Stonebraker McQuary Insurance expands, nearly doubling size

Some of the most important work Stonebraker McQuary Insurance in Clarkston does is teach its commercial clients how to limit the amount of insurance they need.

The agency's almost-finished $600,000 remodel and expansion, which includes a 48-seat classroom, will help the business complete that task more efficiently, said company President Don McQuary. "We did not have a good training facility here, so we added that."

Technology will connect the Clarkston classroom with a similar space at the agency's Spokane office so a single instructor in either town can teach both groups, McQuary said.

The idea behind the strategy is if Stonebraker McQuary offers a higher level of service than competitors, customers won't switch just because they believe they can save a little money, he said.

Stonebraker McQuary works with farmers, construction contractors, restaurants and other businesses to make the work they do as safe as possible and limit their liability risk.

Counting the classroom, Stonebraker McQuary almost doubled its space in Clarkston, growing to 12,200 square feet.

Two more employees will be added to the Clarkston staff of 28 this summer, leaving room for 18 more in the future, McQuary said. "This building was a long-term play."

Stonebraker McQuary weathered the recession better than a lot of businesses. It did so in part because the largest share of its revenue comes from insuring farms, which weren't hit as hard by the economic crisis as other industries, McQuary said. "The contractors were devastated because construction just stopped."

Business has rebounded across the board with payrolls and sales tax revenue climbing, McQuary said. "It's nowhere near where it was five years ago, but it's a lot better than it was two years ago."

Aside from selling insurance to businesses, Stonebraker McQuary also offers policies to individuals for their homes, cars and big-ticket toys, as well as medical policies.

Since it's an independent agency that has contracts with a variety of providers, such as Liberty Mutual, Safeco and CNA, it can often help its clients get good deals, McQuary said.

Each company has a different proprietary model it uses to decide how much it will charge for coverage. Some put more weight on certain factors than others, such as occupation or age.

Insurance commissioners in each state determine if the models are discriminatory, McQuary said. "I don't see any abuses."

---

Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.