During its regular monthly meeting, the Keytesville Chamber of Commerce selected Rick Jones, Agent of Shelter Insurance Company as the business of the month for December 2018.
The Jones name has been associated with the Shelter Insurance Office in Keytesville since January 1, 1947, with Rick’s Father, J.C. Jones, receiving his charter at that time.
Rick took over the business in 2008, but has been affiliated with Shelter Insurance Company since 1992, and has completed over 25 years representing Shelter Insurance. Rick believes that the Shelter Office in Keytesville is one of a very small number of Shelter Agencies that have been in business for that long and operated by the same extended family members.
When Rick was asked what he enjoyed most about working as the Shelter Insurance Agent for Keytesville, he quickly replied that he liked being able to meet his customers or new customers and to try to find the right fit for them when it came to their insurance needs. Sometimes an insured will have a tragedy or a set of very serious circumstances, but having the proper insurance can help them get through their difficulties. Rick takes great satisfaction in being there for his customers when they need him.
When Rick was asked what he thought would be some changes coming in the insurance business in the coming years, he said that technology has already greatly impacted how the insurance business is run, from the use of computers, to smart phones, Facebook, and other technological innovations. He takes pride, however, in still being an agent that people can talk to face to face and having an agency with a storefront presence. He indicated that his agency can be contacted in various ways as through an online website and or by email provided by Shelter Insurance Companies.
Rick is quite involved in the Keytesville community and presently serves as Fire Chief for the Keytesville Fire Protection District, is a member of the Keytesville Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund Board, member of the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (Chariton River Full Strutters), member of the Keytesville FFA Alumni and has also served on the Keytesville R-3 School Board and has worked with the 4H as a firearms instructor.
In Rick’s spare time he enjoys hunting, collecting old fire department memorabilia, doing a little gunsmithing, and attending St. Louis Blues hockey games. He is married to the former LaVena Pearman. They are the parents of three children: Zach Jones who works for Enbridge Pipeline and lives in Salisbury, MO; Becca Jones who lives Columbia, MO and works for Voluntary Action Center of Boone County and Brayden Sanders, Keytesville, who has just graduated from the Fire Academy that was held in Hannibal, MO.
Congratulations to Rick Jones, Agent of Shelter Insurance Company for being the Keytesville Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month for December 2018.