Author: tegan

TWFG Becomes National Leader with Top 100 Leap

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Sept. 16, 2013 – Move over, Anadarko, CB&I, Baker Hughes, Chevron Phillips, Entergy, and Huntsman, there is a new member of the industry leaders’ fraternity in The Woodlands. The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) has leaped from number 51 to the 30^th spot in Insurance Journal’s list of Top 100 independent property & casualty insurance agencies in the United States.

TWFG president and CEO, Gordy Bunch, said he received notification of the prestigious number 30 national ranking based on TWFG’s record $267 million in premium sales resulting in revenues of more than $34 million. Bunch launched the firm in The Woodlands in 2001 with a $10,000 dollar investment. Of more than local interest is the fact that only one other Texas agency, a Fort Worth-based firm which had revenues of $49 million, topped TWFG in the rankings. According to a 2012 survey by Insurance Journal, there are 38,500 independent agencies in the United States.

Bunch, who is also an at-large elected member of The Woodlands Township board of directors, said he is delighted that TWFG has been able to bring special recognition to the community, rising in little more than a decade to stand out among the 1,700 national and international companies that have located their headquarters or operations in The Woodlands. He also recently announced that TWFG would be bringing its “million-dollar” convention here in 2014, with more than 250 insurance agents and major insurance carriers from 20 states and 163 cities to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

TWFG currently operates 314 retail branches in 20 states and has affiliations with 3,000 independent agents in 38 states. TWFG writes policies in 49 states from its headquarters in The Woodlands. Bunch also serves as The Woodlands Township’s treasurer and the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s vice chairman.  He credits his personal pledge and promise, “Our Policy is Caring,” for TWFG’s success with customers, agents, and employees.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TFWG Bringing Million-Dollar Conventions to the Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Aug. 29, 2013 – More than 250 high-producing insurance agents will be arriving in The Woodlands from 20 states and 163 cities when The Woodlands Financial Group stages its 2014 TWFG Insurance Services convention here from June 26 through 29. Gordy Bunch, TWFG president and CEO, announced that he is setting a new tradition for his company and hometown community by pledging to also assemble TWFG’s future national conventions here. He estimates that convention expenditures by TWFG and its attendees, which last-year included 41 million-dollar producers and representatives from major national insurance carriers, will total up to one million dollars each year.

In 2014, TWFG agents will span from California to Florida arriving at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. This will be the first TWFG national convention held in The Woodlands. Last year the group assembled in Las Vegas. Bunch said: “My pride in our hometown and the success we have achieved here makes it a natural decision to bring all our various parts together at our headquarters location. I started this business here in 2001 with $10,000 and we are now in the top third of all insurance agencies in America with premiums exceeding $267,000,000.”

Activities at the 2014 convention will include a preview of what could be a future convention site with golf and pool play at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Bunch said a “Welcome Reception” at the Marriott will be followed by days of “jam-packed” meetings and workshops and a special team-building day at The Woodlands YMCA. Attendees will also enjoy a pool party at the community’s Rob Fleming Aquatic Center and a “Dine Around” involving many Woodlands restaurants. The convention will close on Sunday with an eagerly-anticipated awards dinner where recognition will be given to “Branch-of-the-Year,” “Rookie-of-the-Year,” induction of new President’s Club members, and “Agent-of-the-Year” awards in key categories.

TWFG currently operates 307 retail branches in 20 states and has affiliations with 3,000 independent agents in 38 states. TWFG writes policies in 49 states from its headquarters in The Woodlands. Bunch, who is an elected member of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, made his announcement prior to a public meeting last night. He also serves as The Woodlands Township’s treasurer and the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s vice chairman.  He credits his personal pledge and promise, “Our Policy is Caring,” for TWFG’s success with customers, agents, and employees.

PHOTO CAPTION: The Woodlands CVB officers receive news of future “million-dollar” TWFG conventions coming to the community (l. to r.) Nick Wolda, President; Peggy Hausman, Secretary/Treasurer; Gordy Bunch TWFG President/CEO and CVB vice chair; Nelda Blair, Chairperson.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

Our Neighbors: Advisory Council Appoitment

Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of the Woodlands Financial Group, has been appointed to the Insurance and Risk Management Center Advisory Council by the University of Houston-Downtown. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, ranging from working at State Farm to becoming founder, president and CEO of his own insurance and financial services company, TWFG, Bunch was appointed to the program to help change the future for the IRM program. Bunch’s own company is ranked on the list of Top 100 privately held Property/Casualty agencies and is the 13 largest Personal Lines leader with almost 307 retail branches located in 20 states. Bunch is a 1990 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School in College Station and grew up in College Station from 1984 to 1991 until he left to join the U.S. Coast Guard.

