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George Williams, who is an agent for Shelter Insurance Co. in Smithville, said he is “getting out and doing Smithville” after about 15 months in the community.

One of the biggest Smithville Chamber of Commerce events each year is Octoberfest and Williams accepted the role of vice president for this year’s festival.

“We’ve been chamber members for about two months,” he said.

Also, the company is giving away two $1,500 scholarships this year — one to a Smithville High School senior and another to a senior in Plattsburg.

Williams has been an agent with Shelter Insurance for more than 20 years. He could have applied for work at any insurance company, but he chose Shelter for a reason.

“I (was insured by) Shelter Insurance previously, so I decided to go with them,” he said.

He said with no Shelter Insurance presence in Smithville, he moved here for the opportunity. Previously he had offices in Grandview and south Kansas City.

“It’s been a great move for us,” Williams said.

Awards line one of the walls in the Shelter Insurance office lobby. Williams has received many over the decades. Among them is the 1999 Agent of the Year Award. And Shelter named Williams a Champion Agent for 2009. The award is given to those agents who have demonstrated outstanding personal service and overall excellence in agency administration.

Williams said he believes that excellent customer service is what makes his insurance company a cut above others.

“We do all the legwork and follow up if there’s a wreck,” he said.

Mary Ciurej, who is a sales associate, helps ensure that clients have a pleasant customer service experience. She lives in Gladstone and feels at home in Smithville.

“I love it here,” Ciurej said. “I work under George, and I’m licensed to sell property and casualty insurance.”

Williams said he spent the first year after moving to Smithville trying to keep his clientele. He projected he would lose about 10 percent of them, but only one or two went elsewhere, he said.

THE DETAILS

- Address: 111 N. U.S. Highway 169
- Phone: 532-2600
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
- E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Web site: www.shelterinsurance.com/georgewilliams

Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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