Lawley Rhoe Henderson and Chris Henderson serving the insurance and employee benefits needs of Jamestown NY, Chautauqua County and Warren PA

WNY’s Largest Regional Business Insurance, Personal Insurance, Employee Benefits and Risk Management Broker Creates Joint Venture with Longstanding Jamestown, NY Insurance Broker, Rhoe B. Henderson

BUFFALO, N.Y. (January 24th, 2019) | Lawley, the 51st largest U.S. independent insurance broker according to Business Insurance, expanded its southern tier area presence by creating a new joint venture partnership with Rhoe B. Henderson Insurance Agency located in Jamestown, NY. The new relationship became effective January 1st, 2019 and creates Lawley’s eleventh branch across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and will formally operate under the Lawley brand. The name of the partnership is Lawley-Rhoe B. Henderson and will be located in the same location of 552 West Third St. Jamestown, NY.

Lawley-Rhoe B. Henderson will not be Lawley’s first venture in Chautauqua County. “In the 1990’s, my agency joined Lawley as Lawley Tradition to meet the growing needs of our clients, so I know Rhoe and his clients are in good hands by joining the Lawley organization,” says Lawley Tradition Partner, Walter Gotowka. “I have known and respected Rhoe for 35 years and am excited to welcome him and his team to the Lawley family.” Walter (Wally) Gotowka has been a part of the Lawley organization since 1991 and has been working in the insurance industry since 1981.

Rhoe B. Henderson Insurance Agency has been helping Jamestown, Western NY, and Northwest PA obtain the best value for their insurance dollars since 1926. Rhoe Henderson, President of the family-run agency since 1979, is the leader of the organization. He and his team have been helping people find affordable and reliable insurance products from a variety of trusted insurance providers. As an independent agency, they are not tied to any one insurance provider, just like Lawley.

Though Rhoe B. Henderson has been providing risk management for decades, one new element that comes from the joint venture with Lawley is the ability to offer employee benefits to their clients.

“Our Employee Benefits division will immediately place consultants in the Jamestown office to strengthen our presence in the southern tier. From Medicare and senior benefits to traditional and captive benefits, the options for clients in the area will grow tenfold,” says Chuck Allesi, Lawley Employee Benefits’ Partner.

“We are excited to grow our business in New York’s southern tier and Northwest Pennsylvania by partnering with the experienced team at Rhoe B. Henderson Insurance Agency,” stated Christopher Ross, Principal of Lawley. “We look forward to working together to bring people in that community even more options when it comes to protecting their risk and providing employee benefits.”

“We can now offer our clients a wider range of products and services with the experienced team Lawley has built,” said Rhoe Henderson. “Our customers will benefit from the support of 400+ employees who bring a wide range of specialties in addition to our amazing current staff here in Jamestown.”

“I am eager to bring our expertise protecting customers across Jamestown and beyond to the growing Lawley insurance team. Partnering with a Top 100 Agency and having access to all of the resources a large regional broker can bring will help us better service our current and future clients,” said Henderson. “There is great opportunity in leveraging the growth of Lawley in the southern tier area. Clients and friends can expect the same trusted relationship we’ve built over three generations.”

ABOUT LAWLEY

Lawley is a privately-owned, independent regional insurance firm specializing in property, casualty and personal insurance, employee benefits, and risk management consulting. Lawley is ranked 51st in the list of the 100 Largest Insurance Brokers in the U.S., according to Business Insurance magazine. For over 60 years, Lawley’s team of more than 400 associates have developed customized property, casualty, surety and employee benefits insurance programs for businesses and municipalities of all sizes along with personalized protection for individuals and their families.

Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Lawley has branch offices across New York in Amherst, Batavia, Dunkirk, Jamestown, Mahopac, Plainview, Purchase and Rochester along with Darien, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey. To find out more, visit lawleyinsurance.com.

ABOUT WALTER GOTOWKA

Wally is the partner responsible for the operation of Lawley’s Dunkirk branch, also known as Lawley Tradition. Lawley-Rhoe B. Henderson will also operate under his umbrella. He has expertise in manufacturing, construction, non-profits, and healthcare. Wally began his insurance career with Nationwide in 1981 and joined the Heppell-Robinson Agency 2 years later. He purchased that company, which evolved into the Tradition Agency and then he joined Lawley in 1991. Wally is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow and has been involved with the State of NY Independent Insurance Agents. He has participated on several insurance companies’ board of directors as well as Agents Advisory Councils and Strategic Planning committees. Wally is actively involved with SUNY Fredonia Board of Directors, Rotary Club, Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board, American Red Cross Board, Brooks Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and Fredonia Opera House Board.  Additionally he volunteers with the Allegany Council, Boy Scouts of America, and Lake Erie Regional Health Care Systems of NY Board. Wally graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a B.A. in Business.

ABOUT RHOE HENDERSON

Rhoe was born and raised in Jamestown, NY. After college, he returned to the area to follow in his father’s footsteps in becoming a 3rd generation insurance agent. He became president of the agency in 1979 upon his father’s retirement and he continues to be a student of the business, combining that with integrity and confidentiality, which is vital to successfully meeting the expectation of his clients. Rhoe has served as a board member and officer with the Chautauqua County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the local United Way, Jamestown Community College Foundation, Gebbie Foundation and the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.

ABOUT CHRIS ROSS
Chris Ross, in addition to serving as an agency principal, oversees Lawley Construction Insurance & Bonds, the branch dedicated to providing insurance and surety bonds to contractors, developers and others in the construction industry. Chris began his career at Lawley in 1986 and is instrumental in all company mergers, acquisitions and branch activities, including Lawley Benefits Group. He is also actively involved in major accounts and has extensive knowledge of construction, Real Estate development and risk management. Chris has been an integral part of leading the growth of Lawley, spearheading the expansion of the firm into New York’s Southern Tier, New Jersey, Connecticut, and around the New York City region.