Vincent Group uses merger, technology to grow

It recently acquired Insurance Associates; has interactive web site

MANITOWOC — People who have insurance coverage through Vincent Group Inc. or Insurance Associates now have more choices in insurance carriers — plus they will soon be able to more easily make changes to their policies.

Expanded offerings and better online services are two of the many positives to come out of Vincent Group's purchase of Insurance Associates of of Green Bay Inc., said Kevin Kohlbeck, president of Vincent Group, which is based in Manitowoc.

The offerings of the two regional agencies complement each other., so that together as one company, customers will be able to choose from more insurance carriers than they would have with either one.

"With the acquisition, we now have — as far as insurance companies go — access to some of the more competitive insurance companies in the country," Kohlbeck said. "Most of the companies are mutual companies; they seem to be more competitive, so there's a high degree of excitement over the merger. Whether it be personal lines — home and auto — or commercial, potentially (customers) are going to see the most competitive pricing in the market right now."

Clients now have access to a web site that's personalized for their business, Kohlbeck said. If a client buys a new car and needs to add it to his or her insurance policy or wants to up coverage on their house, it can be done from home via the Internet.

The new technology caters to a generation that prefers computer automation to customer service.

"When the baby boomers start to phase out, a new kind of insurance buyer comes in," Kohlbeck said. "Generation Xers don't want to talk to you; they want to shoot an e-mail to you. The consumer benefits because it's faster, more convenient, and can be done where the client is at home or on a business trip."

According to Kohlbeck, fewer than one in 10 insurance agencies have such an interactive web site.

"It's one thing to sit around a boardroom and talk about getting this new technology, but these folks (Insurance Associates) did it," Kohlbeck said. "It differentiates them from their competition."

There's also no need for worries about whether the changes made form home or away are official -- clients can print out a copy of the transaction right from their home printer.

The two web sites are set to merge this summer into one — www.vincentgroup.com, Kohlbeck said.

The Vincent Group brick and mortar location at 425 Adam St. will remain open a few more months before relocating a block west.

Sandy Hardrath, vice president of agency development and human resources at Vincent Group, said her company aims to moves its offices into the Insurance Associate building at 419 S Washington St. no later than early 2009.

"We are aiming for the end of this year," Hadrath said.

With the merger, Vincent Group is projected to do around $75 million this year, Kohlbeck said.

The combined agencies will employ 72 people. No staff changes are expected.

The Vincent Group's acquisition of Insurance Associates of Green Bay Inc., became official Jan. 1, but many of the new changes are still being put into place.

Vincent Group headquarters will remain at the Manitowoc site and Insurance Associates of Green Bay Inc. will become Vincent Group, Kohlbeck said.

Vincent Group is a full-service, independent insurance agency that offers personal and commercial insurance as well as group benefits. It has offices in Green Bay, Manitowoc and Little Chute.

Insurance Associates has offices in Green Bay and Wausau.

"They are a highly respected company and they provide excellent service," Kohlbeck said of Insurance Associates. "They will add expertise to our organization."

Vincent Group is a subsidiary of Bank First National, an independent community bank with 15 locations in Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties.

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