AssuredPartners of NE Pennsylvania Delivers Service with Pride

The pride AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania takes in its business is evident the minute you walk in the agency’s Wilkes-Barre headquarters. Displayed on the wall in three-foot high letters is the word P.R.I.D.E., an acronym representing values the agency upholds: Passion, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Expertise. 

“Pride is more than just a word to us. It reflects our commitment to serving each other and our clients,” says Gino Bartoli, agency President.

Community Roots

AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania officially came together in 2014 and consolidates Gino’s prior agency, as well as that of current Executive Vice President Derek Zambino and several other local agencies.

“Being part of AssuredPartners allows us to perpetuate our businesses while still being actively involved and also giving our clients more services than we could offer before,” Derek says. That includes dedicated claims and risk management service as well as broader market access to the employee benefits sector.

The consolidation also deepened the agency’s commitment to the communities where it does business.

“Initially some of our competitors tried to use the move against us by saying we sold out. But in fact, we have more employees from the area than ever before. We’re insuring more customers and providing more support to the community than ever before. So, we didn’t sell out—we bought in to the community,” says Derek.

To that point, in late 2021 the agency was honored by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce as the Legacy Business of the Year. In making its selection, the chamber cited the agency’s 150-year history in the area through all the legacy businesses that now comprise AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We’ve all blended together to become who we are,” Gino says. “We are bigger, better, and here to stay.”

The agency maintains a deep respect for the histories of the firms that joined together, and that can be seen throughout its headquarters as well. The conference room features several early-1900s typewriters, including the one used by Gino’s grandfather when he started his agency.

“I remember playing on that typewriter when I used to visit the office as a young boy,” Gino says. Also on display is a framed property policy from 1912 (insuring a $5,000 piece of equipment for $1.12) as well as a 1930s-era sign, answering the question “What is a customer?” 

“How we view customers hasn’t changed, and the service standards from back then still apply today. It’s all about handling customers’ risk management needs with knowledge and care,” says Gino.

Another constant over the agency’s history has been the quality of its people, some of whom have been with the firm for over 30 years.

“The level of knowledge that’s held within our office, all the way from our service staff to our sales staff, is second to none. We pride ourselves on continuing to educate our people so we can best serve our clients,” Gino says. 

AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is also known for giving back to the community. “We’re not just giving money, we’re helping groups with what they need and rolling up our sleeves,” Derek says. In fact, in July 2021, the agency was recognized by Acuity as an Agents Have Heart honoree. 

Future Focused

The agency currently offers numerous custom programs in commercial and personal insurance and risk management. It also specializes in many industries including construction, transportation, energy, municipalities, hospitability, educational institutions, nonprofits, and aviation. As it looks to the future, AssuredPartners of Northeastern Pennsylvania plans to bring its services to more clients in those industries and others throughout the area and beyond, and it is ready to make the investments needed to do so.

“We make promises to clients and need to have capabilities to back up what we promise. That includes making sure we have smart, educated, and trained service staff who have the tools to deliver on our commitments,” Derek says.

“We are looking for other agencies that want to become part of what we’re doing while simultaneously transitioning the expertise that our veteran service staff have to the next generation,” Gino says. “It’s our goal to perpetuate an agency led by knowledge, always maintaining the same values that have made us who we are.”