TWFG’s Gody Bunch Named to University of Houston – Downtown Advisory Council

HOUSTON, August 19, 2013– The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) has appointed Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, to its Insurance and Risk Management Center’s Advisory Council serving the UHD College of Business.

Wendall Braniff, J.D., director of the Insurance and Risk Management Center, requested Bunch’s participation in developing a new IRM Certificate program at the university, stating, “Your insurance expertise and knowledge of the industry give you a unique perspective that will help us to chart a course for the future of the IRM program.” UHD Insurance and Risk Management Certificate Programs include the IRM Property-Casualty Insurance Certificate, IRM Risk Management Certificate, IRM Life Insurance Certificate, and IRM Health/Benefits Insurance Certificates.

As founder, president and CEO of TWFG, Bunch was an Entrepreneur of the Year nominee in Houston. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, he did his “basic training” as a Texas Farm Bureau agent, an Associate General Agent with American National, and as Manager of Financial Services and Retail Director with Prudential. He launched TWFG, his insurance and financial services company, with $10,000 capital in The Woodlands, Texas in 2001. Today, TWFG is ranked high on the list of the Top 100 privately-held Property/Casualty agencies and is the 13^th largest Personal Lines leader with almost 307 retail branches in 20 states and affiliations with 3,000 independent agents in 38 states. TWFG writes policies in 49 states from its headquarters in The Woodlands. Bunch credits his personal pledge and promise, “Our Policy is Caring,” for TWFG’s success with customers, agents, and employees. In 2012, he was elected to the board of directors of his local government, The Woodlands Township, a community of more than 100,000 people, located north of Houston.

TWFG was recently honored by FEMA as one of three award winners in the National Flood Insurance Program for activities that promote flood awareness and adherence to NFIP underwriting guidelines. His original TWFG business model, combining both wholesale and retail products, allows him to offer lower cost products to clients, resulting in a 28 percent growth rate in 2012. He projects 25 percent growth for TWFG’s current year with a long-term plan to reach one billion dollars in sales.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG General Agency Named Lloyd’s of London Coverholder

LONDON, July 9, 2013 – Lloyd’s, the “World’s Specialist Insurance Market,” founded in London 325 years ago, has appointed Texas-based The Woodlands Financial Group as an approved coverholder, which authorizes its TWFG General Agency to enter into contracts of insurance and to issue insurance documentation under a Lloyd’s registered binding authority. Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of TWFG, received official documentation today at Lloyd’s London headquarters.

Bunch committed his national U.S. company to the Lloyd’s Code of Practice for Delegated Underwriting. The Woodlands Financial Group’s Insurance Services Division is currently ranked high in the “Top 100” by insurance trade magazines and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas with more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states. TWFG will now have Lloyd’s comprehensive Marketing Intelligence Toolkit available which compares countries, provides high-level statistics for the economy, insurance market, and Lloyd’s business, to give TWFG managers strategic overviews of their business. Lloyd’s also provides coverholders with other country profiles, market presentations, and “Class Reviews” of competitive data by specialty class of business.

TWFG was founded by 40-year-old entrepreneur Richard “Gordy” Bunch little more than a decade ago in 2001 with $10,000 capital. Today, TWFG consists of retail and wholesale insurance services, a premium financing company, financial advisors, and software providing consultative products to operate a branch insurance agency. TWFG reported a 28% increase in premium sales in 2012 to $267,202,399. The company also won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. Bunch was nominated as Entrepreneur-of-the-Year in the Gulf Coast area and was recently elected to the board of directors of The Woodlands Township, TWFG’s hometown community government. The Woodlands, located just north of Houston, has a population of more than 100,000 people and more than 1,755 employers and almost 50,000 jobs.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

U.S. Insurance Agency Authorized as Lloyd’s of London Coverholder

LONDON, July 9, 2013 – Lloyd’s, the 325-year old London “World’s Specialist Insurance Market,” has appointed Texas-based TWFG Insurance Services as an approved coverholder, which authorizes the agency to enter into contracts of insurance and to issue insurance documentation under a Lloyd’s registered binding authority. Richard “Gordy” Bunch, 40-year-old founder, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, received official documentation today at Lloyd’s London headquarters.

Bunch launched TWFG little more than a decade ago with $10,000 capital. He has now advanced and committed his national company to the Lloyd’s Code of Practice for Delegated Underwriting. TWFG is currently ranked high in the “Top 100” by an insurance trade journal and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas with more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states. He will have access to Lloyd’s comprehensive worldwide Marketing Intelligence Toolkit which compares countries, provides high-level statistics for their economy, updated news on the insurance market, and Lloyd’s business. Lloyd’s also provides coverholders with other country profiles, market presentations, and “Class Reviews” of competitive data by specialty class of business.

