The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Slowey Insurance has served customers for 75 years
Those who pass Slowey Insurance Agency in Mentor may not take too much notice of the brick building as they drive down Center Street.
However, for over 75 years and through three generations, the business has prided itself on offering competitive insurance rates with a dedication to community involvement and giving back.
Rob Slowey Jr., owner and partner of the insurance agency has an article of Helen Smith, his great aunt who started the company in Painesville in 1945, pinned to a board. He described his great aunt as being ahead of her time.
“Most of her customers were men and she was divorced. Very few women sold insurance back then. She was a bear,” Slowey Jr. said.
According to the article, Smith sold her insurance business to her nephew, Bob Slowey in 1965. She stayed on board for five years before retiring, proud of how her nephew had grown the company.
The elder Slowey said his big break was being the insurance writing agent for Lake County for 15 years.
“When we moved the agency to Mentor, it wasn’t even a city yet,” the elder Slowey said. “It was really just a progression of making good moves and somehow I never made a mistake.”
Along with the business, the elder Slowey was very active in the community, including helping start the athletics boosters program at Lakeland Community College and being president of the Lake Catholic Parents Association. He personally enjoyed the involvement, but said it was able to help his business grow as well.
Today the elder Slowly is retired, having left the business in the hands of his sons, Slowey Jr. and Todd Slowey.
Slowey Jr. said taking over the agency was not always his vision, but his father said he knew it was a good idea.
“I couldn’t spell ‘insurance’ when I started,” Slowey Jr. said. “Dad sent me all over the place to meet his friends and learn insurance. They beat on me and asked me questions I knew I couldn’t answer, so I had to go back and learn it.”
The business has continued to grow since the brothers took over, having purchased local agencies while working to stay dedicated to the values of trustworthiness, honesty and respect that came before them.
“I had a guy show up yesterday whose mom just passed away, but she was one of Dad’s original customers,” said Slowey Jr. “They would still come in and pay their premium in cash every month. He calls my Robbie, calls my dad Bobby. It’s just kind of cool to have that relationship with customers.”
In growing the agency, the brothers have also brought on more staff who have broadened their expertise to include vehicle, property, business, health and life insurance.
They represent numerous companies and are licensed in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Texas, Nebraska and Illinois.
Slowey Jr. said he genuinely enjoys his work and is looking forward to the business’ future, with hopes to see the 100 year anniversary one day.
“Lake County is a great place to live and own an insurance agency,” said Slowey Jr. “There are a lot of really good agents in the area and we continue to work together with several to help and support each other.”