When I first moved to Wilsonville, one of the names I saw all over the place was "Jay Puppo, State Farm Insurance. " I thought it was time to meet him, so this week I did.
Puppo is no stranger to insurance. He started out working in State Farm’s corporate offices. When he and his wife began to have children, they thought twice about all the moving around involved in corporate life, and decided to take the opportunity to settle down. A State Farm agent was retiring here in Wilsonville, so Puppo took over the agency, and half of the retiring agent’s business.
That was seven years ago, and it has taken awhile to really build the business. It took residents awhile to warm up to a new face in town.
“People in Wilsonville are very loyal,” said Puppo.
Warm up they have, though. Wilsonville has been growing at a fast rate, and for the first time, Puppo’s agency is on the list of the fastest growing State Farm Agencies around. In fact, he estimates his business’ growth at about 23 percent in the past year.
That coincides with a move to a new office. Puppo’s office was located deeper in Old Town Wilsonville. Sometimes, he says, it was difficult to achieve visibility. In September 2006, he moved the office to the revamped Old Fellows Hall on Wilsonville Road. It has increased his visibility dramatically.
Other civic activities have helped to improve his visibility as well. Puppo has made a concerted effort to be a part of the Wilsonville community with active memberships in Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, and taking part in the Adopt-A-Road program with an assignment at Memorial Park.
This is how recent the growth in Wilsonville is – Wilsonville Kiwanis only began six years ago, and Puppo was the second person to become a member.
Puppo’s State Farm agency provides both insurance of all types, and financial services.
“I can offer retirement planning, college savings, 401K Accounts, IRA and IRA Rollover plan, as well as auto, home, life, and medical insurances,” he tells.
For more information, email Jay Puppo or call him at 503-582-8181.
