At Hippo, our mission is to provide customers a better way to protect their homes and the possessions they treasure. On our journey, we’ve developed partnerships with other people and companies who are just as passionate about our customers as we are. These agent partners work closely with us to give our homeowners the experience they want and deserve while offering their expertise as industry professionals.
One of these pros is Ashley Scholl of Veterans United Insurance in Columbia, Missouri. Ashley is a bit of a rarity in the home insurance industry because she doesn’t come from an insurance background. Instead, she first found success in the telecommunications industry as a sales and care supervisor. She had worked in that field for 13 years when Tom Schwarz, Executive Director of what was then called Military United Insurance company, reached out with an opportunity. He was looking to bring on a powerhouse who could learn quickly and grow the business while keeping the customer at the center of their mission. Ashley was ready for a new challenge, so she took a leap of faith and joined the team.
“Not only was I really intrigued by the business in general, but I love to problem-solve,” Ashley says. “Being able to start from the ground up and create how we will continue to develop as an industry, bringing my previous experience to work every day, under the guidance of Tom, who is a person that not only believes in the business but our company overall was what made me feel confident in my decision.”
It’s been two years since Ashley joined the recently-rebranded Veterans United Insurance, and in that time, she has seen non-stop growth. When she arrived at the company, there were roughly 30 employees. Now she is proud to say that they employ over 130 people, all with the same dedication to providing extraordinary service to our nation’s Veterans.
“The ability to do something and connect with different people every day is a big part of what inspires us every day,” says Ashley. But that’s just part of what makes Ashley enthusiastic about Veterans United Insurance and their work. “Every day is different and a unique challenge,” she says. “We have a special opportunity to help those that have done the hard work of serving our country, so being able to help Veterans get into their dream homes is the biggest driver for me every day.”
That level of commitment to the customer is why we love Veterans United Insurance—and it seems like the feeling is mutual. “I am a huge fan of Hippo and have been since I was first introduced to the company,” Ashley says. She and her team take exceptional pride in the level of customer service that her clients are all but guaranteed. They expect the companies they partner with to be just as exacting when it comes to service expectations. “Hippo’s ability to focus on innovation and disruption to benefit the customer is unparalleled in the industry right now,” Ashley adds.
Veteran United Insurance works to ensure that their customers—US Veterans and their families—can fund and insure their homes. “The new millennia of homebuyers expect a streamlined digital process and great customer service,” says Ashley. “We work every day to do what we can to set the bar high for them.” To do that, Ashley and her team align with companies that are also innovative, using technology to do more for the customer in the insurance industry as a whole.
As a result, Ashley says the future is looking pretty bright for her company. “There is so much in store for Veterans United Insurance in the future,” she says. “The number one thing we are looking forward to is getting the word out about us to as many Veterans as possible. If they want to get into their dream home, we want to help them make that a reality.”
Part of making that happen is by making the experience as seamless as possible for their customers. “We are also working on optimizing our processes so that our customers will have a streamlined experience whenever they would like to interact with us,” Ashley says. “Whether that is 100% digital, 100% manual, or a combination of those, we want to be able to provide the experience they want.”
Partnering with Hippo is a big part of these optimizations, she says. By working with Hippo, she’s able to provide near-instant coverage for her clients, complementary smart home devices, and incredible customer service and claims experience.
“We are beyond excited to have a partner that is this tech-focused and so super simple to work with,” says Ashley. “Not to mention, the customer service that comes along with Hippo is absolutely incredible and reflective of our very own high standards.”
We here at Hippo love working with agents and agencies with the same devotion to amazing customer service and home insurance innovation that we do. Thank you to Ashley and her team over at Veterans United Insurance!
