"Customer service is the difference." 🌟
Our Land of Lincoln CEO class had the opportunity to hear from Deron Powell - State Farm Agent. With 32 total years of experience with State Farm, Deron shared what it really takes to run an independent agency, build a winning team, and serve the local community.

Key takeaways from Deron:
🤝 Community First: Giving back and being involved locally isn't just the right thing to do—investing the most time and budget into community involvement is what truly drives word-of-mouth growth.
⭐ Customer Service Sets You Apart: In a competitive industry offering over 100 products - from auto, home and life to pet and crop insurance - exceptional service is what makes the difference.
👥 Building the Right Team: Finding qualified people is one of the biggest challenges, and Deron looks for four key traits when hiring: strong communication skills, competitiveness, reliability, and drive.
📣 Smart Marketing: Consistency matters - long-term billboards for recognition in the community, online SEO, and more - it's all part of the mix.

Thank you to Deron for sharing his time and real-world business insights with our students—and a special thank you for being a founding investor in the Land of Lincoln CEO program! 👏