By Jessica Borders
FAIRMONT — Dave Richardson is enjoying “the pride and ownership” that goes along with his new business.
In August 2009, he opened Richardson Insurance Agency at 607 East Park Ave. on the East Side of Fairmont.
On Monday, Richardson Insurance Agency will officially become affiliated with the Erie Insurance Group. Erie will become the business’ main insurance carrier or primary source of insurance products, such as automobile, home, life and business coverage.
“I’m excited about starting with them,” Richardson said of Erie, which received J.D. Power and Associates’ award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Shopping Experience” two years in a row.
Richardson Insurance also offers products through six other small insurance companies. In addition, the agency does Division of Motor Vehicles title work, which Richardson said “brings in a good bit of business.”
Richardson, who has been in Fairmont all his life, previously carried mail in the Friendly City for 19 years and served as postmaster in Hundred, Farmington and Bruceton Mills. When he was getting ready to retire from this work, he knew he wanted to do something else but he just wasn’t sure what.
After considering the different opportunities available, Richardson chose to enter the insurance industry. He said he wanted to provide people with necessary and important products for their everyday lives.
“It’s a commodity that everybody needs ... even in tough financial times,” he said. “Everybody needs insurance, one form or another.”
In January 2009, he started pursuing a career in this field and worked to obtain all the necessary licenses. Richardson’s business was up and running later in the year at the East Park Avenue location, which formerly housed another insurance agency for many years.
Richardson Insurance Agency is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, and other hours by appointment. For more information, call 304-333-6030.
E-mail Jessica Borders at jborders@timeswv.com.
