Sandra Johnson Promoted to Director of Operations for Owens Insurance Agency, Specialists in Serving Contractors
Owens Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency with a 70-year presence in the Upstate, has promoted Sandra Johnson, CISR, INS, SM, to Director of Operations. Johnson serves as the point of contact for the agency’s carriers and is responsible for overseeing the agency’s administrative functions. She is based in Owens Insurance’s home office in Greer, which has a client mix of 70 percent commercial – of which construction represents the largest piece.
Owens Insurance serves construction businesses of varying sizes – from one-person operations to firms with 50 or more employees. In addition to general contractors, Owens Insurance clients include those specializing in concrete, framing, roofing, mechanical/HVAC, electrical, and grading. Led by a leadership team with their backgrounds in construction, Owens Insurance has a keen understanding of what contractors need to operate effectively and are good at anticipating those needs. The agency offers an array of products to protect contractors and can react quickly to the often time-sensitive requests that are a part of the contracting world.
Johnson joined Owens Insurance 10 years ago, bringing more than 30 years of well-rounded experience in the insurance field. As Director of Operations, Johnson gets involved in all facets of Owens Insurance’s business – from quotes and endorsements, to claims and billings, to Human Resources and Information Technology. In addition to the Greer office, Johnson began servicing a second location last year when the agency acquired Stokes-Farnham Agency, another well-respected insurance agency with deep roots in the Upstate. Stokes-Farnham Agency, which retained its name, has served Northern Greenville County and other Upstate residents and businesses from its office in Travelers Rest since 1954.
Johnson’s insurance career dates back to her high school days when she began working part-time in the Southern Regional office of State Auto Mutual. This early experience allowed her to advance to a full-time position upon graduation from Greer High School. Over the next 20 years she assumed increased responsibility, eventually becoming State Auto’s Business Insurance Underwriting Support Manager.
Chris Crist, co-owner of Owens Insurance with business partner Shane Lynn, noted, “Sandra was one of the first people we hired when we purchased Owens Insurance Agency a decade ago. Because of her many years in the industry, and the way she worked her way up through the ranks, Sandra has an in-depth working knowledge of both the carrier side and the agency side. This big-picture perspective is a real asset to Owens Insurance as we continue to grow our business in the Carolinas – in terms of product offerings, market share and geographic footprint.”
Johnson’s professional designations include: CISR, Certified Insurance Services Representative; INS, a general insurance certification; and SM, a Supervisory Management certification. All three certifications were earned through the Insurance Institute of America (IIA).
