Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999
Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999
Publication: Bee
Author: KAAREN
Quick Words:
snyder-adinolfi-allstate
Full Text:
Local Allstate Office Expands
(with photo)
BY KAAREN VALENTA
K. Michael Snyder has expanded his Allstate Insurance office on South Main
Street, bringing in Richard V. Adinolfi as his new partner and Mary Jane
Snyder as a licensed agent and office manager.
Both men have operated single-agent offices for years, Mr Adinolfi in
Huntington, where Mrs Snyder (no relation to Michael) was his office manager.
By combining their offices, they have three licensed agents working increased
hours to better serve their clients. Together they have more than 50 years of
experience in the insurance business.
"The move was done to facilitate better service for both client bases," Mr
Snyder said. "Beginning in July we will be open on Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm
and will have a 24-hour backup."
A native of Connecticut, Mr Adinolfi grew up in what he calls "an Allstate
family" and spent four years in the Air Force before he decided to become an
insurance agent. He worked first for another agent, then opened his own office
in Huntington eight years ago.
"There are 1,800 different insurance providers in the United States. Allstate
is number two in the country and number one in Connecticut," he said. "It is
the largest publicly held company. I always felt they were the best so I
stayed with them," he said.
Being the best is important to Richard Adinolfi. He is a professional athlete,
a natural body builder, who won the national drug-free championship in 1996.
He also is an American Athletic Union (AAU) judge, a Cub Scout leader and the
father of three.
With Allstate he has achieved the Honor Ring, a presidential quality award,
six times. He is a four-time national conference winner, and a two-time winner
of the quality agent designation.
Three years ago Mary Jane Snyder joined Mr Adinolfi in his Huntington office.
She had worked for six years in Allstate's claims division and recently passed
the state exam required to become a licensed agent.
"Mary Jane is an advocate who can not only answer clients' questions but also
can steer a claim through the [claim] process," Mr Adinolfi said.
Mike Snyder has been with Allstate for 32 years. He opened his single-agent
office in Newtown in 1988, originally over what was John's Quality Meat Market
and later at 103 South Main Street. He has been awarded Honor Ring six times,
is a four-time national conference winner and won the top management award
eight times. He is active in many community organizations, serves on the
boards of the Family Counseling Center and Datahr Rehabilitation Institute,
and is a former selectman in Newtown.
The agents said that Allstate's philosophy is to locate agents within the
community rather than regional offices that cover a broad area. "We're the
exact opposite of the trend," Mr Snyder said. "We're the neighbor."
Mr Adinolfi said he calls at least 100 clients a month just "to make sure
everything is okay. We're very service oriented."
The Snyder-Adinolfi Allstate office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to
6 pm, evenings and Saturday by appointment. By next fall, they expect to have
regular Saturday hours and 24-hour backup service for clients who have
questions or need to make claims.
"Any time someone calls -- even 2 am -- they will speak with a live person,"
Mr Adinolfi explained. "The service center will have our records. It will be
exactly as if we are here."
The Snyder-Adinolfi Allstate office can be reached at 426-9614.