Local Progressive Agent Drives Home Tonight In A Brand-New Pickup Truck With A Wad Of Bills
Angleton, Texas Insurance Agent Wins A Brand-New Truck, Valued at $36,000 And $10,000 Cash In Progressive's "Hardworking Insurance" Contest
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — May 13, 2004 — When Mike Blanchard, an independent insurance agent in Angleton, Texas woke up this morning he had no idea what was awaiting him. Blanchard was the big winner in a contest designed to recognize independent insurance agents' and brokers' hard work in providing personalized service and advice to business owners. And for that, the Progressive group of insurance companies, one of the country's leading commercial auto insurers, awarded him a brand-new pick up truck valued at over $36,000, and $10,000 cash.
Blanchard was preparing for a routine visit from his Progressive sales manager today, but as the grand prize winner in the company's "Hardworking Insurance" contest, he instead got a visit from a festive caravan of Progressive marketing and sales representatives, with his new truck and check for $10,000.
"My Lord, I can't believe this!" said Blanchard. "My Progressive rep told me she was just going to stop by this morning to talk about our agency's production, Progressive's claims service, and some other business. Well she sure had me fooled. I never thought I would win. I even love the color - 'Aggie Red'. I think this is the most exciting thing that's has ever happened around here!"
Over 17,000 independent agents and brokers who sell Progressive Commercial Auto entered the Hardworking Insurance contest. Each agent registered through the company's agency-dedicated Web site, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO). They then received a single entry for each Progressive Commercial Auto policy sold from March 1 through April 30. Throughout the eight-week contest, a number of randomly drawn agents and brokers won smaller prizes ranging from debit cards of various values to $1,600 prepaid fuel cards.
Progressive Commercial Auto conducted the contest to draw agents' attention to the company's competitive products and low rates for businesspeople who need to insure autos and to reward independent agents and brokers for quoting and selling Progressive Commercial Auto polices.
"We're really pleased with the number of agents that participated in our 'Hardworking Insurance' contest," said Brian Silva, Progressive's Commercial Auto general manager. "Our goal was to remind agents of the competitive program and rates we have, and inspire them to use our program to grow their business with business owners who need the 24-hour claims service we provide."
Progressive specializes in writing insurance for small fleets, but will insure fleets of up to 20 vehicles and offer limits of up to $1 million. Progressive also offers customers flexible payment options - such as electronic funds transfer (EFT) or secure online payment processing via credit card or debit card. Progressive's Claims Service is available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and features specialty claims representatives throughout the country who focus exclusively on large truck claims.
Independent agents and brokers who sell Progressive can view the complete list of winners at the company's agency-dedicated Web site, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO).
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, has offered commercial auto insurance since 1980. The company now ranks as the third largest commercial auto insurer overall in the US. The product is available to consumers in 44 states (the product is currently not available in Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, South Carolina, West Virginia, or the District of Columbia). The Progressive group is also the largest writer of personal auto insurance through independent agencies and a leading writer of personal motorcycle, RV and boat insurance. The company offers insurance through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the US. Authorized agents can login to FAO to access customer policies, state and countrywide news, and other interactive features.
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