Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Serna.
Martha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Serna Insurance in 2001 when the Houston mold crisis caused many insurers to stop writing homeowner insurance. From a spare room in my house, I created our corporation, and got contracts with every insurance company that was still writing insurance in our area. I worked really long hours and within 3 months, I needed to rent some office space and hire some help. Word quickly got around to mortgage brokers and realtors that Serna Insurance could write their homeowner policies and business took off. Within one year, I had written over $`1 million in homeowner premiums. We became contracted with all of the best insurance companies available and expanded our company to start writing auto and commercials lines insurance.
Today, we insure over 25,000 policies and $40 million in premiums. We now have a Serna Insurance Agency location in Albuquerque, NM, and are licensed in every state so that we can write insurance everywhere if needed. One of the most enjoyable roles as owner of an insurance agency is the responsibility of hiring great people. I want to be a role model to other women and men and show them that you can be anything you want if you are willing to work hard enough and maintain a positive attitude. Serna Insurance was awarded the #1 best place to work by the Houston Business Journal in 2014, and has ranked in the top 5 every year since. Now that we are successful, we try to give back to the community. Our agency raised over. $1 million for Autumn’s Dawn, a organization that helps young adults with autism transition into independent living. I became passionate about this cause after hiring a young man with high functioning autism to help us become paperless. When Autumn’s Dawn closed their doors, Serna helped form the Texan Live Scholarship Fund which gives scholarships to high school graduates from each high school in the Lake Houston. This year, we dispersed 17 scholarships for a total of $34,000. I am most passionate about any charity that benefits women and children. I give generously to women’s shelters and fundraisers that focus on women’s health. I was chosen as the 2017 “Woman of Achievement” in the Entrepreneur category by FamilyTime Crisis & Counseling Center. I am a road biker and a triathlete and enjoy promoting fitness and wellbeing. On October 13th, Serna Insurance is the presenting sponsor for the Lake Houston 10k/5k that will be held in Kingwood, Texas. I graduated with my bachelor in business (BBA) from Sam Houston University. I am married to my business partner, Pete, and we have 2 children, Nicholas and Jesse.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a lot of hard work and dedication. As an agency, our rule has been to always take great care of the customer and have an attitude of excellence. For that reason, even though the workload has been hard, we have been very successful. You have to outwork your competitors, and keep in touch with the latest innovations that will advance you in your industry. Also, you have to be able to visualize where you want to be and be willing to change that vision when needed. If you can see it, you can be it. When I was building our office building and looking at land to build it, I would visualize myself driving to work and sitting at my desk. How far was I driving? What was I wearing, what was I drinking? What did my office look like? Now, we have a beautiful office for our staff and clients to come in. My advice to young women starting out is to have a clear vision of where they want to be, work harder than your competitors will, and try to be unique and different. Our insurance agency is not your average agency. Our office building is much nicer and our staff is fun and interesting. We always try to stand out far above the rest. However, you can’t expect to skate along in the beginning. You will have to work harder than the other guy, but the results are worth the hard work!
What should we know about Serna Insurance Agency, Inc? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Serna Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency that provides personal & commercial lines insurance to our clients. Because we represent every insurance carrier available, we can find the right insurance, at the right price, for everyone. We also specialize in high net worth insurance for individuals who need more protection because of their wealth. I am most proud that our agency won the #1 best place to work by the Houston Business Journal, beating out thousands of other applicants. This shows that our staff loves what they do and where they work. We will always do the best job for each client, and try to protect and educate those who do not understand their insurance.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Have a spirit of excellence. Work harder than everyone else. It’s important to stay healthy by exercising and eating right. Always try to keeps a positive outlook and believe that everything will work for you, even when it seems like it might not happen. Believe in yourself that you are a strong, powerful woman, who will succeed. Always strive to be unique and do it in a beautiful outfit and a great smile. Find role models in other women, and imitate the things you admire about them until you become your own disctict brand. Don’t be afraid to ask advice from those who have succeeded, and when you become successful, always be willing to encourage other women who are starting out.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9232 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, Texas 77338
- Website: Www.sernainsurance.com
- Phone: 281-812-9775
- Email: martha@sernainsurance.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sernainsurance
Image Credit:
Kathleen O. Ryan Fine Art Photography
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