Allstate insurance agency in Grayling under new ownership

by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer

Roger Weber, who has operated Weber Allstate Insurance Agency in Traverse City for 43 years, took over the Grayling agency last month. Above, agent and office manager Rebecca Sprecher is pictured with Weber in the office. Photo by Dan Sanderson

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 12:43 PM EDT

A veteran northern Michigan insurance agent recently assumed ownership of the Allstate Insurance Agency in Grayling.

Roger Weber, who has operated Weber Allstate Insurance Agency in Traverse City for 43 years, took over the Grayling agency, which is located in the Grayling Mini Mall, last month.

Jenny Groves, who operated the Allstate Insurance Agency in Grayling for over 20 years, retired because of her husband's health issues. Groves commuted from Traverse City to Grayling, before turning the reins of the business over to Weber.

"We worked out a deal, she retired and was able to move on," Weber said.  "She had a good list of clients on the books, we've been able to serve all of those and we've picked some new customers."

Weber brought Rebecca Sprecher, a marketing manager, office manager and insurance agent, to Grayling to serve as part of his local team. Sprecher relocated to the Grayling area.

"She loves Grayling and she is just getting over here and getting established," Weber said.

Weber also recruited Jodi Mason, an agent who was previously involved in processing insurance claims, down from Gaylord.

"Hopefully, we can bring in a couple more agents depending on if we can keep on going the way we're going and growing," Weber said.

Weber said he was not too familiar with Grayling, but has received a warm reception from customers and the community.

"It's not a whole lot different from Traverse City," Weber said. 

 Allstate offers a full-line of insurances. The company also offers retirement and investment products and banking services.

Weber said Dan Hackett, one of the company's top financial analysts, comes from Grand Rapids to northern Michigan once a month to go over retirement and investment opportunities with customers.

"We offer the same services that some of the other brokers do," Weber said.

Weber sponsored the #37 canoe paddled by Christina Wilson and Kate Ellis for the 2010 Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

A former fly-fisherman, Weber has taken up the sport again on the AuSable River and Manistee River.

"Not only can I come over here a couple of days to work, but I can take a couple of hours and throw a line out, too, which is nice," he said.

 Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Weber said he started out as an agent running a store booth in Washington D.C. 44 years ago. He owned a home on Lake Charlevoix back then, and said it was a no brainier when the offer to take over an agency in Traverse City came his way.

"I used to go in with my briefcase and I had everything you needed to have," Weber said of operating out of a store booth "It's a lot different from when I started out, but everything has changed."