I love this time of year. It represents a new beginning with new challenges and opportunities. But I'd be remiss if I didn't thank you all for a great 2006. We had our largest single year new business growth since our inception in 1988. It isn't often that one can report such an outstanding achievement. I am especially proud of my son Jereme who this year set personal bests in obtaining new employee benefit and commercial clients and also had a strong effort in providing many of you competitive home and auto quote.
A quick look back also recalls some of the events of the year.
- We took on a new image with a name change to Bates Insurance Group; that seems comfortable now and should serve to define our activities for years to come.
- We added corporate and personal financial planning to our list of services with the addition of Peter Thoresen. Pete has worked with a number of you and hopefully will have the opportunity to serve many more of you in 2007.
- Finally, along with our ever present employee benefit products, we really excelled in helping many of you save money on your business insurance coverage. We added two new commercial insurance markets to our list of existing companies: Safeco and CNA; both significant players in todays marketplace. In all, it was an exciting year for our firm.
Turning to the future, 2007 we hope it will be more of the same. We are likely to expand our offices, possibly add personnel and hopefully add to our computer systems in such a way as to increase our ability to serve you. We will also be looking for more strategic partners to help us, help you, save money on your business insurance. As always, we ask that you please let us know how we can serve you better.
Mary, Jereme, Pete, and I would again like to thank you all for your business and the opportunity to serve you. If it were not for you, none of this would be possible.
