SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Colaizzo
Thompson
Insurance
Local People—
Local Agency—
Local Company
I
n October 1965, Canonsburg native Anthony
Colaizzo started a local Erie Insurance Agency
in downtown Canonsburg. Over the next
several decades, he expanded into real estate
rentals and sales, as well as income tax preparation. In January 1995, he sold the
insurance agency portion of the business to current owners Steve and Maureen
Thompson. And, almost 22 years later, Colaizzo Thompson Insurance still serves
the Canonsburg community at 65 West Pike Street.
Steve Thompson, CPCU, CLU, CIC, was an employee of Erie Insurance Group,
serving as manager of its marketing department. “When I learned that an
opportunity arose that would allow my family to relocate back to Canonsburg,
I jumped on it,” said Steve, a 1975 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School. He
had been with Erie Insurance since 1983, originally as a commercial underwriter
in Erie then district sales manager in Silver Spring, Maryland, prior to becoming
marketing manager back in Erie. “One of my responsibilities at that time was
conducting insurance training programs for Erie agents,” Steve explained.
“Purchasing Tony’s agency allowed me to share what I learned over the years with
the agency’s many customers.”
Colaizzo Thompson Insurance practices a “no sales pressure” philosophy. “When
a customer comes to our agency, our goal is to provide recommendations as to
their insurance needs based on feedback we receive from them,” Steve says. “We
ask questions, answer questions, and develop a plan and/or suggestions based on
their input…no canned quotes here.”
He adds, “I have had many opportunities to bring other insurance carriers
into the agency, but have refused all of them. Erie Insurance is a Pennsylvania
company, employing Pennsylvania residents. It is nice to know that when an
emergency arises, our customers will have their losses handled promptly by local
people. If there ever is a problem that we cannot solve in the agency, it is very easy
for us to contact the appropriate people by phone, email, or car. Also, response
time to a loss is very quick due to local Erie claims adjusters who reside in the area.
Try receiving that level of ‘sERvIcE’ when dealing with a company located across
the country.”
As a service business, an insurance agency is only as good as the people who
provide the service. Colaizzo Thompson Insurance has always been proud of the
people who have worked there over the years. “With little employee turnover,
our customers get to know us very well. When a customer calls us, a live person
answers the phone and can handle the majority of the requests immediately,”
Steve explains. “Tracy (an in-house agent), Stephanie and Jamie (Customer Service
Reps) provide service that is second to none and exemplify Erie’s motto, ‘Above all
in sERvIcE.’”
So, whether you need Car, Home, Renters, Business, or Life Insurance, the
Colaizzo Thompson Insurance Agency and Erie Insurance stand ready to serve you.
L to r: Stephanie Wright, Tracy Becker and Jamie Lewis.
Canon-Mac | Winter 2016 | icmags.com 63