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Insurance Associates is a family-owned and operated agency in Middletown, owned by several third-generation business partners, including Gregg Grimes, whose grandfather started his agency in the 1940s.
Grimes said his grandfather Ralph Grimes was a mail carrier in town when a man on his route — who was in the insurance business — asked if he wanted to buy him out so he could retire.
“The rest is history,” Gregg Grimes said.
Gregg’s father, Bob, went to work with his father Ralph in the business after graduating from Ohio State University and serving for a time in the Air Force. Gregg followed his father to Ohio State and after working for several years at Nationwide Insurance, he returned to Middletown and joined the family agency.
“Ohio State is one of a few colleges that offer a degree in insurance and risk management,” Grimes said. “And the Columbus area is No. 2 in the country for home offices of insurance carriers, so it is a great place to learn the business.”
Grimes said he grew interested in insurance while growing up because it is a “people business,” which he learned by watching his father deal with people every day.
Grimes said in 1968, several individual agencies formed the partnership as it stands today.
“They came together to form this group so they could gain the efficiencies of one,” Grimes said. “It’s really worked well.”
Grimes said it has worked so well that the partners now have 27 employees here in the Middletown office, three in Lexington, Ky., and one of Nashville, Tenn.
The office used to be located on South Main Street, then moved into the building now housing Cincinnati State. In 1999, it relocated to the current location at 1061 University Blvd.
“We have a great home here,” Grimes said. “And it was important for us to stay here when we looked at moving in 1999. There was no thought of leaving Middletown because the location is right in the center and we’ve been able to pick up some talented folks to work here.”
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