JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Brightway Insurance, one of the largest property/casualty agencies in the U.S., named Multi-unit Owners, Chris Cole and Billy Wagner, as its 2017 Agency Owners of the Year. Brightway’s leadership team presented the awards during the company’s annual awards celebration held Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Fla.
Cole won the award for earning the highest revenue in the Brightway system, while Wagner won the award for selling the most policies. The two own the top-producing stores in the Brightway system. Today, there are 151 Brightway stores across 19 states.
“We’re extremely proud of Chris Cole, Billy Wagner and all of our award winners and look forward to this time each year when we recognize our top Agents,” said Brightway Co-Founder and Chairman, Michael Miller. “Brightway is a proven franchise system that provides an unparalleled, comprehensive system of support empowering Store Owners to outsell the competition three-to-one, grow their business and build an asset for their family.”
Brightway, The Cole Agency with stores in Palm Springs, Fla. and Boynton Beach, Fla., added another 3,384 policies to their book in 2017, driving the stores’ annualized written premium to nearly $25 million by year-end 2017.
Wagner’s stores, Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach and Brightway, Deland, added 3,890 policies, driving annualized written premium to nearly $18 million by year-end 2017.
Not only did Cole and Wagner earn the top awards of the night, but also they each received other awards. A complete list of outstanding performers in 2017 who received awards at Brightway’s annual awards ceremony is provided below.
Agency Owner of the Year, Revenue
Chris Cole, Owner of Brightway, The Cole Agency (Palm Springs and Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Agency Owner of the Year, Units
Billy Wagner, Owner of Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach and Brightway, Deland (Ponte Vedra Beach and Deland, Fla.)
$2 Million Producer
Chris Huebener, Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
$1 Million Producers
Vincent Zanfini, Brightway, The Barletta Agency (Stuart, Fla.)
Timothy Yarbrough, Brightway, Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach, Fla.)
Alexander Cull, Brightway, Boca North (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Ben Barnes, Brightway, The Cole Agency (Palm Springs, Fla.)
Justin Thompson, Brightway, The Carlucci Agency (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Mark Bouchard, Brightway, The Sterner Agency (St. Cloud, Fla.)
Erika Broom, Brightway, The Canty Agency (Jacksonville, Fla.)
New Agency Owner of the Year
Sharon Love, Owner of Brightway, The Love Family Agency (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Rookie of the Year
Gregory Dissel, Owner of Brightway, The Dissel Agency (Bluffton, S.C.)
Mover and Shaker
Ben Rodriguez, Owner of Brightway, The Rodriguez Agency (New Orleans, La.)
Multi-Line Award
Billy Wagner, Owner of Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach and Brightway, Deland (Ponte Vedra Beach and Deland, Fla.)
90-day Retention Award
Kevin and Mary Feuser, Co-Owners of Brightway, Englewood(Englewood, Fla.)
Homes Sales Award
Chris Cole, Owner of Brightway, The Cole Agency (Palm Springs and Boynton Beach, Fla.)
Auto Sales Award
Dimitri Apostle, Owner of Brightway, The Dimitri J. Apostle Agency (Charlotte, N.C. and Rockford, Mich.)
Flood Sales Award
Billy Wagner, Owner of Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach and Brightway, Deland (Ponte Vedra Beach and Deland, Fla.)
Commercial Sales Award
Dimitri Apostle, Owner of Brightway, The Dimitri J. Apostle Agency (Charlotte, N.C. and Rockford, Mich.)
Life Sales Award
Kandie Landers, Owner of Brightway, The Landers Agency (Glendale, Colo., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Quality Award
Debbie Hubicki and Diane Haas, Co-Owners ofBrightway, Ft. Myers South (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Referral Rock Star
Kandie Landers, Owner of Brightway, The Landers Agency (Glendale, Colo. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Employees of the Year
Tracy Mulloy, Accounting Commissions Manager, Brightway Corporate Office (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Lydia Register, Customer Service Team Lead, Brightway Corporate Office (Jacksonville, Fla.)
“Congratulations to all of our award winners on their 2017 achievements,” said Brightway President, Talman Howard. “Brightway franchisees focus on selling new business, which helps them achieve high production. We’re thrilled to see our Store Owners, Producers and employees reach their potential with Brightway.”
Brightway Store Owners enjoy support in customer service, carrier relationships, marketing, accounting and technology. As a result, Brightway stores consistently outsell other insurance agencies three-to-one.*
About Brightway Insurance
Brightway Insurance is a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent stores throughout the country. With $500 million in annualized written premium, the company is one of the largest property and casualty agencies in the United States.
Brightway began franchising operations in 2008 and has since grown to more than 700 people in 19 states serving customers in all 50 states. Forbes has recognized the company as America’s No. 1 Franchise to Buy. Additionally, the company was named a top franchise three years in a row by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America nine consecutive years by Inc. 5000. People wishing to learn more about franchise ownership with Brightway may visit BrightwayDifference.com and find us on LinkedIn. Consumers seeking a better insurance buying experience may visit Brightway.com and find us on Facebook.
