Life-altering events seem to bring out the best and the worst in people. The COVID-19 pandemic has been just that—a life-altering event. Outside of all the obvious negative ways the pandemic has affected us, coronavirus scams are popping up everywhere and targeting the vulnerable. With hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into the economy through stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and…
We at Starke want to make sure you stay informed as new information arises every day. We are certain you're receiving numerous emails relating to COVID-19. It is our intent to provide useful, current information. Below is a summary of the CARES Act. While we are just learning the details we are here to help you in any way. - Loans…
As of last Thursday, all staff, except for critical support, are working from home and have call-forwarding from their direct dial numbers to their cellphones.Support staff that choose to come in will practice social distancing.We were ahead of our peers in that we were prepared for working remotely due to advance planning, implementing stay-at-home deep work days and Crisis Management…
The coronavirus also known as COVID-19 that affects the immune system and lungs took its first victim in Wuhan, China on January 11, 2020. Since then, it has spread worldwide. Affecting mostly those with compromised immune systems, kids and seniors. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic since the COVID-19 Virus has killed more than 4,000 people.…
As we enter the new year, we can't help but look back at 2019 and what it meant to our business and others' on Commerce Street. There were many celebrations in 2019, but it’s safe to say that three neighboring businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries within just a few months is unprecedented. “We certainly have a lot of longevity and dedication…
As a business owner, it is important to plan ahead and plan for the unexpected. When you hear the word emergency, do you think of a fire, chemical spill, medical accident or some other type of emergency that might occur at your facility? Emergencies happen every day, but despite the type, RiskandInsurance.com says, “First things first – you need a strategic plan;…
The agency entered the current decade with more breadth than ever. We hired three young producers for the future. You have to keep growing to stay relevant. Technology is at a turning point as we’ve gone to a “cloud-based” agency management system in the middle of the decade. This allowed us to be at the forefront of the digital…
The implementation of technology and expansion of the agency in the previous decade brought the agency to a new height. We were one of the first independent agencies to have a website. At that time a website was a big deal and expensive. The Biscuits started in 2004 and our office, which we remodeled in 2006, was a part of…
In the ‘90s, the agency would expand "with confidence" rapidly. Remember the 70’s when the agency’s Gross Premium was close to half a million? At the beginning of the 1990s that number was a lot closer to 9 million—18 times more than just 20 years before. Between 1994 & 1998, The Starke Agency, Inc, bought five other local insurance agencies:…
The ‘80s: The 1980’s brings us to our fourth and current location in downtown Montgomery, Alabama: 210 Commerce St. The building, previously known as the Old Implement Store dates back to 1895 and boasts some of Montgomery’s most extravagant Victorian brickwork. When the agency first moved into the building it shared the ground floor with two other businesses and the…