Meet Deborah Vela of Vela Insurance Agency, Inc. in Lakewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Vela.

Deborah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began my agency ownership experience in 1998, when my daughters were 6 and 7. I left a corporate job that paid very well and took a leap of faith, although I had never sold anything in my life. Little did I realize we are all in sales every day of our lives as we indirectly promote ourselves in many different ways throughout each and every day. I began in a two-room office with only my husband to support me as financially we could not afford to hire support staff. Six months later, I hired Taunyia Ortiz, who was my secretary in my previous employment. We are still together, and she has been one of the bookends I rely on to keep me focused. The other bookend is, of course, my husband Carlos, who has been by my side since day one. Although he had his own career as a Denver Firefighter, he was able to partner with me on his days off. It was a challenging time with two small daughters and start-up business. We struggled and worked hard. In the beginning, I would find myself at the office at 4:00 in the morning because I wanted to make this business work for my family and me. Within four years, we were starting to see our efforts pay off. I transitioned to an Independent Agent where I could represent multiple insurance carriers. We continued steady growth through the years, adding employees and in 2013 purchasing our own building to house the agency.

My husband worked very hard for two months to remodel the building, and we moved on the same date as our wedding anniversary 24 years later. We have continued to grow our business and have a staff of 11, including both of our daughters. Rachel has been with us for eight years and Natalia for five years. Rachel runs our Commercial Division, and Natalia is a Team Lead for personal lines. Our staff also includes four bilingual insurance advisors and three bilingual client care specialists. All of my employees are Latina females and all millennials, except for Taunyia and me. This year we have experienced three pregnancies among our team, and that is the challenge and blessing of employing all women. The three new babies are Victoria, Hope and Olive – more beautiful girls. One has arrived, and two more to be born soon. Throughout the past 22 years, the journey has been gratifying while at the same time, a demanding process of learning and growing into a successful endeavor with many rewards. For me personally, I am grateful for an opportunity that was not handed to me but, rather, required the tenacity to overcome the many obstacles any business owner encounters on the road to achieving success. Most importantly, I work with my daughters in a family-owned business and I have lunch with them every day. Ultimately, the legacy I hope to leave for my daughters and grandchildren is that hard work does pay off, and the proof is in the agency my team and I have built.

Has it been a smooth road?
The most difficult struggle is finding the right team. I have hired the wrong people at times, and hiring the wrong people delays growth and is a cause of much stress. Insurance is very complicated, and there is a long training curve, and everyone needs to be licensed. So, hiring right is critical. The struggle to grow is always a challenge. Not only do we have to sell, but we also have to retain business and be profitable. I am responsible for many companies for our overall performance. This isn’t easy, but we have been able to satisfy the requirements put upon us by our carriers and are proud of this fact.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are an independent insurance agency, which means we represent multiple carriers and can offer a wide range of products to our clients. We are also able to provide insurance through broker’s that offer high-risk products for our commercial clients. We are known for providing bilingual services and approximately 60% of our clientele are Spanish speaking. We are most proud of being a successful family-owned business. What makes us different and sets us apart is our bilingual team.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Since our city is growing, insurance remains a viable and respectable profession. Local universities are now offering insurance classes and degrees in Risk Management, and young people are beginning to see the value of a career in insurance. Yes, I would recommend a career in insurance for someone just starting out and would also recommend formal insurance classes and working towards professional designations available to insurance professionals. There are many support organizations that provide training.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5285 W. Louisiana Ave
  Lakewood, CO 80232
• Website: www.velainsurance.net
• Phone: 720.550.6527
• Email: deb@velainsurance.net
• Facebook: facebook.com/velainsuranceagency

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