Business Moves

Brown & Brown, Balcos Insurance, Mike Howard Insurance

Brown & Brown Inc. subsidiary Brown & Brown of Washington Inc. acquired substantially all of the assets of Balcos Insurance, Inc. and M C H Inc. of Seattle d/b/a Mike Howard Insurance.

With annual revenues of approximately $3 million, Balcos Insurance Inc. offers personal lines and commercial lines insurance, as well as specialized products and services for the restaurant and hospitality, automotive service and repair, construction, and manufacturing and distribution industries, among other specialty niches.

Founded in 1985, the agency serves clients throughout the western United States. In June 2010, Mark Balcos, president of Balcos Insurance, was named the 2010 Agent of the Year by the Professional Insurance Agents of Washington/Alaska.

Mike Howard Insurance, with annual revenues of approximately $500,000, has provided individual and business clients in the greater Seattle area and Washington with personal, life and commercial insurance products and services since 1992.

Brown & Brown of Washington will operate from two new locations — in Ballard (Seattle) and Bellingham, Wash. — under the leadership of Mark Balcos, principal of Balcos Insurance.

Wiseman Insurance, ISU Network

Wiseman Insurance Agency joined the ISU Network, ISU International announced.

Founded in 1935 in Provo, Utah, ISU Wiseman Insurance Agency has been a family run business for four generations.

Currently Craig Wiseman serves on the board of directors of the Utah Independent Agents and Brokers Association. Telden Wiseman serves as a young agent representative to the Utah Independent Agents and Brokers Association. While not currently serving on any boards, Robert Wiseman is a past president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Utah and served for six years as a board member of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.

The ISU Network consists of more than 90 independently owned and operated offices nationwide.

Irwin Siegel Agency

Rock Hill, N.Y.-based Irwin Siegel Agency Inc. (ISA) opened a new office in Oregon. For ISA, a national insurance and risk management provider, the new office space serves to reinforce broker relationships, expand client service opportunities and support the company’s continued growth initiatives.

Additionally, the company named Art Rhodes new business development director. He will use his knowledge and marketing experience related to the social service field to enhance promotion and distribution of ISA’s insurance and risk solutions tailored to this segment.

Confie Seguros, Seguros Sin Barreras

New York-based Confie Seguros, a provider of auto insurance with an emphasis on serving Hispanic consumers, has acquired Los Angeles-based Seguros Sin Barreras, an insurance broker that serves Hispanic customers in 49 states.

In addition, Confie Seguros named Valeria Rico, former CEO and president of Lexicon Marketing, as chief marketing officer. Rico helped Lexicon grow to become the top direct marketer to U.S. Hispanics and developed a number of best-selling learning products with brand name recognition and satisfaction among U.S. Spanish-dominant Latinos.

Seguros Sin Barreras is licensed in 49 states and maintains dedicated agents at two call centers that will complement Confie Seguros’ retail locations.

Rico joined Lexicon in 1995 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2000. She served as CEO and president since 2004. Prior to joining Lexicon, she was marketing director at ELICO, a jewelry design and distribution company focused on the U.S. Hispanic market

The Woodlands Financial Group

Texas-based retail and managing general agency, The Woodlands Financial Group Inc. (TWFG), announced Cable Hogue has opened a branch location in Oregon.

Hogue comes to TWFG with six years in the insurance industry, all with Farmers.

Topics USA Washington