ABOUT US

Some Brief History

In 1869 and 1870, two firms were founded in Wooster, Ohio - the W.G. Whitaker Insurance Agency (initially the Fullerton Agency until 1891) and the W.C. Myers Agency.  Both began building solid reputations based on the trust of their clients.  Men like Walter Whitaker, W.C. Myers, George Quinby, Francis Whitaker, George Wertenberger, Ivan Steiner, Dick Sheller, Robert Anderson and Richard Jones were respected and professional members of the Wooster area and were largely responsible for the growth and reputation for excellence of their respective agencies.  Today, those two organizations remain as ONE-- Whitaker-Myers Insurance Agency Inc. -- and maintain those same guiding principles which have earned the agency the trust of an entire community.  The firm now uses the trade name, Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group.

Over the years, the Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group has grown to become one of Ohio's premiere privately-owned independent insurance agencies. Our clients range from homeowners and small businesses to well-known area, regional and national organizations.  We're in a growth mode and while others around us are being acquired by larger agencies or banks, we are welcoming new clients and acquiring other agencies.  This plan fortifies our balance sheet and our independent position and secures the future for our employees and clients.

Within the past two decades, our plan has seen expansion of the Whitaker-Myers family.  First, with the acquisition of Badger Insurance Agency (Orrville) in 1984, and then in 1998, the merger of Insurance Showcase Agency (John McCord, CPCU) into Whitaker-Myers.  Mr. McCord's 30+ years of insurance experience includes work as a field underwriter with Motorists Mututal Companies prior to becoming an independent agent.  The former Insurance Showcase Agency had included acquisitions of three smaller agencies, including the George Leedy Felt Agency in Shreve, Ohio.  The ownership of Whitaker-Myers Insurance Agency Inc. today includes John McCord and co-owner's Scott Allen (22 years experience, owner since 1990) and Scott Young (17 years experience, owner since 1990). 

In 2002, the agency acquired the Ingmand Insurance Agency in nearby Ashland, Ohio -- another outstanding college community (home of Ashland University) about 25 miles from Wooster.  The Ingmand Agency, founded in 1913 in Ashland by Mr. Ingmand's grandfather, has long been regarded by Ashland Countians as the premiere source for insurance and risk management expertise and for sound judgement and service excellence.  Like Whitaker-Myers, Westfield Group/Ohio Farmers Insurance Company was the first of Ingmand's 1913 contract appointments.  Former Ingmand principals Robert "Bud" Ingmand and Jack Ebert remained with the firm until their retirement in 2004 and 2006, respectively.  Though the Ashland office is now part of the Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group, the agency office building in Ashland continues to bear the Ingmand name -- a name forever linked with a reputation for quality, professionalism and ethics in that community for four generations. 

Similarly, in 2003 Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group also acquired the Aten & Mennetti Insurance Agency, with offices in Mansfield and Ashland, Ohio.  The Ashland offices of Aten & Mennetti now share facilities with Ingmand Insurance, which gives Whitaker-Myers one consolidated Ashland location (20 E. Main St.).  The A&M Mansfield office, formerly in downtown Mansfield, was relocated in 2004 to 1221 S. Trimble Road (Bldg C, Unit 2),  and serves our Richland county area clients.  Former A&M owners Emmett Mennetti (Mansfield office) and Donald Aten (Ashland office) remained with Whitaker-Myers as account executives and consultants until their retirement in June 2007.

With our stated goal of remaining independent for our clients and employees, Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group remains open to other acquisition and partnership opportunities in northeast and northcentral Ohio and beyond, that might make sense strategically as a good match for our organization, its associates' families and policyholders. 

Who We Are - And What We Do

We are a full-service insurance agency/brokerage (we place coverage with several different insurance companies)—offering auto, home, life and commercial property and casualty insurance, including umbrella, professional, malpractice, E&O and directors & officers liability insurance…..surety bonds, accident and disability insurance….as well as individual and group life, Medicare supplements, individual and group health, and long term care coverage.  It's all available here..........."under one roof".

The largest part of our firm is Property & Casualty insurance.  And, our property & casualty agents are specialists.  While we have the markets and the expertise to address and manage nearly ANY client operation or circumstance, we believe we shine best and brightest in our core business segments.  We offer SPECIAL PROGRAMS in areas such as: government and public entities (including fairs and festivals), schools, oil and gas, medical malpractice, hospitals, non-profits, directors and officers liability and miscellaneous E&O, manufacturing, contractors, transportation & warehousing, umbrella and excess coverages.  Home/auto/umbrella packages continue to be one of our strengths.

Now, with offices in Wooster, Ashland and Mansfield, the Whitaker-Myers Insurance Group has grown to become one of Ohio’s top 40 privately-owned independent insurance agencies, representing more than 15 quality insurance companies and with access to dozens more through the open brokerage market.  Our clients range from home owners and small businesses to well-known national organizations.  From the very small to the very large and complex, Whitaker-Myers has the expertise and the market facilities to solve the problems and assemble the right programs for all types of clients.