Julie E. Thompson, Murphy Insurance Agency
Thompson
Murphy Insurance Agency, based in Hudson, recently hired Julie E. Thompson as business insurance producer at the agency's new Medway office. In this Q&A, she talks about going from a small agency to a bigger one, her ambition to get involved in the broader business community and her former ambition to go into criminal justice.
Residence: Bellingham
Family: Elementary school age daughter who is active in the drama club and softball
Education: Bachelor's in criminal justice from Newbury College in Brookline
Previous job: Commercial insurance producer for a local agency in the Milford area
Start date at new job: Aug. 31
Q. How are you settling in at your new office?
A. Exceptionally well. The team at Murphy Insurance has been more than gracious in helping me to acclimate to agency by getting to know the various technology systems and getting to learn the differences of the products and insurance companies we work with. And, our new office in Medway is beautiful, so it's great just walking through the door every day.
Q. What's the biggest surprise you've had in starting the job?
A. How large the agency is and how many different insurance companies we work with. In my previous job, I only had about six different companies I could quote insurance with, but at Murphy Insurance we work with more than 30 companies regularly plus have hundreds more we can access. I can do much more for business owners to find the best options tailored to their needs.
Q. What challenges do you see in your new position?
A. The biggest challenge is getting the opportunity to talk with business owners about their protection. People are often reluctant to talk with other agents, like me, because they figure if it's not broken don't fix it or that it's a hassle to compare options. I'm always amazed at how often I talk with someone only to find out that don't have the coverage they thought they had. Also, people often think that all independent insurance agents are the same...and they aren't. Who you get your insurance from can make a huge difference not only in getting the right coverage but also getting the support you need if something happens.
Q. How different is this job from your previous position?
A. Murphy Insurance is much larger. Most people don't realize that we have seven offices and 85 people on staff. For me, that means that I can focus on talking to more businesses and spend more time understanding their needs. I have a whole team that supports me in getting insurance quotes, so we're able to be more thorough and really look for the best option. It's so much easier for me and much better for the customer.
Q. How close is this to what you imagined in high school you'd end up doing?
A. Not even close. I always thought I wanted to work in the criminal justice field in some fashion, but towards the end of earning my degree, I came to realize that it just wasn't for me. While I finished my degree, I ended up going in a different direction. I've always enjoyed people and helping them and that's exactly what I do now.
Q. Where's the best place to get lunch near your new location?
A. Restaurant 45 in Medway. I even go there for dinner!
Q. What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
A. Similar to what I'm doing now but perhaps with even larger businesses with more complex needs. I'd also like to sit on boards of corporations or local groups where I can use my expertise.
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