LYNNWOOD — For the last seven years, insurance has been the focus of Amy Drewel’s life. But that wasn’t what the 37-year-old entrepreneur originally planned to do. The way things worked out sometimes still surprises her.
“Ten years ago, if you had put insurance and my name together, I would have said, ‘Never!’ ” Drewel said.
But, as her goal was to own a business in Snohomish County and have some way to give back to the community she loves, insurance ticked all the right boxes. After a brief stint in human resources and some time with a single-carrier insurance company, Drewel decided to branch out on her own as an independent insurance broker.
Along with friend and fellow co-worker Paul Pukis, Drewel opened Lynnwood-based Mosaic Insurance Alliance in November 2010. Mosaic is an independent insurance agency that offers life, automobile, property and business insurance along with personal umbrella coverage.
Drewel likes the level of service and range of choices that come with being an independent agent.
“We’re able to shop a multitude of carriers, making sure we place our clients with the best carrier for their needs at the best rate that is available to them,” she said.
She remembers the business’s first year as being a challenge. In addition to the usual growing pains of setting up a new company, there was the added worry over the lingering recession and awareness of the responsibilities that she and Pukis now faced for the welfare of their employees.
“But if it weren’t challenging, you wouldn’t be able to grow,” Drewel said. “Having those circumstances made us work harder and explore all opportunities.”
The opportunities open to the pair included what Drewel likes to call “guerilla marketing.” To ensure success, she redoubled her efforts in networking and following up referrals. Already on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, she looked for even more opportunities to give back to the community.
If you have the opportunity to be involved in something, you should take it, she said. “Don’t sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you.”
Currently, Drewel is the chair of the Snohomish County Young Professionals Network and a trustee board member for Economic Alliance Snohomish County.
She is also on the board of Little Red School House and recently completed her board term for Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County. She is also on the board of Senior Services of Snohomish County and would like to see more young people get involved with that organization.
Drewel also would like to see more young professionals taking part in the community in general. She is worried about how things are shaping up.
“I think there is a gap right now between people nearing retirement age and the young professionals,” Drewel said. “We need to be up and ready with young professionals when those who are getting ready to retire, do retire.”
About Mosaic Insurance, Drewel is confident. The company has six agents licensed to work in Washington, Idaho and Arizona and is looking to add more agents in the near future.
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