1885
Sidney Adams Real Estate, Insurance and Loans, 200 East Ridge Street
1894
301 South Front Street (303-305 building on South Front Street)
1900
Robert Peters, Fire Insurance Agent (purchased business from Sidney Adams)
1919
Robert T. Peters Insurance Agency (acquired father’s insurance business)
1933
Howard J. Larson joined the firm
1945
Entered into a partnership, name changed to Peters & Larson, Moved to 113 N. Front Street
1961
Howard H. Larson became a partner
1963
Wright & York agency purchased
1964
Pearce & Raikko agencies purchased
1964
Harold Raikko became a partner, name changed to Peters, Larson & Raikko
1969
Christine VanAbel joins the agency
1970
Purchased Marquette Firms: - Stickney Agency, Dolf Agency, Robertson Agency and North Michigan Agency
1970
9 full time, 2 part time employees
1972
William H. Weaver joins the agency
1973
Weaver becomes a partner, name changed to Larson, Raikko & Weaver, Inc.
1974
Munising branch established under the management of William M. Mazzali, named Mazzali Insurance
1975
William K. Hetrick & William A. Todd Jr. join the firm
1977
James T. Healy Agency of Houghton purchased
1977
William K. Hetrick & William A. Todd Jr. named as partners
1978
Larson, Raikko & Weaver Employee Benefits, Inc. is established
1978
People State Agency purchased and merged with Mazzali Agency
1979
Moved to 300 South Front Street (we're still here today!)
1979
Purchased Buckingham Insurance Agency in Newberry and Malloy Insurance Agency in Manistique
1979
Garceau Insurance, St. Onge Insurance, Jennings Insurance were established
1982
Corporate name changed to Northern Underwriters, Inc.
1982
Danielson Insurance Agency established
1982
Teft Agency established in Traverse City
1987
Name changed to Larson, Hetrick and Weaver
1988
Employs 73 people (including all branch offices)
1988
Scott White joins the agency
1988
Vincent Rose appointed as president of Larson, Raikko & Weaver Employee Benefits, Inc.
1989
Beaudin and Beaudin in Menominee purchased
1990
Larson, Raikko and Weaver Employee Benefits, Inc. name changed to Northern Underwriters Employee Benefits, Inc.
1993
Northern Underwriters Insurance opened in Sault Ste Marie
1993
Scott White becomes a partner in the firm
1993
Betsy Robar joins the agency
1997
Sold Danielson Insurance, Garceau Insurance, Mazzali Insurance, Employee Benefits
1997
Christine VanAbel and Scott White named partners of Northern Underwriters, Inc. along with Bill Hetrick
1998
Name changed to Hetrick & Associates Insurance Agency
1998
Betsy Robar becomes a partner in the newly established Robar Life & Health LLC
2010
Name changed to VAST
2011
Pam Hillier, Tom Cousineau and Jay Hillier become partners in the firm
2011
Bill Hetrick retires from the firm
2011
Received Business Community Catalyst Award from the Marquette Community Foundation
2012
Received Distinguished Service Award from the Lake Superior Community Partnership
2015
Agency celebrates 130 year anniversary
2016
VAST becomes Acrisure Agency Partner
2017
City Insurance Agency merges with VAST and moves to 300 S. Front St.
2017
Received 2017 Business Leader Award from the Rotary Club of Marquette
2017
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2017)
2018
Recognized as a Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
2019
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2019)
2019
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
2019
Our office building at 300 S. Front St. renamed 'The Christine A. VanAbel Building" in honor of Chris VanAbel
2019
Chris VanAbel inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame
2019
Chris VanAbel featured as an Elite Woman in the Insurance Industry by Insurance Business America
2020
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
2020
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2020)
2020
Recognized as Best Places to Work in Insurance by Business Insurance & Best Companies Group
2021
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007-2021)
2021
Recognized as Best Places to Work in Insurance by Business Insurance & Best Companies Group (2020-2021)
2021
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America (2018-2021)
2022
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America (2018-2022)
