Page 11 - LRCC June 2022 Focus

lansingchamber.org CHAMBER NEWS

The Rathbun Agency Named Recipient of the

LRCC Outstanding Small Business Award

A African American Insurance Association and others.
well-known name in the
region’s insurance industry
and serving customers for
donation to a local non-profit,” said Rathbun. “We
more than 66 years, the Rathbun “Every single marketing dollar we spend is a direct
Agency has been named the highlight them on our website and our social media.
recipient of the Lansing Regional I would much rather spend those dollars supporting
Chamber of Commerce Outstanding non-profits than in traditional advertising.”
Small Business Award. The
company has been recognized The Rathbun Agency has continued to grow during the
for its excellence in business, a Rathbun years and currently employs four producers and 15 total
commitment to its customers, staff members. The Agency has always prided itself on
innovation and community service. its ability to demonstrate creativity, flexibility and the
ability to change in an evolving business market.
The Rathbun Agency has now
successfully transitioned to “We recognize that people do
its third generation of family business with people they
leadership. The agency was like,” said Rathbun. “People do
founded by two Rathbun brothers, business with people who invest
Jack and Jim, in 1956. The agency in their local community.”
began with no customers and one
company contract, but steadily Rathbun is deeply committed
grew through referrals as a result to building a more diverse
of their exceptional customer company and a more diverse
service. Paul Rathbun joined the company in 1983 and insurance industry, which has been dominated by
served as president until his untimely death in 2021. Ben white males. He works with the Wilson Talent Center
Rathbun, who had joined the firm in 2014 and became and the Lansing School District to mentor students
a partner in 2019 took over as company president after and connect them to the industry. He believes diversity
his father passed away. Ben feels the Outstanding Small doesn’t happen by accident.
Business is a validation of three generations of customer
and community focused leadership. “An insurance agency isn’t just going to become
diverse,” said Rathbun. “You have to intentionally make
“I am very blessed and grateful. The community is the your office more diverse.” l
backbone of everything we do at the Agency,” said
Rathbun. “My father always said he wanted to go
out and help the community where they are at. That
was his mantra his entire life. Even though we are Chamber Events
winning this award now, a lot of this is because of
the foundation my grandfather laid and my father Your Connection to Professional
continued to lay for his 39 years with the Agency. This is
REINVENTING HEALTH CARE
a culmination of three generation of community work.” Development and Networking Success
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The Rathbun Agency is involved in many community From professional development to
organizations. Ben Rathbun has been actively involved networking, the Lansing Regional
as a Support Group Facilitator at Ele’s Place-Capital Chamber of Commerce hosts NEW HEALTH CARE CAMPUS
Region and has joined the Ele’s Place Board. He is also events to fit every need.
active in recruiting the next generation of agents and OPENING SPRING 2022
is a frequent speaker at local high schools and college A full list of events is
risk management programs. Rathbun and all of the located on the
employees at the agency have been involved on local Chamber Calendar
boards and support many worthwhile organizations and on the LRCC website.
projects in the community including; Underground of
the Good, Lansing Rotary, Dewitt Sunrise Rotary, South
Lansing Business Association, Lansing YMCA, National

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2900 Collins Road
Lansing, MI 48910
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