Bonnie Cranmer
Contributing writer
When Angela Guthrie-Ponton left the corporate world, she knew there was a better way. After leaving with 10 years of experience and a year dealing with a non-compete agreement, she had the inspiration to start something to better serve her customers.
Guthrie-Ponton, as she’s better known, has had the Guthrie Insurance Agency on Main Street in New Castle for ten years and that’s worth celebrating. Her company provides a variety of insurance types for home, auto and business. Guthrie-Ponton is a hometown girl, living in Craig and active in the community. Earlier in 2024, Guthrie-Ponton spearheaded the land use changes for farmers in Craig. She and a core group of citizens organized meetings, compiled research and held a petition campaign to reduce the real estate tax on farmland. Decisions are yet to be made on the effort.
With the rise in costs of insurance, she has witnessed the changing times from a business and personal perspective. “With doing this over 20 years now, the biggest change has been in the last two years. The rate increases that the insurance industry have taken last year, this year and probably next year have had a huge impact that I have never seen in all my years in this business,” she explained. “It has been really hard for the customers and us having to explain this.”
Guthrie Insurance has many different insurance carriers, which is the beauty of being an independent agency. “I am not stuck on just one carrier,” Guthrie-Ponton stated. She and her staff are watching all renewals and the impact that the insured will take with the increases. Each policy is reviewed to be proactive in quoting all carriers to see if there is any way possible to get lower premiums. “I don’t see it easing up anytime soon.”
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Guthrie Insurance, Guthrie-Ponton is throwing a party on Thursday, Sept. 26 at the farmers market on Main Street. Come out for the food, music, giveaways and fun from noon to 6 p.m. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and an excellent time to review all of your coverages. Take the opportunity to meet Guthrie-Ponton and the Guthrie Insurance crew, along with some of the related businesses serving Craig County. For more information contact Guthrie Insurance at 540.864.6688.
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