bridges Open Computer Clinic is open
Digital Bridges Open Computer Clinic is open from 10 a.m. to noon in the Knight Community Innovation Center, 127 W. Hancock St.
-
Order a singing valentines
A quartet from Sweet Georgia Sound Show Chorus provide singing valentines.
-
Explorers rank in police events
Following a weekend trip to The Great Smoky Mountains, Milledgeville Police Department's Explorers Post #139 returned home with rankings, placing in several junior law enforcement competitions.
-
Georgia gets a waiver from federal education law
Georgia received a waiver Thursday from the No Child Left Behind law, becoming one of 10 states to get relief from the highly criticized federal policy.
-
Eatonton Duplicate Bridge Club meets
The Eatonton Duplicate Bridge Club, an official member of the American Contract Bridge League, meets at 1 p.m. at the Eatonton Performing Arts Center at Madison Avenue in Eatonton.
-
Civitan Club of Baldwin County meets
The Civitan Club of Baldwin County meets at 11:45 a.m. 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Golden Corral.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
