One of Bradley County's largest and oldest independent insurance agencies, McIntire & Associates, has merged with Landmark Insurance in Cleveland and will now be called McIntire Insurance.
The insurance agencies combined operations and are part of the Chattanooga-based RSS Insurance, which acquired Landmark three years ago.
"There is no question that the partnership of McIntire & Associates and Landmark Insurance will provide a wider array of services, products and insurance knowledge to Cleveland and Bradley County," said Jordia Waller, a principal at Landmark Insurance said. "While many other opportunities to merge have come over the years, this alliance has proven to be the best for our clientele and for us as a company as we grow into the future."
Although the two companies combined operations last month, individual and business clients of McIntire and Landmark still use the same phone and email contacts. McIntire had 13 agents and Landmark had seven agents.
We're still the same neighborly service you expect," said Bob McIntire, owner of McIntire and Associates who started the insurance agency with his father in 1981.
"My family is deeply rooted in this community," McIntire said. "My grandfather started Cornutt Insurance in 1948. My dad joined him in business in 1955 and the name changed to Cornutt and McIntire Insurance."
After the company was sold in 1972, McIntire created the current agency nine years later "to fill the growing insurance needs of Cleveland and Bradley County.
"Our goal has always been to provide our customers with the best locally owned and operated, full-service insurance agency." McIntire said. "Combining with Landmark Insurance allows us to continue that legacy and benefits our loyal customers and new customer alike."
The companies are owned by RSS Insurance, a privately owned regional independent insurance brokerage firm started in Chattanooga in 1973.
- Compiled by Dave Flessner