Meet Jim Concannon: Our President, CEO & Owner
As a family business, it seems as though insurance and risk management is part of the Concannon family’s DNA. Jim Concannon -- our President, CEO and Owner -- has been in this business and with this company for more than 30 years. Get to know Jim and learn more about his passion for this industry in this Q&A.
Q: Tell us about your family’s history in this business and why it was important to you to be a part of the industry.
A: I worked under my grandfather, Emmett Concannon, and my father, Michael Concannon, both of whom taught me the importance of personal relationships and trust within this business -- not to mention the ins-and-outs of the insurance industry. Our company was actually started by my great-grandfather, Jeremiah, making me the fourth-generation business owner.
For me, the beauty of this industry is that we’re in the business of protecting people’s hard-earned money, their assets and the lives that they build. Insurance is perhaps not the most glamorous of industries, but to me, it’s meaningful work, knowing I’m able to forge lasting relationships with my clients and help decipher complex topics that translate into protection for them.
Q: Where do you call home?
A: Right now, I’m lucky to have two: one in St. Louis, and one in New York City. I spend time in both cities with my husband, Jason.
Q: What lessons have you learned in the era of COVID-19?
A: One important thing that I’ve learned and that I practice daily is to live more in the present moment. In my business life, that translates into me reflecting on how business had been conducted in the past, and how that’s evolving in the time of working remotely and social distancing.
Since personal relationships are crucial to me -- and since I can’t simply go out to lunch or dinner with friends and clients as easily as before -- I’ve been working to be more present online. It’s helped me maintain touchpoints with my friends and clients, and even opened up new avenues of communication with them. It’s been a crash course into being flexible and adapting, for sure.
Q: What is your #1 piece of advice for someone wanting to become an insurance broker?
A: That, to be a broker, you must possess an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to help you create your own destiny in this industry. There is no guidebook (and certainly not during a pandemic!), so having that drive is key to your success.
Another essential part of being an insurance broker is cultivating personal relationships and earning and building the trust of your clients.
Q: What advice would you give to a new startup or a new director of a non-profit trying to navigate the world of insurance and risk management for their brand?
A: When you’re starting a business or a new job, you will wear a lot of hats and juggle a lot of roles. My best piece of advice for them would be to look for a knowledgeable, trustworthy consultative insurance broker; someone you can entrust to handle the insurance and risk-assessment aspects of the business so you don’t have to.
At The Concannon Agency, for example, many of our clients view us as a partner or extension to their team since we know the ins-and-outs of this industry and can consult with them to make sound recommendations for whatever challenges they’re facing at the time.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of being in this business?
A: What I enjoy most about my career is fostering relationships with my clients and delivering a service or product that creates value for them -- whether it’s that we secured substantial coverage for them for less of an investment, or that we’ve helped them avoid a significant loss for their company. I hear these anecdotes from my clients daily, and it is these daily “wins” that are hands down the most rewarding part of my job.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to a business or nonprofit that is struggling in the time of COVID-19?
A: COVID-19 has impacted us all to varying degrees and in different ways, so there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach for anyone these days. Whether it’s a restaurant that has had to lay off employees and should re-evaluate their workers’ compensation coverage, or a company whose employees are largely working from home and therefore are more prone to cybersecurity threats, the best thing I can advise is to call me or their insurance broker to have an honest discussion about the unique challenges they are facing. From there, we can tailor a coverage plan to help.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: One of my favorite things to do is traveling, and, I also love dining out and trying new cuisines -- and I can’t wait to resume those activities when it is safe to do so! I also enjoy water-skiing, wakeboarding, and boating; essentially all types of water sports. Staying in shape, whether by running half-marathons or strength training, is also important to me.
I also enjoy reading, and if you’re looking for a good business read, I recommend the book I’m reading now: How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life, by Caroline Webb.
Q: Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
A: I’ve discovered recently that I really enjoy water polo! I’ve been attending my nephew’s water polo matches for the last two years, and it’s become an unexpected hobby of mine ever since.
Now that you’ve gotten to know Jim, he’d love to get to know you. Send him an email any time at jconcannon@craneagency.com.
