Mixing Business and Passion

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get."--Warren Buffet

This well-known business philosophy may be attributed to the oracle of Omaha, but it's one that's also embraced by Bill Rush.

Rush, president of Port Wayne's The DeHayes Group, a local company that provides insurance to more than 1,100 businesses and 1,700 families, strives to be proactive in his business approach and exceed expectations beyond insurance (his organiaation's motto), as well.

But with ever-changing government regulations and an economic pinch that has put many small insurance providers out of business, how dues Rush change a company motto into a genuine passion?

The answer may lie in The DeHayes Group's history. In 1982 David DeHayes founded The DeHayes Group as a commercial property and casualty insurance agency. Eventually it expanded into personal home and automobile insurance, employee benefits and then a separate senior benefits division. By continued growth earned through meeting community insurance needs, as well acquisitions, DeHayes has become one of the area's leading insurance providers.

Rush joined DeHayes in 1985 and bought the company from David DeHayes in April 2005, leaving the name intact, as it had garnered a positive reputation. Like Warren Buffet, Rush believes value, and is committed to offering a product that protects client assets while fostering relationships.

"We don't 'sell' insurance to anyone," Rush says. "We buy insurance for clients based on risks that we have mutually agreed to handle through insurance. What sets us apart from our competition is that we work closely with decision makers in both businesses and families to guide them through the process of making informed decisions about risk. Insurance is a way we handle their exposure to loss."

It seems as though DeHayes' clients would agree, as learning their business becomes integral to helping protect them from loss.

"We've worked with The DeHayes Group for over 25 years,"

says Gregg Parrish, president of Commercial Warehouse and Cartage Inc. "During that time it has consistently proven to be knowledgeable about the insurance marketplace and an advocate for us anytime there is a claim. It has become a true partner, helping us make informed business decisions about the treatment of the risks we face."

In order to provide a superior product at a competitive rate, in 2006 DeHayes became a partner in the Keystone Insurers Group, an organization owned by more than 225 agency partners. The cooperative purchasing power the group allowed members to compete both locally and nationally with large insurance brokers, yet permits the organization to remain locally owned and focused. This cooperative purchasing power becomes crucial as the local and national economic climates change and dollars spent on insurance are reduced. Employee benefits are on a downturn as companies put a freeze on hiring, and in 2011 employees experienced significant losses, causing the price of insurance to rise in a poor economy. Rush, however, sees an opportunity for success and eventual expansion in spite of the challenges. Other local insurance agencies have merged because of the economic crunch, creating fewer competitors, and DeHayes' local ownership continues to he beneficial.

"The key to the success of our business is the quality of the people working here," Rush says. "We find the best people we can and give them the opportunity to grow. Fort Wayne isn't small, but it's like a small community in that people want to have a personal relationship with those they do business with. So we make those relationships our top priority."

The DeHayes Group

Locations: Main office: 5150 West Jefferson Boulevard

Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

North office: 11118 Coldwater Road

Fort Wayne, Indiana 46845

President: William A. Rush, CPCU, ARM

Phone: (260) 424-5826

Fax: (260) 422-5801

Email: bill@dehayes.com

Website: www.dehayes.com

Number of employees: 37

Years in business: 29

Services provided: The DeHayes Group insures businesses large and small in the areas of property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and personal home and auto insurance, and has a separate senior benefits division. The company insures more than 1,100 businesses and 1,700 families.

Products & Services

The DeHayes Group insures businesses large and small in the areas of property and casualty insurance; employee benefits; and personal, home and auto insurance; and has a separate senior benefits division. The following are some of the products and services the company offers:

Business insurance:

* Disaster preparedness

* Trucking

* Contractors and home builders

* Apartments and condominiums

* Gun Shops

* Health Clubs

* Hospitals

DeHayes also uses a compliance check system in order to develop comprehensive risk management for each client. This includes worker's compensation modification, risk transfer, business income insurance and OSHA awareness.

Personal insurance:

* Auto and motorcycle

* Recreational vehicle and watercraft

* Homeowners, renters, condo and rental property insurance

* Flood

* Umbrella policy

* Individual life insurance

* Individual health insurance

Employee benefits:

DeHayes helps employers choose a plan for employees based on:

* Affordability

* Monthly premiums

* Extent of coverage

* Deductibles

* Use of health insurance network

Senior benefits:

Senior benefits refers to policies that help clients maintain independence during the aging process. Policies include Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage coverage. This long-term care insurance helps defray the cost of serious illness, injury or disability that results in ongoing care, a growing concern for aging populations.