Ollis |amp| Company leadership passes to fourth generation with newest president

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Ollis & Company Insurors came to Springfield not long after the railroad arrived. Brothers Richard, Charles and Alfred Ollis saw the town as a growing and vibrant community, and, with the Frisco in north Springfield, they thought it would be a great place to start an insurance agency.|ret||ret||tab|

That was in 1885, and not only is Ollis & Company still growing strong, it's still in the family. Richard Ollis, great-grandson and namesake of the Richard Ollis who co-founded the agency, took over the role of president from his father, Ron Ollis, in January of this year. |ret||ret||tab|

Even though he's passed the presidency to his son, Ron Ollis is still involved with the company as its chairman.|ret||ret||tab|

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Changes through the years|ret||ret||tab|

The company planted its roots on Commercial Street, which was a bustling business district in the late 19th century. Ollis & Com-pany provided fire, property and liability coverage for homeowners, businesses and farmers in Springfield and the surrounding area. |ret||ret||tab|

The three Ollis brothers were "real entrepreneurs," and also offered real estate sales and a mortgage loan service, according to Richard Ollis, the company's newest president.|ret||ret||tab|

Charles Ollis died during the influenza epidemic of 1916, the same year Alfred Ollis retired. Richard Ollis continued the business, opening a second office in the Landers Building in 1936.|ret||ret||tab|

When Richard Ollis died in 1944, the business passed to his three sons, Fletcher, Alfred and Lawrence "Larry" Ollis. Current president Richard Ollis is the grandson of Larry Ollis, whose wife Hester also was involved in the business. In fact, according to Ollis, "in the 1950s, she was one of the pioneer women businesspeople in Springfield."|ret||ret||tab|

At the end of 1954, Fletcher retired, and Larry died less than a year later. The Landers Building office was closed and the firm continued as a partnership of Alfred and Hester Ollis. It was during this period that the third generation of the Ollis family Alfred's son, Larry, and the elder Larry's son, Ron, took over the business.|ret||ret||tab|

The 1970s were a period of change for the company. Alfred's son Joe Ollis entered the business after his father died in 1970. The mortgage loan and real estate services were discontinued in order "to better concentrate on the general insurance business which had already grown substantially," according to the company. in 1979, with 12 employees, Ollis & Company moved to its present location at 2274 E. Sunshine.|ret||ret||tab|

While the Ollis family still is very much involved in Ollis & Company, in the 1980s the business changed from a family-owned agency into a "more broad-based organization where other people would have opportunities," Ollis said. |ret||ret||tab|

He describes 1984 as a watershed year for the company. That's when Ollis & Company formed an employee stock ownership plan, and today more than 70 percent of the agency is employee-owned.|ret||ret||tab|

"All our associates are owners, so they care very much about our company and clients," said Richard Ollis.|ret||ret||tab|

Ollis feels other recent changes also set the agency apart. The company has always been focused on technology, and in January of this year it developed and rolled out an Internet-based human re-source and risk management program "that allows clients to more effectively manage their business in those two critical areas," Ollis said. "We plan on be-coming our clients' trusted advisor and adding value over and above selling insurance creating more of an emphasis on that."|ret||ret||tab|

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The new president|ret||ret||tab|

Now, with the fourth-generation Ollis in the role of president, the agency, which employs 36, has big plans for the future.|ret||ret||tab|

Two years ago, Ollis & Company was one of 30 insurance agencies selected as the top agencies in the U.S. by Best Practices a set of criteria established by Independent Insurance Agents of Amer-ica in how top agencies are run and managed. Richard Ollis plans to continue that emphasis on excellence.|ret||ret||tab|

The new president is concentrating on doubling revenues by the year 2007.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our plan is to grow the business 15 (percent) to 20 percent per year," Ollis said, not necessarily by increasing policy volume, but "by writing mid to large commercial accounts, employee benefits and high-end personal lines. Our strategy is raising the bar and going after larger accounts."|ret||ret||tab|

Richard Ollis worked at his family's business part-time in college and has been with the agency full-time since graduating from Southwest Missouri State University in 1989 with an insurance degree. |ret||ret||tab|

Four years in the U.S. Navy just out of high school helped center him, and Ollis credits that period in his life for where he is today.|ret||ret||tab|

Ollis spent 15 years in sales at Ollis & Company the last two in sales management. He said he'll continue to work with existing clients while also helping to attract major accounts to the agency. "I'm still very involved in customer relationships and insurance company relationships."|ret||ret||tab|

Ollis' father Ron, who joined the family business in 1955, remains a mentor to him "a perspective that balances out decision-making," Richard Ollis said. |ret||ret||tab|

"My father has instilled in me integrity, excellence in customer service and creating win/win situations. All business transactions have to be fair and create value for both parties, otherwise it will not be a long-term relationship," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

The products offered by Ollis & Company are "60 percent commercial property and casualty for businesses, 25 percent employee benefits and 15 percent high-end personal lines," Ollis said, adding that, the agency represents more than 200 insurance carriers, with about 25 considered "core markets."|ret||ret||tab|

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Family ties|ret||ret||tab|

Another fourth-generation Ollis, Ri-chard's cousin Matthew Ollis, a recent college graduate, has expressed an interest in the business. He'll likely look for an insurance job outside of Springfield and may one day return to work at his family's business. |ret||ret||tab|

Only time will tell if Ollis & Company will stay in the Ollis family for a fifth generation. Richard Ollis and his wife Teresa have two daughters Kelsey, 7, and Sabrina, 3. |ret||ret||tab|

"This is a results-oriented business," said Ollis, "and if they're interested and produce results, certainly they'll have the opportunity if they choose to enter the business."[[In-content Ad]]