The Roanoker - May/June 2021 - 51

Q&A with the Best of Roanoke

BEST OF 2021

Derek Wiley
Gold Winner, Best Local Insurance Agency and Best Local Insurance Agent
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: We are a full-service independent insurance
agency that serves customers throughout
Virginia and North Carolina. We offer home,
auto, business and life insurance through a
variety of insurance companies such as Erie,
Travelers, Allstate, Safeco, etc.
Q: Please share a brief history of your
company.
A: After opening in 2009, we were initially an
agency that only sold the products of one
insurance company. However, after a few years,
we decided to transition to the independent
agency model so that we could offer a wider
breadth of products. Today we offer coverage
from a variety of regional and national
insurance companies throughout Virginia and
North Carolina. We started with zero customers
in 2009 and today we serve thousands of
families and employ a local staff that works to
take care of all our customers' needs.
Q: What are the products and services you
offer?
A: As an independent agency, we have
access to personal and commercial insurance
products from a variety of companies. We
can help with everything from a renter's
policy for a new college grad all the way

up to a commercial general liability policy
for a local restauranteur. We do our best to
provide competitively priced products from
a vast array of insurance providers. We don't
believe in a " One Size Fits All " approach to risk
management.
Q: How did your career path lead you to
your current position?
A: I started as an insurance adjuster shortly
after graduating from VMI. I thought this was
going to be a short-term job that I might do
for a few years before applying to law school.
However, I found that I was really good at
understanding policy language and insurance
coverage information and explaining that
complicated information to others and I
realized that this could turn into a career. I
knew that I wanted to help people beyond just
helping them after they had a claim. I don't
think most people grow up wanting to be in
the insurance industry as it sounds stuffy and
boring. However, nothing could be further
from the truth, as it's a dynamic business that
allows us to meet new and interesting people
every day and find solutions to the problems
they are having in trying to protect their
financial futures. It's been very rewarding to
see all of the people we have helped over the
years.
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Q: What does it mean to be recognized as
a " Best of 2021 " award winner?
A: It is an amazing honor to be recognized
as a " Best of 2021 " award winner as I see " The
Roanoker " certificates hanging on the walls
of businesses throughout the Valley. We have
always worked to take care of our customers
and to do our best for them, whether that be
on the front end when a policy is being written
or answering their questions after a claim. I was
amazed at the number of people that emailed
me personally to let me know they voted and
that we deserved to be recognized. We don't
do this for any recognition, but it means a
great deal when your customers show their
appreciation by casting a ballot to let others
know how well we are serving them.

1334 Roanoke Road
Daleville, Virginia 24083
(540) 613-8223 | derek@derekwileyagency.com
Derekwileyagency.com
http://www.Derekwileyagency.com
The Roanoker - May/June 2021

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