-
1885
Sidney Adams Real Estate, Insurance and Loans, 200 East Ridge Street
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1894
301 South Front Street (303-305 building on South Front Street)
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1900
Robert Peters, Fire Insurance Agent (purchased business from Sidney Adams)
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1919
Robert T. Peters Insurance Agency (acquired father’s insurance business)
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1933
Howard J. Larson joined the firm
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1945
Entered into a partnership, name changed to Peters & Larson, Moved to 113 N. Front Street
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1960
3 employees
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1961
Howard H. Larson became a partner
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1963
Wright & York agency purchased
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1964
Pearce & Raikko agencies purchased
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1964
Harold Raikko became a partner, name changed to Peters, Larson & Raikko
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1969
Christine VanAbel joins the agency
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1970
Purchased Marquette Firms: - Stickney Agency, Dolf Agency, Robertson Agency and North Michigan Agency
-
1970
9 full time, 2 part time employees
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1972
William H. Weaver joins the agency
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1973
Weaver becomes a partner, name changed to Larson, Raikko & Weaver, Inc.
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1974
Munising branch established under the management of William M. Mazzali, named Mazzali Insurance
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1975
William K. Hetrick & William A. Todd Jr. join the firm
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1977
20 Employees
-
1977
James T. Healy Agency of Houghton purchased
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1977
William K. Hetrick & William A. Todd Jr. named as partners
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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
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1979
Garceau Insurance, St. Onge Insurance, Jennings Insurance were established
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1982
Corporate name changed to Northern Underwriters, Inc.
-
1982
Danielson Insurance Agency established
-
1982
Teft Agency established in Traverse City
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1987
Name changed to Larson, Hetrick and Weaver
-
1988
Employs 73 people (including all branch offices)
-
1988
Scott White joins the agency
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1988
Vincent Rose appointed as president of Larson, Raikko & Weaver Employee Benefits, Inc.
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1989
Beaudin and Beaudin in Menominee purchased
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1990
Larson, Raikko and Weaver Employee Benefits, Inc. name changed to Northern Underwriters Employee Benefits, Inc.
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1993
Northern Underwriters Insurance opened in Sault Ste Marie
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1993
Scott White becomes a partner in the firm
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1993
Betsy Robar joins the agency
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1997
Sold Danielson Insurance, Garceau Insurance, Mazzali Insurance, Employee Benefits
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1997
Christine VanAbel and Scott White named partners of Northern Underwriters, Inc. along with Bill Hetrick
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1998
Name changed to Hetrick & Associates Insurance Agency
-
1998
Betsy Robar becomes a partner in the newly established Robar Life & Health LLC
-
2006
25 employees, revenue of agency tripled from 1997-2006
-
2010
31 employees
-
2010
Name changed to VAST
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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
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2012
Received Distinguished Service Award from the Lake Superior Community Partnership
-
2012
Agency acheived $4 Million in revenue (Personal Insurance $1 Million, Commercial Insurance $2 Million)
-
2012
34 employees
-
2013
Benefits Division acheived $1 Million in Rrevenue
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2013
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2014)
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2015
Agency celebrates 130 year anniversary
-
2016
VAST becomes Acrisure Agency Partner
-
2017
City Insurance Agency becomes Acrisure 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
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2017
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2017)
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2018
Recognized as a Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
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2019
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2019)
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2019
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
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2019
Our office building at 300 S. Front St. renamed 'The Christine A. VanAbel Building" in honor of Chris VanAbel
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2019
Chris VanAbel inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame
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2019
Chris VanAbel featured as an Elite Woman in the Insurance Industry by Insurance Business America
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2020
Recognized as Top Insurance Workplace by Insurance Business America
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2020
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007 - 2020)
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2020
Recognized as Best Places to Work in Insurance by Business Insurance & Best Companies Group
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2021
Best Practices Agency Designation (2007-2021)
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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)
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The enrollment period for 2023 individual and family health plans ended on January 15. Please contact us to determine if you qualify for a special enrollment period.
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