Hard Work, Blue-Collar Values Drive Fuhriman Insurance's Success

At Idaho’s Fuhriman Insurance, a can-do attitude and appreciation for hard work has driven its approach to business for over 60 years. 

“We’re blue-collar people in a white-collar world,” says Jared Fuhriman, agency principal. “The vast majority of our commercial clients are contractors—people who work with their hands and whose desk is the dashboard of their truck.”

Jared and his father, agency principal Terry Fuhriman, not only talk the talk; they walk the walk.  Typically dressed in blue jeans and short-sleeved shirts, the family duo is as comfortable on a construction site as they are tending to a herd of beef cattle that Terry owns with his older son, Dan. 

“I love being around our cattle—they all have different personalities,” Terry says. 

Founded in 1962 by Terry’s father-in-law, Dan Emery, the agency attributes its growth and success to its staff. “Our people deserve all the credit because they work incredibly hard and are dedicated to our clients,” Terry says.

“Clients also have the personal cell phone number of their agent,” adds Jared. “We want them to know they can reach us any time.”

And knowing that contractors need to spend their time on the job, not dealing with their insurance, the agency created its “Every Client, Every Time” program to ensure that policies don’t inadvertently lapse or cancel. “The time we take doing that is well worth it to be sure our customers stay protected,” says Terry. 

Headquartered in Garden City, Fuhriman Insurance has also capitalized on strong population growth in the Boise metropolitan area to significantly expand its book of personal lines business. “What we do differently from other agencies is that our personal lines agents handle everything for their clients themselves—quoting, issuance, and servicing,” says Jared.  

The agency is also heavily involved in the local community, supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho, Camp Rainbow Gold for children who have been diagnosed with cancer, and Girls on the Run Idaho-Treasure Valley, which provides programs that inspire girls to build their confidence, kindness, and decision-making skills.

As Fuhriman Insurance looks to the future, it plans to expand its outreach to Spanish-speaking clients. The agency has two fluent speakers on staff, including Jared, who honed his linguistic skills on a two-year missionary trip to Central America.

Ultimately, the agency believes its continued growth and success will come down to the strength it has enjoyed for the past 60 years—it’s people.

“Strong staff and great carrier partners, like Acuity, are what will keep driving us,” Terry says. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”