Eric has deep roots in the Richmond Community. He attended Test Middle School and was a member of the Richmond High School State Champion Football Team in 1968. Eric attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he played football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972.

In 1981, Eric started VanVleet Insurance on his own. Two decades later, his son Brad was a graduate fresh out of University of Dayton, and looking for a job in the industry. “I was torn about whether I should hire Brad right away or encourage him to work for someone else,” Eric says. But Eric’s insurance instructor at the time counseled him in the right direction, saying: “If he is as good as you say he could be, hire him now or you will never get him back!” 

And from humble beginnings, VanVleet Insurance has grown to be one of the largest Erie Insurance agencies in the state of Indiana. “It’s been most gratifying working with my son and daughter in law along with creating opportunities for several other young people to develop careers in our business,” Eric says.

Eric is a Certified Insurance Counselor with a specialty in commercial business. These days, he plays the role of mentor in the office, working daily at the VanVleet building on East Main Street and still positively impacting the community.

Through the years, Eric has been very active in the Richmond community as a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, YMCA, Communities in Schools, and a United Way mentor in middle school for twelve years. Eric currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Wayne Bank.

Outside of work, Eric has been a self-proclaimed “gym rat” for 50 years. He loves to travel to see how others spend this gift of life, and has visited Africa, Europe, South America and Costa Rica.

Brad was born and raised right here in Richmond, Indiana. After graduating from Richmond High School in 1997, Brad headed to the University of Dayton, where he met his future wife, Kelly. Brad played on the Dayton Flyers football team through all four years of college, and was voted captain during his senior season. Brad was a self-proclaimed “broke college kid,” mowing lawns and doing construction in the Indiana summer sun. During his final summer in college, Brad took an internship with State Farm Insurance.

After graduating from University of Dayton with a degree in Marketing, Brad moved home with his girlfriend Kelly to Richmond and started working with his father, Eric VanVleet, founder of VanVleet Insurance. Brad and Kelly were soon married. Brad continued to grow his career working with his father, and that’s where this family business began: Brad was a personal lines producer right out of college, with his experience at State Farm under his belt, and his father Eric at his side. Over the next ten years, Brad transitioned to a personal, commercial, life & health agent, providing top-notch customer service to the Richmond community.

Shortly after Brad and Kelly had their second child, Brad needed administrative support at the office, and Kelly was eager to get back to the workforce. What started as a few days at the office turned into a next-level family business. “I love working with family,” Brad says. “I am so proud of the organization we are building together!”

Today, Brad is President of VanVleet Insurance. He takes pride in the relationships his family has built with clients. “I see myself as an insurance advisor more than a sales agent,” Brad says.  “I really enjoy helping people. That’s why we’re here: our goal is to educate clients about risk management, come to shared understanding, and create realistic solutions.”

Brad and Kelly have two children, Drew and Bryn, who are both athletic, just like their parents. Brad stays active with his kids, following their athletic careers and even volunteering for the Richmond Youth Football League. “I went from College Football to Crossfit and now, I’m at a little slower pace playing Pickle Ball,” Brad says.

A true Richmond local, Brad currently serves on the Reid Health Physician Associates (RHPA) Board Committee and Cope Facility Committee. Brad has also spent time on the Boards of Directors for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Cope Environmental Center, YMCA, and HYPE Wayne County (Helping Young Professionals Engage).

Kelly is originally from Fishers, Indiana. She played Division I softball at the University of Dayton, where she met her husband, Brad VanVleet. Brad played football at the University. The two started dating in college. Kelly graduated with a degree in Elementary Education before moving home to save up some money. Brad started working for the VanVleet family business in Richmond, and one year later, Brad and Kelly were married. “I knew our future was in Richmond,” Kelly says now.

Kelly taught for five years at Seton Catholic Schools in Richmond. In her role as a teacher, Kelly was extremely dedicated to planning thorough curriculum and creating an inspiring space for her students to learn and grow. As Brad and Kelly started their family, Kelly did a short stint as a stay-at-home mom (for just 6 months after their second child was born). Itching to get out of the house, Kelly says, “Brad convinced me to start coming into the office a few hours a week to help him…and a few hours a week grew over the years!”

