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 DOING THE
RIGHT THING
EVERY DAY
Philosophy leads to success for this
Sherman Oaks, California, agency
By Dennis H. Pillsbury
In 1961, Bernard (Bud) Brown entered into business with
 a family friend, George Hoffman,
a well-respected, honorable man who did a little bit of everything,
including real estate, life insurance, property/casualty insurance and
various other services needed by the community. Bud focused on insurance and
Hoffman Brown Company, Sherman Oaks, California, was born. George, who was
in his mid-60s, retired a few years later, leaving Bud as the sole owner of
the business.
Bud decided on a bold experiment that was grounded in his philosophy to
"do the right thing every day and success will follow." With that basic
tenet as his starting point, Bud--and later his son, Steve--built an agency
that removed as many of the obstacles to achieving that goal as possible.
The result was a very different model than exists at many agencies.
Everyone was salaried. Steve, who is the current president, explains: "My
father and I both felt that our mission as an agency was to protect the
financial well-being of the client. To accomplish this goal, we needed to
provide the client with only the coverage he or she required. Salaried
people sell only what is needed. There is no incentive to do otherwise. Of
course, a vibrant business has to have sales, but our dream was to give such
fine service that our clients would want to help us by providing referrals.
And it's worked. Our only marketing strategy is to do the right thing every
day."
The Hoffman Brown philosophy clearly attracts a special type of person
who not only embraces these philosophies but also carries them forward. One
who values a noncompetitive environment, almost a safe haven from the
outside world. A place where turnover is low, excess profits are shared and
social values are encouraged.
Today, Hoffman Brown has revenues of $7 million--60% commercial, 30%
personal, and 10% benefits.
Full
article
We are the
people that can make a difference - step-by-step;
stone by stone; day-by-day; together we can change our
world.
 Performing
an act of kindness sounds simple enough. It only takes an
idea to start the ball rolling but it must be pushed along with great
currents of passion, commitment and love. Those participating in the
project need to embrace a desire to go beyond themselves and they
understand how an expression of need by one person can be satisfied with
an expression of caring by another. All people have the capabilities of
giving, however, only the special few deliver on it.
 This commitment and expression of kindness is a vital thread running
through the heart and soul of the HBC family. Every year we make the
effort to reach out to those less fortunate. Those that are sick and
those who are in need. We have donated toys, clothing, food and money.
We have built housing for the homeless, walked alongside those stricken
with cancer and given our blood to the Red Cross.
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HBC Feeds V
It was a
warm, beautiful Southern California morning on Saturday, April 17,
2005 when the HBC Feeds Community Service
Committee gathered to begin coordinating our busy day. Lively music
played as colorful balloons were being filled and our volunteers
began to arrive. We wore specially made tee shirts and ate Krispy
Kreme donuts for breakfast.
The Hain Celestial Group donated
80,000 pounds of food. The pallets were then
broken apart and a well-organized assembly line packaged more than
3,000 boxes of food and then delivered them to 34 charities
personally selected by each employee.
At this year’s event we
partnered with Operation Interdependence and assembled approximately
2,200 care packages for our U.S. Military Troops in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Egypt.
This day brought together a
large group of people for the purpose of working as a
team to help those in need. The day was a resounding
success! Our guests included HBC Teammates, their families and our
friends from the insurance industry.
Special thanks to our….
Partners:
Hain Celestial Group, Imperial
A.I. Credit, Insurance Women of Los Angeles, CIG, Kim Randall and
Jane Wilkins of Worldwide Facilities, Inc., Leisure Werden & Terry
Agency, Harry W. Gorst Co., and Western Security Surplus, Costco,
See’s Candies, Krispy Kreme Donuts, American Wholesale MTS, AIG
Private Client Group, DEVCO, Executive Perils, Brown & Riding, Peter
C. Foy Co., GG Industries, Waste management of Valencia, Neutrogena,
The Rough Notes Magazine, Feed The Children, Pacific Concert Group,
MGM Grand, C.A. Robinson Co., Marfred Industries, St. Paul
Companies, MVAP, Travelers Insurance, U.S. Bank, Shugar Soapworks,
Sara Lee Fresh, SavOn Drugs, Assurant and Ontrak Designs.
Recipient
Agencies:
L.A.
Family Housing, St. Charles Service Center, Fred Jordan Missions,
Children Are Our Future, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Santa Clarita
Food Pantry, SOVA Food Pantry, Salvation Army, Haven Hills, Midnight
Mission, A Place Called Home, Bible Tabernacle, Grace Resource
Center, H.I.S. Arms, L.A’s. Best, Meeting Each Need With Dignity,
Women’s Care Cottage, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita, Children’s
Hunger Fund, Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, Helpline
Youth Counseling, Hope Net, Moorpark Food Pantry, Our Lady of the
Valley Church, St. Joseph Center of Venice, Samaritan Center of Simi
Valley, San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission, Santa Rosa Church,
Valley Baptist Church, Valley Korean Church, Valley Trauma Center,
West Valley Food Pantry, World Impact-Jefferson Community Center,
Parents of Watts
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