BACKGROUND for INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

How do you build an entrepreneur whose influence and success is born in San Diego and then spans Texas, the U.S., and the ocean to London? Do you give him four years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard? Plant him in Texas, a land of uncommon opportunity? Provide him with a slogan that says “Our Policy is Caring?” If this is the formula for success, it would help to explain Richard “Gordy” Bunch and the remarkable achievements he is scoring in his business and community life. TWFG was founded by 40-year-old entrepreneur Richard “Gordy” Bunch little more than a decade ago in 2001 with $10,000 capital. Today, TWFG consists of retail and wholesale insurance services, a premium financing company, financial advisors, and software programs providing consultative products to operate a branch insurance agency. TWFG reported a 28% increase in premium sales in 2012 to $267,202,399. The company also won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. Bunch was nominated as Entrepreneur-of-the-Year in the Gulf Coast area and was recently elected to the board of directors of The Woodlands Township, TWFG’s hometown community government. It is ranked second in the nation in home sales and has been first in Texas for more than 20 years. Bunch and his wife, Michelle, reside in The Woodlands where they are raising three young boys and are active in community and political affairs. The Woodlands, located just north of Houston, has a population of more than 100,000 people and more than 1,755 employers and almost 50,000 jobs.

For Media Information: Bunch Photo Attached

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 office / 713-416-0789 cl

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Names Award-Winning Insurance Branches and Agents

THE WOODLANDS, TX, May 14, 2013 – With more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states, The Woodlands Financial Group’s TWFG Insurance Services division has named 20 as outstanding performers and producers for the year 2012. The awards were presented in seven categories by Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO, at the company’s annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to annual awards, seven agents were inducted into the company’s new President’s Club.

BRANCH-OF-THE-YEAR: The spotlight shined on Stephen Lovecchio of Mandeville, Louisiana, as the TWFG Branch-of-the-Year, recognized for business volume, quality of the operation, and a balanced approach in offering clients multiple lines of insurance.

ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR: Buffy Doiron of the Port Arthur, Texas branch was selected for writing a substantial amount of new business and becoming the top new producing TWFG branch.

PRESIDENT’S CLUB: Agents who have grown their TWFG businesses into multi-million dollar operations were awarded special recognition that included a set of engraved President’s Club Reidel wine glasses along with bottles of the company’s private-label collection, “Best of the Bunch” wines. They were also rewarded when TWFG made the Las Vegas sojourn all-expenses paid trips for the seven honorees. The seven inductees into the premier TWFG President’s Club are: Stephen Lovecchio, Mandeville, LA; Anthony Voiron, Metairie, LA; Ricky Rogers, Metairie, LA; Kelly Lee, Lake Charles, LA; Jenny Xu, Houston, TX; Carlton Kon, Houston, TX; and Brian Johnson, Humble, TX.

LIFE & HEALTH AWARDS:

With renewed emphasis on Life Insurance and Health Insurance to provide even more options to clients, TWFG has instituted a $10K and $25K Life and Health Insurance Club based on premiums written in each category. Two agents immediately achieved membership in the Life and Health group: Brian Johnson of Humble, TX and Susan Stover of Kingwood, TX earned entry into the $25K Club. Seven agents placed in the $10K Club: Helayne Warschaw, Ventura, CA; Carlton Kon, Houston, TX; Mark Bartlett, Fremont, CA; Tom Blasutta, Grand Prairie, TX;  Jason Schmitz, The Woodlands, TX; John Sparks, Huffman, TX; and Marilyn Randazzo, Pflugerville, TX. The Top Producer as Life Insurance Agent-of-the-Year is Rosalie Gonzalez from San Pedro, CA and the Health Insurance Agent-of-the-Year is Kathy Morrison from TWFG’s home office in The Woodlands, TX.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Introduces New Company Slogan

THE WOODLANDS, TX, MAY 5, 2013 – The Woodlands Financial Group’s new promise and slogan for TWFG Insurance Services was introduced to several hundred company agents and staff employees at the company’s annual convention in Las Vegas last week.

TWFG president and CEO, Gordy Bunch, said the four-word phrase is both a promise and a slogan. It ties directly into the company’s basic business by incorporating the word “policy” in a line that promises “Our Policy is Caring.” Bunch said: “In today’s complex world, all people want to feel that someone cares about them. It may be a spouse, partner, a child, or even a friend, neighbor, or business associate. The insurance industry in particular, is all about caring for its policy holders. At TWFG, we are putting that promise of caring for every individual and company in writing,” Bunch said.

The slogan has been graphically tied by font and colors to the company’s basic TWFG logo. It features three pine trees “standing tall” and representing the company, the agent, and the customer as well as reflecting the firm’s name and headquarters location in The Woodlands, Texas, one of the top three master-planned communities in the nation and number one in home sales in the State of Texas. Bunch said the promise slogan is already being incorporated into the company’s marketing materials and advertising and will also be featured in an upgraded new website now in development.

