The Nelson Insurance Agency, Inc. was founded in 1975 by John B. Nelson, Jr. as an independent property and casualty insurance agency. In 1993, John B. Nelson III purchased a book of insurance business and began his career at the Agency. Upon the death of his father in 1995, John purchased the outstanding shares of Nelson Insurance and became Agency President. Don Smith – who had been with Nelson Insurance since 1981 -- elected to continue with the Agency. In February 1996, Rick Hawkins joined with the merger his Kentucky Insurance Management agency.
In July 1996, the Agency further expanded to provide group and individual health and life insurance and other employee benefits to its existing clients and others. Since then, the Agency’s employee benefits expertise and offerings have steadily grown with the addition of talented, experienced insurance professionals, including the following: Melvin Howard, who joined this Agency in October 1996; Darin Stanfield in March 2004; Kim Logan and Reggie Davis in May 2006; and Tim Garrett in December 2008.
In 1997, Tom Monarch joined the Nelson Insurance Group with the creation of Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Ltd., a Nelson Insurance Agency affiliate. Nelson/Monarch was founded to develop a program of comprehensive property and casualty insurance for public entities in Kentucky. By 2001, the aggregate annual premium for public entities placed through that program exceeded $12 million. In 2001, Nelson/Monarch was sold to Arthur J. Gallagher, the world’s fourth largest insurance broker, with Tom and his son Bryan joining Gallagher to continue developing that program.
In addition to serving the general insurance needs of businesses, families and individuals through Nelson Insurance, we have continued to develop programs and expertise for specific commercial insurance niches. Nelson Insurance currently has the endorsement of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association for non-franchised auto dealers, with Steve Riggs leading that effort. Steve, who joined this Agency in September 2002, also has developed a particular expertise in insurance and risk management solutions for fire departments. In 2003, this Agency successfully developed a property and casualty insurance program for apartment complexes and other habitational risks. Nick Clark, who joined this Agency in August 2000, has developed specific expertise insuring labor unions. Curt Royce, who joined in March 2008, has long been a leading Kentucky insurance agent for marinas and other marine related risks.
In 2006, Tom Monarch rejoined this insurance group with the licensing of Commonwealth Risk Solutions, Ltd., an affiliated agency. CRS currently serves as one of the Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust’s exclusive marketing representatives for Kentucky School Boards of Education in Central Kentucky. CRS also is the exclusively endorsed agency for the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. In April 2008, Bryan Monarch joined CRS to assist Tom in these efforts.
KDA Insurance Services LLC is another affiliate of the Nelson Insurance Group. Under the leadership of Kim Logan, KDAIS has been exclusively endorsed by the Kentucky Dental Association since 2008 to provide insurance and risk management solutions for KDA member dentists.
In July 2008, this Agency created its Founder’s Club to honor longstanding key contributors to the Agency’s success. John B. Nelson, Jr. and Donald A. Smith were inducted as the first members.
This Agency continues to attract talented, experienced insurance professionals. In July 2010, Steve Waterfill rejoined this Agency, along with Tyler Ochs and Rachel Waterfill. Brad Stewart joined this Agency in March 2011, and Lisa Aubrey Bentley joined in May 2011.