Vice president of sales
TRUCK WRITERS
A member of Truck Writers since he graduated from college in 2006, John Penton began his career with minimal knowledge of insurance and transportation. “I was eager to learn and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and gained energy from being around people,” he says, “so a sales position seemed like the logical fit.”
Being young and green in an industry full of seasoned relationships was a tough obstacle initially, and Penton spent much of his time learning trucking and insurance lingo, as well as developing a sales strategy focused on risk management and creating value for clients. By surrounding himself with insurance professionals and joining industry associations, Penton eventually hit his stride.
“Trucking is a very niche appetite, so developing strong relationships with the underwriters and truckers was an integral component in achieving success,” he says. “As my book of business expanded, so did the referrals. Truckers are very loyal, and they are very outspoken about business experiences. I found that providing top-notch service and asset protection to my current customer base was a great way to earn referral opportunities.”
