CAZENOVIA — This year, The Willard Insurance Group of Cazenovia is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Owned by Philip Willard and located at 114 Albany St., the agency offers insurance advisory services for auto, home, business, and life.
Looking back at his time in Cazenovia, Willard expressed his great appreciation for the community for embracing and supporting his business throughout the years.
“It has been such a privilege to serve this awesome lake community over the last 20 years, and [I] plan to continue [to do so] for many more years,” Willard said.
Willard currently employs three licensed insurance producers — Paul Little, Jake Fesko, and Patty Smith, who is also the office manager. Fesko is new this year, Smith has been part of the team for over five years, and Little has been with the business for over 12 years.
According to Willard, he and his employees strive to position The Willard Insurance Group “Above all in customer service.”
“Erie Insurance is our core carrier, and they hold the same core values and are rated consistently at the top of New York State insurance office [lists] when it comes to customer service,” Willard said. “We are proud of how we handle our clients and consistently post a 93 percent retention rate.”
He added that even in today’s electronic world, The Willard Insurance Group is still focused on meeting every client in person.
Willard grew up in Camillus and went to West Genesee High School.
After a time living in Washington DC, Willard returned to Central New York in 1995 with his wife, Amy, who grew up in Dallas, Texas.
“After touring the Cazenovia area, we decided that it would be a great place to settle down and raise a family,” Willard said. “[It’s] one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”
Willard and Amy, who recently retired from the special education department at Burton Street Elementary School, share two daughters who were both born and raised in Cazenovia — Emily, a registered nurse at Duke Medical, and Sarah, a women’s lacrosse coach at Elon University.
Willard worked in the commercial real estate field for ten years after moving back to CNY. After consulting with a few good friends in the insurance field, however, he decided to open a small insurance business in the Village of Cazenovia.
The Willard Insurance Group started out in a storefront on Lincklaen Street across from the post office.
Six years ago, the business purchased its current building, which is now undergoing a complete renovation.
Outside of his business, Willard is actively involved in the Cazenovia community.
He previously served as president of the United Community Chest of Cazenovia, Fenner & Nelson and sat on its board of directors. He served on the board of CazCares and is the current president of the Cazenovia Country Club. He has also volunteered as a driver for the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps and as a girls’ lacrosse coach.
“In a small town like this, you can be as involved in the community as you want to [be],” he said. “All the organizations that I have been involved [in] were very receptive and made helping them very rewarding.”
For more information on The Willard Insurance Group, call 315-655-2424 or visit “The Willard Insurance Group” Facebook page.
