It’s been nearly 100 years since Charles Dawson founded his namesake insurance agency in the Fargo-Moorhead business district of North Dakota.
Since then, the property/casualty agency – which began originally as a crop insurance agency – has expanded into multiple sectors and was last year acquired by
Marsh & McLennan. But despite all these changes, President Tom Dawson remains committed to the personal relationships the business was built on.
Dawson, grandson of the agency’s original founder, began his insurance career the day after he graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1973. Although he admits “there was a time I thought of going another way,” he was proud to join his grandfather and carry on his family’s legacy.
Today, the 40-year veteran cherishes the opportunity to go to work each day with two of his sons.
His career has been long, and has included time serving as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Dakota and on the national board of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. He also once insured a rocket, which sits at the Fargo Air Museum, and is currently growing the agency’s business by working with a rapidly expanding business sector: construction.
“Our economy never took the 2008 hit, so home building continues to be strong,” Dawson said. “It’s also fueled in part by the oil fields in western North Dakota.”
Contrary to the industry stereotype, Dawson attributes a great deal of his success to adopting new technology to further client relationships and improve knowledge.
“Do Google searches to get to know the industry you’re working with,” he advises. “There is a need for agencies to become more knowledgeable even than our clients. Business and agencies are getting bigger and doing more business internationally, which requires certain expertise.”
But that shouldn’t stop agents from developing quality relationships with clients and the community. Dawson has furthered his family’s agency’s reputation as a Fargo-Moorhead staple by serving with civic and not-for-profit organizations. He is and has been active with the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties, the Plains Art Museum, the United Way of Cass-Clay, First Presbyterian Church and Fargo Kiwanis Club.
Developing business this way is simple, he says: “Just pick up the phone.”
