Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1519935
BUSINESS PROFILES | MAY 2024 | HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL 7 Address: 540 Hopmeadow St., Suite M5, Simsbury, CT Phone: (860) 651-8236 Fax: (860) 651-8367 Website: www.insuranceagents whocare.com Product or Service: Independent insurance agency providing a wide range of services including personal lines, small commercial accounts and Medicare. Top Executive: Noris Christensen No. of Employees: 5 Year Founded: 1998 Family-owned agency leans on proud legacy of customer service W henever someone asks Noris Christensen why he opened an independent insurance agency, he tells a story that starts with his parents. From an office in their home, they owned and operated an independent insurance agency called The Valley Agency. His father, who ran the business for 38 years, seemed to know all of his clients personally. "The business was part of daily life in our home," said Noris Christensen. When he graduated from the University of Connecticut, the state's economy was not good. The unemployment rate was high, and jobs for new college graduates were scarce. So, he asked his parents if he might work with them, and he did for a few years. He learned firsthand the level of personal service that it takes to keep clients happy and loyal. The elder Christensen eventually retired, and Noris went to work for a different insurance agency. But it was not the same. "Although it was good work, I felt I was missing something," he said. So, in early 1998, he opened Christensen Insurance LLC with a goal of providing the best customer experience possible, the kind of experience he saw his father deliver day in, day out. Some of his father's former clients even sought him out. "Today, some of our clients are third- and even fourth-generation," Christensen said. Noris's son, Evan Christensen, began working at the agency 14 years ago, becoming the third generation of the family to be looking after for the insurance needs of their neighbors. "We are a small business, but combined the staff has over 100 years of insurance experience," Noris Christensen said. With a clear focus on its clients, the agency provides a wide range of insurance products and peace of mind from many quality insurance companies. "For most families and small businesses, we can take care of all their insurance," Christensen said, noting that relationships often start with face-to-face meetings in the agency's office. And if you call the office, you are sure to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line, not an automated system. The agency's specialties include Medicare, which can be complicated for many people. "We work with clients to educate them and help them find quality plans and peace of mind," Christensen said. Evan Christensen, left, and Noris Christensen of Christensen Insurance in Simsbury.