Progressive to Young Agents: Leverage Technology and National Brands to Grow Your Business
Progressive's Commercial Lines President John Barbagallo addresses panel of Young Agents
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — April 4, 2008 — Young independent insurance agents would be well advised to partner with carriers who invest in building strong consumer brands and in technology that enables them to quote faster and sell easier and allows their customers to self service as much — or as little — as they choose.
Those were among the messages John Barbagallo, president of Progressive's Commercial Lines group, shared during a Young Agents Presidents' Panel Breakfast at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. this morning.
"Independent agents are critical to our success," Barbagallo said. "We want to help the next generation coming in to the business, and we want to hear from them about how we can better adapt to meet their needs and grow with them."
Topics covered in the panel discussion, which featured presidents of several independent agency companies, included industry and technology trends and the future of the independent agency system.
About Progressive
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, is the country's third largest auto insurance group and largest seller of motorcycle and personal watercraft policies based on premiums written, and is a market leader in commercial auto insurance.
Progressive is committed to becoming consumers' #1 choice for auto insurance by providing competitive rates and products that meet drivers' needs throughout their lifetimes, superior online and in-person customer service, and best-in-class, 24-hour claims service, including its concierge level of claims service available at service centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States.
More than 30,000 independent agencies sell Progressive products including private passenger auto, Progressive Commercial, Progressive Motorcycle, Progressive RV, etc. Progressive's agency companies make up a group that is the largest writer of auto insurance through independent agents and brokers in the U.S., based on premiums written. Agents and brokers can log in to ForAgentsOnly.com to get an at-a-glance summary of everything they need to manage and grow their business, including agent referrals, quotes, customer policy information, state and countrywide news and more. Consumers can find an agent at Consumers can find an agent at www.progressiveagent.com.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at NYSE:PGR. For more information, visit www.progressive.com.
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