NEVER LOOKING BACK

When asking people what brought them to their career in the insurance industry, “by chance” and “through family” tend to be the two most frequent responses I hear, but I guess that can be true for any occupation. My dad and paternal grandfather were both teachers and I thought, “nope.”

So, after years of waiting tables with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing, it just so happened that a former co-worker of my mother’s was working at the time as the graphic designer of an insurance magazine. She knew about my writing background and informed me of a job opening on the editorial team. For me, “by chance” it was.

For Ciara Gravier, CIC, CRM, CCIC, founder and CEO of The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, her family joined the industry “by chance,” and she quickly jumped on board, a rare occurrence of chance and family blending.

“At 47, my parents decided they were done with corporate America. They withdrew money from their 401(k) and took a leap of faith by opening an Allstate office, despite having no prior insurance experience or business ownership background,” Gravier says. “At the time, I was attending the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for interior design. However, I left school to help run the agency.

“After immersing ourselves in the captive insurance world, we discovered that many Allstate agents had independent agents in their families to whom they funneled the business that didn’t fit into Allstate’s captive appetite. Inspired by this, I obtained my insurance license and started an independent agency.

“We cherished the freedom that this side offered, sold our multiple Allstate locations, and committed fully to the independent agent channel. We’ve never looked back!”

As the founder and CEO of her agency, Gravier’s role is “multifaceted and dynamic,” she says. “My days are wrapped up in overseeing the day-to-day, team development, brand engagement, networking, and I’m still very much involved in sales. I’m constantly working on refining my leadership skills, as my team is growing, and I’d like to retain and grow the team I currently have.”

Gravier credits her father for those leadership skills. “My dad encouraged me to show that I’m serious about this industry by putting in the work and getting the designations that will help me stand out from my competition,” she says, “especially being a younger woman producer, now agency owner. I learned the importance of showing my prospects that I was serious about this industry, my career and my space in it.”

Gravier currently holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and the Cyber COPE Insurance Certification (CCIC). “All of them were great experiences and I learned so much,” she says. “The CRM was probably my favorite one because it showed me that what we do in insurance is just a piece of a company’s risk management strategy. It brought to life how risk management is very holistic and involves many moving parts.

“I would highly encourage anyone who wants to set themselves up for success to continue learning and refine their skills by getting their designations. I truly believe that it helps build confidence in yourself when you spend so much time head down honing your craft.”

Involvement

On top of her obligations with being an agency owner, Gravier also keeps busy through involvement with insurance industry and professional organizations.

“I’m a director of education for the Broward chapter of the LAAIA, the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies,” she says. “In my role, I’ve been able to funnel my passion for education into trying to provide the best classes, resources and programming to our membership.

“Being a part of the LAAIA has been an asset to me being that I’ve been able to cultivate relationships with my fellow agents who are all working together to make our industry an attractive place for new talent and a resource for current agents who might feel stressed out during these tough times in our industry.”

She also serves as a thought leader at The Daily Drip (thedailydrip.com), which according to its website “provides content, resources, programming and community to support the modern businesswoman on her journey to maximum potential.”

“Unlike traditional media, the content and programming come exclusively from the community of local female industry professionals,” Gravier says. “Being a part of this organization has been one of the most rewarding parts of my entrepreneurial journey.

“Understanding that the content and resources we thoughtfully curate can make a profound difference in a woman’s life, we are dedicated to helping her wake up every day and continue chasing her dreams, no matter how difficult it has been, because she found an article or podcast that truly resonated with her, is something I value very much,” she adds.

Accolades and highlights

Gravier is grateful for the “long list of people” who have had an impact on her career, but she highlights two of them.

“Lorin Montgomery is one of my mentors who has been a woman in middle-market production her entire career in insurance,” she says. “Primarily targeting the construction industry, she has demonstrated the importance of relationship building, assertiveness, asking for the sale, and being knowledgeable about your product. Lorin attributes her success to integrity and honesty, qualities I strive to continue to emulate in my own career.

“David Carothers (head of the June 2023 Rough Notes cover agency) is another mentor who has profoundly impacted my career and professional growth. Joining Killing Commercial [his insurance sales community] has been the best professional decision I’ve ever made. Initially, I joined to learn how to sell to mid-market companies, but I gained much more than just sales training.

“David has fostered a community of like-minded individuals in the industry who share common goals and support each other in achieving them. This community has become more like a family, celebrating successes and providing support during challenging times.”

Out of her accomplishments and achievements, Gravier is most proud of her speaking engagements.

“I never thought it was something I wanted to do, or that I could do,” she says. “I got my first opportunity to speak back in April 2022 at The Better Agency conference in Phoenix, and I believe that was a pivotal moment in my career and in my personal life. It showed me the importance of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities even though you may feel unworthy, uncomfortable, or unprepared for them. Ever since then, I haven’t stopped saying ‘yes.’”

Advice and personal life

For young and new industry professionals beginning their careers, Gravier advises getting a mentor.

“Everyone needs a mentor. Pick one that has had a similar career to the one you want to have in this industry,” Gravier says. “Once you find the one you want, be a good mentee. Do what they tell you to do; that’s why you went looking for their guidance.

“The fastest way to get a good mentor to drop you is to waste their time,” she adds. “Be respectful of their time, apply what they tell you, and always show gratitude. Then, when you are in the position to give back, don’t forget to pay it forward.”

When she isn’t doing “insurance stuff,” Gravier enjoys traveling with her husband, Jordan. Some of her favorite destinations have been Mexico City, Portugal and Italy. “We are foodies, and we love to go sightseeing through different cities via the culinary experiences their culture offers,” she says.

The family is completed by their “playful, but often disapproving 5-year-old corgi, Pamela Beasley. She brings us so much joy and entertainment, along with the need to always have a lint roller nearby,” she concludes with a laugh.