For further media information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Takes Its Winning Ways to Las Vegas

THE WOODLANDS, TX, April 4, 2013 – Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, will lead a caravan of more than 200 people to Las Vegas for TWFG’s annual convention from April 18 to 22. The TWFG group will be followed closely by 55 representatives of 24 national insurance carriers and suppliers who will exhibit at the meeting because the Texas-based TWFG is one of the most successful and sought-after insurance services companies in its industry today.

In addition to reporting a 28% increase in premium sales to $267,202, 399 in 2012, the company won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. It scored as the number one independent agency in Texas as the “Personal Lines” leader with $166,845,986 in premium sales and is 13^th in the nation in Insurance Journal’s 2012 rankings. It is in the Top 50 of Property & Casualty rankings. Bunch was recently featured in a two-page interview and Podcast in the trade magazine. He founded TWFG little more than 10 years ago in 2001 with $10,000 in The Woodlands, Texas, where it was just selected as “Best Insurance Agency or Agent” by voters on the Woodlands Online website.

Bunch will share his “winning ways” with invited agents from 103 of the TWFG’s 300 branches plus a dozen staff personnel at the renovated Flamingo Casino & Hotel in the heart of Las Vegas. In addition to general sessions on Friday and Saturday, an exhibition hall in the El Dorado ballroom will be open to give agents an opportunity to speak directly with representatives of the major insurance carriers.

The company’s Million Dollar Club members in attendance will enjoy Elton John and his “Million Dollar Piano Show,” at Caesar’s Colosseum on Saturday night. An exclusive new “TWFG President’s Club” will be introduced with the first seven members being inducted during the Sunday awards banquet. The “magnificent seven” will also have all expenses for their entire Las Vegas trip paid by TWFG. Other awards will be presented to Branch Agent-of-the-Year, Rookie-of-the-Year, Life-Agent-of-the-Year, Health-Agent-of-the year, and notable producing agents. 

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789 in Las Vegas

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Million Dollar Producer Club Grows to 41 Branches

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Feb. 13, 2013 – The coveted insurance industry distinction of recording one million dollars or more in premium sales will result in special plaques and medallions at 41 TWFG branches according to Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO. He is recognizing seven new and 34 repeat members of the company’s Million Dollar Producers Club.

Veteran Club members who have produced consistently over the past four years comprise the largest group of producers. The 18 repeaters and their TWFG branch locations are:

4 Consecutive Years

Brian Johnson- Humble, TX

Tony Voiron– Metairie, LA

Jenny Xu- Houston, TX

Rick Rogers- Metairie, LA

Carlton Kon- Houston, TX

John Sparks- Huffman, TX

Denise Davis- Tomball, TX

Marilyn Randazzo- Pflugerville, TX

Carlos Cantu- Dallas, TX

Todd Golden- Tomball, TX

Terry Cauthen- Port Arthur, TX

Russell Knapp- Spring, TX

Tom Blasutta- Dallas, TX

Jason Halstead- The Woodlands, TX

Lane McKinney- Friendswood, TX

Christopher Forman- Bryan, TX

Brandon Mangum- Houston, TX

Greg Armstrong- Houston, TX

Four branches repeated their million dollar production over the past three years. These sales specialists are:

3 Consecutive Years

Stephen Lovecchio- Mandeville, LA

Marilyn Caldwell- Royse City, TX

Reed Wilcox- Dallas, TX

Susan Stover- Kingwood, TX

A dozen branches managed to repeat million dollar results for the second consecutive year:

2 Consecutive Years

Kelly Lee-  Lake Charles, LA

Holland Brothers Insurance Agency (Brian and James Holland)- Houston, TX

Mark Bartlett- Fremont, CA

Darren Monteith- Fort Lauderdale, FL

Capitol Insurance LLC (Harold Treadway)- Baton Rouge, LA

Julio Manchego- Tampa, FL

Robert Gualtieri- Marrero, LA

Ashley Floyd- Houston, TX

Estela Portillo- Houston, TX

Patti Broussard- Lumberton, TX

Betty Loick- The Woodlands, TX

Jennifer Tijerina- The Woodlands, TX

Seven branches in four states are being inducted into the unique Producers Club for the first time. The new million dollar producers are:

New Members

Bobby Counts- Beaumont, TX

John Keefer- Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Lisa Newman- Richardson, TX

William Woodall- Dallas, TX

Harlivleen Kaur- Addison, TX

Thuy Cao- Houston, TX

Randall Kent- Lytle, TX

Bunch said the seven new members will receive Million Dollar Producer Club plaques to display in their branches while the 34 others will receive medallions to enhance their existing displays. TWFG Insurance Services is a division of The Woodlands Financial Group headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789