The small business community is second to none, working together to support one another through it all. Our State Farm Agents are small business owners too and bring a unique perspective when helping other businesses in their community. In celebration of small businesses, NBCU and State Farm® have partnered to spotlight two incredible small business owners who were willing to share their journey, offer some advice, and provide motivation to the community.
How and when did you meet?
Ozzie: I met Darryl because of one of his partners. We were at a different location, and they were advertising and sharing different information about State Farm with us. We had a brief conversation and we ended up having a follow-up conversation. And after a while we met and I decided, “Okay, maybe I should look into doing business with State Farm.” In meeting him we had several talks, we had talks about family, our kids, and he sat down with me and some of his associates and talked about finances, retirement planning, and social security – and just went through lots of different information that would help me prepare and think about where we were going with the business. So that was a big part of our meeting, and I slowly moved all of my insurance to State Farm, based on the relationship I made with Darryl.
Darryl: I met Ozzie and Valencia back in the summer of 2017. And I was out doing some marketing in the community, looking for prospective customers. And my commercial underwriter was with me at the time. I met Ozzie at first. I hadn’t met Valencia yet, but we went to the School of Music and I asked Ozzie, “would you be open to giving me the opportunity to earn this business, to become a customer?” And he said yes. So, we put together quote, and this was of course, of a few weeks or so. Ozzie was happy with the quote, and he became a State Farm customer.
Valencia: I met my State Farm agent [Darryl] several years back through my husband, Ozzie. And Ozzie introduced him to me, I think he and Darryl had met and talked prior to me meeting him. And so, meeting Darryl and spending time with him was really really good. He came to the school, and it was a really good conversation.
How do you think both you and your State Farm agent being small business owners makes the relationship easier? How does it make it better to understand each other’s needs?
Valencia: I think, working with Darryl, by him being a small business owner as well operating from that function. I believe it has helped, because he understands the ins and outs of what it takes to run a business. And when you understand that you’re better able to center your advice not just based on data, but you’re able to give advice based on the long-term outcome.
Ozzie: Darryl being a small business owner as we are it really helps him to understand us, how we operate, and understand our needs, and just relate – this is what we go through. Because in some ways we are going through some of the same things. So just knowing the importance of connecting and knowing the importance of treating my clients well is a big part of the connection – that mutual understanding.
Darryl: Being a small business owner just like Valencia and Ozzie – I think we had a lot in common. We kind of go through some of the same challenges, whether it be hiring new employees, and also doing marketing in the community to grow our business. So we had a whole lot to share. We got lots of things in common [as] business owners.
Are there ways that you help each other?
Darryl: There are ways we help each other. It’s been an opportunity for me to help make sure that this wonderful business here is insured properly. So we make sure we’ve got the right policy, the liability limits, and coverage in place. Then also, we get to help beyond that. Whether it be financial, whether it be retirement planning, those kinds of conversations. I’ve been able to help add some value. Ozzie and I were just joking about it just earlier today, like we need to get together and spend some more time together. The way I am helped is that I feel like I’m at a point in my life now where I care less about my standard of living, but more about my standard of giving. The more I give, it brings me joy by helping others.
Valencia: One of the things that we have in common with each other in helping each other is the encouragement back and forth. You know, when you’re living in a society there’s not a whole lot of that going on. People are in and people are out. But I think really succinctly, the thing that really stands off the top to me, because I’ve had insurance companies before, I’ve been around, and I don’t know if I’ve had an insurance company that it was this personalized, where we were this connected and had a genuine concern for each other. I find that’s how to me, State Farm seems to stand out to me in this area. Especially with Darryl and I’m really grateful that he chose us because we didn’t. He initiated with us and I’m glad he came in at school.
Ozzie: The value of that relationship with Darryl is, first of all, knowing that he cares and he has expressed that many times. And I know that, whenever I have any concern, I can reach out to Darryl and speak with him. Having that personal connection, and that personal ability to be able to talk with Darryl if there is something I am concerned about has really encouraged me. He learns about any concerns I have and gets right back to me. So that is really special and important to me.
Why do you think you were nominated? And Darryl, why did you nominate Lawrenceville-Suwanee School of Music?
Valencia: Darryl has always said, “Valencia, Ozzie, you guys have a great story here.” And a lot of times he says, “Do you know what you’re doing here? Do you know the impact of what you’re doing here?” So, I believe he was inspired by that. He has inspired us. I think if we didn’t hear that from people here and there. I think we would just keep moving. Because we really don’t see all of what we are doing. I just feel like we all are in the same place. And I’m just doing what I do and you just do what you do. But sometimes people come around and say “Hey, what you’re doing is really, really awesome or important.” And so, Darryl is one of those people that is constantly – I mean, not just sometimes through every conversation that I have with him – he’s always reminded me of really our, in his eyes. And that’s always been important to me. I need as many encouraging people around me as possible. My favorite people call me “Mom” – that I need people around me like the Darryls you know, and I’m really grateful that he is like a good neighbor.
Darryl: When my commercial underwriters told me about this program, the first people I thought of were Valencia and Ozzie – this School of Music. I didn’t have to think pretty long – I just realized that they came immediately to mind. Their business been growing so well, and growing so fast. When they opened up the second location, I went to the groundbreaking ceremony. And I was so impressed to see all the people, the media, people in the community, the customers came to that grand opening. That’s when I talked to Valencia and heard her story and it brought tears to my eyes. That’s why I nominated them.
What’s a funny story you both share?
Darryl: The funniest thing happened recently when Valencia and Ozzie were selected to participate in this program. And he teased me on the phone and said, “Hey, Darryl, do I get to meet Jake State Farm?” And he just had me cracking up and I said, “Well, I hope so,” and I said, “you definitely got Darryl from State Farm.”
Click here to learn more about Valencia and Ozzie’s story.
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