Jill Gingrich, Clay Gingrich and Jaime (Gingrich) Vescovi of Warren A. Gingrich Insurance Agency, Altoona.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

The Warren A. Gingrich Agency has been providing insurance for 70 years and plans to continue well into the future.

Founded on Nov. 18, 1954, by the late Warren A. Gingrich, today the business is led by agency President Clay Gingrich, Warren’s grandson, who took over that role in January 2023.

“I’m honored to be here working for the Gingrich Agency and continuing the legacy that my grandfather has built. I’m committed to see our business last another 70 years,” said Clay Gingrich, who joined the firm in March 2018. “My grandfather was very influential in my life, this was something I could do and be successful at, he was my role model. When I became president it was a big undertaking but I was ready for the challenge.”

Clay’s father, Gary, retired at the end of last year after more than 51 years with the firm, and his uncle, Mark Gingrich, recently stepped away as well. Both had served as the company’s president.

The Gingrich Agency added three new licensed customer service agents this year, including Clay’s sister, Jaime (Gingrich) Vescovi. His mother, Jill Gingrich, is also employed at the agency.

Ward Trucking (now Ward Transport & Logistics) played a key role in the birth of the Gingrich Agency.

“Ward Trucking had the desire to have a local insurance agency. Warren was working for Aetna in Pittsburgh as a field representative and moved to Altoona from Pittsburgh to be the local agent for Ward Trucking. He moved here with one account and built his business from there locally,” Clay Gingrich said. “If Ward Trucking wouldn’t have had the desire to hire Warren, we would not be here.”

In 1956, Warren Gingrich acquired his first agency. Over the next 15 years, he acquired 10 more agencies as his staff grew from two to 10 people. In 1970, the agency purchased its own building at 9 Logan Boulevard, where it is currently located. In 1988, an addition was made to the agency that included the installation of a drive-up window to more comfortably serve its customers. This expansion extended Warren’s staff to 15 people and later the acquisition of five more agencies.

“It is one way to grow and you add more customers. If you do a good job for a client, they refer you to someone else. An agency grows as businesses grow, we expand and grow with them,” Clay Gingrich said.

Clay Gingrich referenced a local company that started out with one location and grew to 14 locations.

“We held the insurance for them. As they grew, we grew. Acquisition is a good way to expand,” Clay Gingrich said.

The Gingrich Agency has a second location in Saxton, formerly the White Jenkins Johnson Insurance Agency, but they merged with the Altoona branch earlier this year to unify as one entity.

Today, the agency offers auto and home insurance, business insurance, and life and group health insurance.

The Gingrich Agency is an independent insurance agency, which has its benefits.

“If you are independent you select the best product for your customers with a range of insurance companies. We have one of the broadest selections in Blair County. We don’t push the products of one company, we find the best product to sell the customer,” Clay Gingrich said. “We will do our best to find you the coverage you need at the most affordable price. We care about you. When you sign up with us you are part of the Gingrich family.”

The agency has 25 employees between the two offices which includes seven insurance agents, customer service representatives, a receptionist and a claims department.

“A lot of agencies don’t have a claims department,” Clay Gingrich said.

In 2021, the agency finalized a partnership with Michigan-based High Street Insurance Partners, a Top 50 U.S. Insurance Brokerage. That partnership has been beneficial.

“It is a conglomerate of like minded insurance companies that help one another. When you get a Gingrich policy it is still a Gingrich policy,” Clay Gingrich said. “This gives us more leverage with insurance carriers, more markets and broader expertise.”

The agency has more than 10,000 customers.

“We cover all of Pennsylvania, we are licensed in a few other states for certain commercial clients. We have expanded, about 75 percent of our business is targeted here in Blair County,” Clay Gingrich said.

Being a family business over the years has had its advantages.

“Family-owned businesses have values and vision, they have clarity on the involvement to ensure that everyone can carry out their responsibilities as well as a commitment to professionalism. Leadership principles and roles are clearly defined,” Gary Gingrich said.

The Gingrich Agency was recently named the Altoona Mirror’s Hometown Favorite Insurance Agency for the third consecutive year.

“We are honored to hold that title and position in the community, it is a great honor,” Clay Gingrich said.

The future of the agency looks bright.

“I feel our agency is in a strong position to continue to grow. We have a lot of younger agents. We are in a good position with younger agents and staff who have transitioned into the business. We have a good young crew here,” Clay Gingrich said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.