Allstate Ramps Up Small Business Recruiting Effort in Mid Atlantic

FAIRFAX, Va., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With National Small Business Week kicking off this week, Allstate Insurance Company today announced it is recruiting an additional 56 small business owners interested in owning an insurance agency to meet growing consumer demand for insurance and financial services products in the mid-Atlantic region.

In addition, current Allstate agency owners will be looking to hire as many as 400 licensed sales professionals in the mid-Atlantic area to support new and existing Allstate agencies.*

"We see a significant opportunity in the current economy to attract mid-career, mid-level entrepreneurs to manage and operate their own small businesses and represent Allstate in Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia," said Jim Twitty , Strategic Deployment Leader for Allstate's Capital Region.  "Our agency force reflects the diverse population we serve in the Capital Region and we've attracted many women and minority small business owners to our agency force."

Earlier this month, Allstate announced a first-quarter profit that jumped 45 percent with the company posting its largest profit since 2007 and the company will be looking to grow its market share through an expanded agency force.  "Allstate insurance agents are small business owners who drive the economic engine to grow our company's market share," said Twitty.

"Allstate is unique among other insurers because its agents own an economic interest in the business they write,"** said Twitty. "Successful agents, who grow their books of business and create valuable assets, can really profit when they sell the economic interest in their books of business."**

Twitty noted that candidates have choices when they become an Allstate Agency owner.  Options include buying an agency that is already up and running or starting a brand new agency.  Allstate provides an atmosphere of independence for an entrepreneur to run an agency, develop a business strategy, hire and manage a staff, and set the direction of the business while enjoying the financial and marketing support of an industry powerhouse.   

Candidates need a minimum of $50,000 of liquid capital to invest in their agency.  With signs that an economic recovery is underway, many potential applicants are confident that now is the right time to invest the money that is needed to open a small business.  That's why recruiters are focusing on the stability of investing in the Allstate brand, according to Twitty.

Specifically, Allstate is seeking to establish agency owners in the following cities: Baltimore, MD, Frederick, MD, Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, Roanoke, VA, Lynchburg, VA, Morgantown, WV, Northern Virginia, and in other locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware. 

Allstate plans to grow in the mid-Atlantic area to match the region's continued economic growth.  These targeted metro areas represent key elements in Allstate's broader strategy to aggressively expand the provider's auto insurance presence in the region, while staking a stronger claim in items like boats, recreational all-terrain-vehicles and motorcycles. 

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

*Agency owners are independent contractors, not employees of the Allstate Insurance Company. Any hires by an agency owner are employees of the agency owner, not Allstate Insurance Company.

**Subject to the terms and conditions of the R3001 Agency Agreement.

Contact:  Shelva Clemons
shelva.clemons@allstate.com
(703) 218-0184

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company

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http://www.allstate.com