"The State Farm Twins: Celebrating 5 Years In Business"
written by Chilton Stewart
Sherry Devouse-Denard and Kim Mays are State Farm GIANTS…LEGENDS in the very competitive industry of insurance. Each independent business woman, while happy to celebrate their success, is in no way ready to kick their heels up and pat themselves on the back and both are grateful for the friendship that they share through collabration & partnerships.
“It was intimidating to start this journey. Starting this business was new, because I was not an entrepreneur prior to becoming a state farm agent. I was in corporate America for over 20 plus years and it was a rewarding position for me. It just wasn’t my passion but it was very rewarding. It provided for my family in a big way and I was doing my thing walking that path. I had no idea I was going to meet Kim. So I was living in Lawrenceville GA. I was fully prepared to jump off the bridge by myself. As fate would have it. You know will always position you to win and sometimes that means in partnership. Meeting Kim has just been a Godsend.” Says Sherry Devouse-Dennard. Both Devouse-Dennard and Mays share a bond and a friendship through being business owners and community lovers.
Kim Mays loves the city of Stockbridge and feels blessed to be a part of it. “It's amazing. I'm grateful that God put me here in Stockbridge cause I could have been in any city. I just kind of came here. Embraced where I was and how I can fit in. How can I help? How can I assist? The fact that Stockbridge is growing is really an added bonus. I just kind of grow with them. I've been able to join the city wide authority board which is awesome right? Because for me I feel like I get to utilize my prior skill sets that I had prior to becoming a State Farm agent.” She continues “I feel like Stockbridge is a big city but it's not big if that makes sense so that makes it very easy to come in and support the city where the community connects.”
While both women are successful beyond most people's wildest dreams both a strong connection and a driving desire to serve guides them both.
So much so Devouse-Dennard believes it to be a guiding business principle. “I would say it's imperative that we have community outreach in our practice and just in daily life. Plugging back into the community is essential to make sure that we are having an impact on the community. We’re out here everyday trying to get business but beyond that what’s the give back? The giveback is always important. It is important to make sure that we are pouring back into the same community that’s during this business.”
It is interesting that both women firmly believe in the institution of insurance and have used that institution to help their surrounding community.
“For me insurance is a peace of mind. So what I am doing is paying a little portion of money to give me protection that if I cause an accident or if I have a loss that is an amount of money that isn’t in my bank account there’s an entity to pay for it.” Says Mays “I have good coverage or the right coverage whatever I deem I want the insurance company to pay for me. Instead of me trying to save money in case I cause a million dollar accident. I can go do something else with my money.”
The success of both women is founded on their ability to both lead and understand the people around them, to get the best out of them at the same time as getting the best out of themselves. Sherry Devouse-Dennard believes in finding the best out of a potential agent for her company.
“So I think everybody’s story is going to be different and unique. Everybody brings about their own talents to the table and gifts. For me I have a natural knack of just connecting with people and building relationships. When this opportunity presented itself it was just almost a perfect match but again entrepreneurship was not my background so it was a little scary.
When you talk about State Farm you already know that’s a solid brand. We’re going to take care of you, we’re going to be there for you. “Like a good neighbor” but beyond that. What impact can I have beyond the brand as an individual.”
“When you’re looking at applicants, when you're looking at resumes. You’re looking for consistency, you're looking for greatness. At the end of the day I'm looking for character, I'm looking for ethics. I'm looking for people that have a winning spirit. It could be someone that’s athletic. People that are in athletics are competitive by nature. And they’ve been taught some principles that are going to be key to selling.”
Kim Mays feels that the opportunities are there for those that dare to take it.
“To be an insurance agent you do not have to go to college. You have to be at least 18 years old. So I have property and health and casualty and life and health. Both of those separately are 40 hour classes. So you take the 40 hour class.then you sit for an exam. You pass. Your exam then you apply for a license with the State of Georgia.”
Indeed Henry County, the City of Stockbridge and City of McDonough is well covered with these two helming the State Farm agencies in town.
Download Digital Edition of Game Changers 20204 Fall Edition featuring The State Farm Twins
State Farm Twins Celebrate 5 Years in Business
Get Your Copy of Game Changers Magazine 2024 Fall Edition featuring Kim Mays & Sherry DeVouse-Dennard
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