If Farm Bureau had a
cheerleader, her name
would be Theresa Perre.
Nationwide agent Theresa Perre’s
support – no, passion – for Farm Bureau
has its roots in a visit to a family member’s
farm when she was a child. It made a
lasting impression. Years later, she had an
epiphany during a trip to the grocery store.
“When I buy eggs,” she mused, “I want to be
sure that the next time I come back to the
grocery store, they are sitting there on the
shelf, nice and shiny in their cartons, ready
for me to buy. If we don’t stand up for our
farmers, they aren’t going to be there. It’s
that simple.” So Perre began offering Farm
Bureau memberships to her customers – not
for the sake of selling a policy, but because
it supports farmers. She simply believes “it’s
the right thing to do.”
Theresa Perre has been a Nationwide
agent for a little more than a year, having
taken over the Erwin Agency, and presently
has offices in Hurricane, Cross Lanes and
St. Albans, West Virginia. Prior to her work
with Nationwide, she spent several years
as an insurance agent for a competitor.
Originally from New Orleans, Perre fell
head-over-heels for a native West Virginian,
and was equally smitten with the Mountain
State. “I think it’s the greatest place ever,”
she says.
Perre admits she’s a city girl, and had to
educate herself about farming. She got a
catalog from a local farm supply store, and
studied it cover to cover, to become familiar
with the tools of the trade, so to speak. She
asks lots of questions, and takes every
educational opportunity to improve her
knowledge. “If I’m going to sell it, I have to
understand it.” She’s even become more
involved as a Farm Bureau member, so that
she can better understand her customers’
needs.
Just recently, Perre wrote a policy for
some FB members who had never had their
property insured as a farm before. Theresa
wrote a passionate defense of these folks
and their farm. The policyholder, so moved
by what Perre wrote, cried.
When asked about the future, Perre is
equally passionate. “I just want to be on top
of the list,” she states unapologetically. She
wants to be a 10-million dollar agency, an
ambitious goal for any agent. Apparently,
she had enough business after just her first
year to qualify for the Nationwide Champions
Conference, a significant achievement
for any agent, but missed the deadline to
register. “That won’t happen again,” she
states firmly. “I built the agency on loyalty,
honesty and production,” says Perre. She
won’t compromise honesty for the sake of
making a sale. “We don’t do business that
way.”
Perre is helped in her quest by a
dedicated staff – not the least of whom is
Deloris Harless. Harless worked for the
previous owner of the agency, and Theresa
insisted Harless stay when she bought
the business. “Deloris is my ‘ambassador
of good will’. I’d love to clone her, she’s
brilliant!” During Harless’ husband’s recent
hospital stay, Deloris was relaying the
benefits of a Nationwide policy to the waiting
room occupants. “Deloris sincerely believes
she had something that would benefit these
folks. It wasn’t just about making a sale.”
In her spare time, or what there is of it,
Perre stays involved in her children’s school
activities and in their church. She applies
the same passion to everything she does,
and believes a good work ethic is important
for herself as well as for her children. “My
philosophy is, have the time to do it right, or
have the time to do it again.”
It’s a safe bet that there aren’t many doovers in Perre’s world.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News
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