When Canaan Hillery looks around his hometown of Los Angeles, he sees dozens of projects he’s been involved with over time: schools, airports, bridges, harbors, police departments, to name a few. As a surety bond agent for over 10 years, he has been instrumental in bringing these — and many more — projects to life.
At Canaan Insurance Agency, his clientele ranges from very small sole proprietors who are difficult to bond, to large contractors with big projects. “You put on the different hats,” he says. “I go from talking to someone who knows nothing about bonding and educating them, to high-intensity VIP clients, where I have to get very creative and extend someone’s limits higher. It’s almost two different jobs.”
Whether big or small, he meets his clients where they are, calling on a variety of programs that are the best fit for each situation. One of these programs is the Contractor Development and Bonding Program (CDABP). He was introduced to the Program in 2008, when he attended a Bond Assistance “Bootcamp” seminar shortly after he opened his own shop. He has steadily worked with the Program over the years. “It’s a fantastic program — and fun explaining to clients,” he says. “They don’t believe me when I tell them there are no catches, outside of funds control. People are always surprised, and sometimes even shocked. But once I convince them, the next thing you know they are part of the program and getting bonds.”
He revels in the many examples where the work pays off. “I’ve seen a lot of success cases. When the cards fall right, people who started off very small find only a year later they are getting bonds they just didn’t expect they would. That is so rewarding, and it feels good to help people.” He remembers one client cried when they got approved.
But his company does more than issue bonds. It’s a relationship built on trust, and the job naturally includes a lot of listening and coaching. He also prides himself on his personal touch — something he says a large firm can’t offer. “I know all of my active clients personally, and I keep in contact with all of my inactively bidding clients,” he says. Many people also appreciate his accessibility “Clients can call me 24/7 with questions and I'm there to support them,” he says.
With insurance in his blood — his father was a claims attorney — there’s nothing he’d rather do. While he loves his clients, his entrepreneurial spirit means that he also loves learning new things. Recently, he worked with a client on a pharmacy bond. “I had never done one before, and I learned a lot,” he says. “And who knows? It may end up being a niche.”
Broker Partner Spotlight:
Canaan Insurance Agency
Canaan Hillery
Canaan Insurance Agency
ph: 818-599-7555
fax: 818-704-8591
License # 0F93657
May 2018 CDABP SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER