Billy Wagner of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., garners top award from Brightway Insurance

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Brightway Insurance, one of the largest property/casualty agencies in the U.S., named Billy Wagner, Owner of Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach and Brightway, Deland, as its 2017 Agency Owner of the Year (Units). Wagner won the award for selling the most policies. Today, there are 152 Brightway stores across 19 states. Brightway’s leadership team presented the award to Wagner during the company’s annual Awards Celebration held Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Fla.

Wagner’s stores added 3,890 policies in 2017, driving annualized written premium to nearly $18 million by year-end. Wagner was one of the first people to open a Brightway store when he opened his store in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., in 2008. In 2015, he opened his office in Deland, Fla.

“We’re extremely proud of Billy Wagner and his team and look forward to this time each year when we recognize our top Agents like him,” said Brightway Co-Founder and Chairman, Michael Miller. “Brightway is a proven franchise system that provides an unparalleled, comprehensive system of support empowering store owners to outsell the competition three-to-one, grow their business and build an asset for their family.”

Not only did Wagner earn Brightway’s top award of the night, but also he received the Flood Award for selling the most Flood policiesand the Multi-Line Award for the second year in a row. Brightway honors the Store Owner with the highest year-end Home and Auto Multi-Line customer count with the Multi-Line Award.

Chris Huebener, who has been with Brightway, Ponte Vedra Beach since the store opened, earned the top award a Producer can achieve, the 2017 $2 Million Producer Award, for selling nearly $2.9 million in written premium in 2017. This is the second year in a row he has earned the award.

Northeast Florida Agents who received the $1 Million Producer Award include: Timothy Yarbrough from Brightway, Fernandina Beach; Justin Thompson from Brightway, The Carlucci Agency; and Erika Broom from Brightway, The Canty Agency.

In addition to awarding top Agents, Brightway named two Employees of the Year from its Corporate Office in Jacksonville. Lydia Register is a Customer Service Team Lead who has been with Brightway two years. Tracy Mulloy is an Accounting Commissions Manager who has been with Brightway four years. Both Employees of the Year have exhibited Brightway’s Core Values of Smart, Accountable and Trustworthy.

“Congratulations to Billy Wagner, Chris Huebener, Timothy Yarbrough, Justin Thompson, Erika Broom, Lydia Register and Tracy Mulloy on their 2017 achievements,” said Brightway President, Talman Howard. “Brightway franchisees focus on selling new business, which helps Agents achieve high production. We’re thrilled to see our Store Owners and Producers reach their potential by leveraging the Brightway system.”

Brightway Store Owners enjoy support in customer service, carrier relationships, marketing, accounting and technology. As a result, Brightway stores consistently outsell other insurance agencies three-to-one.*

About Brightway Insurance Brightway Insurance is a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent stores throughout the country. With more than $500 million in annualized written premium, the company is one of the largest property and casualty agencies in the United States.

Brightway began franchising operations in 2008 and has since grown to more than 700 people in 19 states serving customers in all 50 states. Forbes has recognized the company as America’s No. 1 Franchise to Buy. Additionally, the company was named a top franchise three years in a row by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America nine consecutive years by Inc. 5000. People wishing to learn more about franchise ownership with Brightway may visit our franchise page and find us on LinkedIn. Consumers seeking a better insurance buying experience may visit Brightway.com and find us on Facebook.