Now, Kelly is the Marketing Manager at VanVleet. Kelly works to maintaining the company’s website, managing social media accounts, encouraging customer referrals, developing and implementing marketing campaigns, facilitating community sponsorship, and hosting Customer Appreciation Events.

“I take great pride in helping Brad continue what his dad has built,” Kelly says.

With community-building at her core, Kelly spends a great deal of time volunteering in Richmond. She’s served on the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors since 2007. She’s the President of the Richmond Rose Garden Board of Directors. And she continues to use her passion for education as a regular volunteer at Seton Catholic Schools.

Brad and Kelly have two children, Drew and Bryn, who are both athletic and energetic. On an average weekend, their family bounces from volleyball courts, to the gym for basketball and out at the football fields. “All I do is drive!” Kelly says.

In (rare) free time, Kelly loves running. She’s completed more than 15 half-marathons. “I’m not out there to set any records,” Kelly says. “Just to say that I can still do it!” She and Brad also enjoy working on their home, where it always seems like they have a project in progress.

Kyle grew up in suburban Detroit. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH, where he played lacrosse. On an academic program in Philadelphia, Kyle met Alison Clark Zajdel, his future wife. After college, Kyle worked for one year at Indiana University East as an academic advisor to students in the Business Department. Before joining VanVleet Insurance, he indulged his sweet tooth at Ghyslain Chocolatier in Union City, Indiana as a Sales Manager for five years.

In 2008, Kyle became a Personal P&C Lines Agent with a focus on home, auto, and life insurance coverage. In 2009, he was promoted to be an All Lines Health & Life Agent with a broader umbrella of insurance including personal, life, and employer sponsored health & life insurance.

Kyle became the Vice President of Health & Life Sales in 2015. Since then, he has led the efforts to expand Employer Sponsored Health & Life Insurance. As the VanVleet agent, Kyle creates opportunities to provide clear, accessible information to employers and their employees and helps make data-driven and trackable solutions possible. “VanVleet Insurance is a great atmosphere to work in,” Kyle says, “We’re encouraged to explore unique ideas to reach long-term solutions for our clients.”

Kyle and his wife Alison have two children, Maggie and Joel. A member of the Richmond community since 2002, Kyle is the Manager of Richmond Lacrosse Club, which he helped start in 2019. He also serves as a youth wrestling and soccer coach. 

Outside of work, he stays active in what he calls “old-man sports,” including basketball, ultimate Frisbee, disc golf and pickle ball. Kyle also enjoys tasting the results of his beer brewing, cooking, and baking. He and his family recently started keeping bees in their backyard.

Valerie Huffman joined VanVleet Insurance Agency in February 2010. She is licensed in property and casualty and life and health insurance. Valerie is dedicated to furthering her education in the insurance industry. She has earned the distinguished Certified Insurance Counselor, CIC, designation and the Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist, AFIS, designation.

Valerie has lived in Wayne County most of her life, growing up on a family farm. She is a graduate of Centerville High School and lives in the Hagerstown area with her husband, Brian, and daughter, Lanie. She keeps busy with their hobby farm with a horse, 2 miniature donkeys, 4 cats, and 2 dogs! Valerie also enjoys helping out on her parents’ farm any time she can.

Outside of work, Valerie enjoys helping with the local 4-H.  She enjoys spending time with her horses, donkeys, cats and dogs.  Valerie spends time doing projects around the house and her small hobby farm, including landscaping projects and her first attempt at a garden.  She loves fast cars, old cars and trucks.  Valerie likes to go antiquing with her mother on weekends.

Bradley has lived in Wayne County for most of his life. He graduated from Hagerstown High School in 2012, then from Grace College in 2015 with a degree in marketing.

Bradley started his career in insurance at State Farm two years before joining VanVleet in July 2018. “I built a foundation of knowledge there that I continue to develop daily,” Bradley says.

In his position at VanVleet, Bradley prides himself on providing a supportive customer experience. He strives to be responsive to client needs, offer care and support under stressful circumstances, and use his knowledge to reach solutions. To Bradley, each day of work is all about crafting the VanVleet Insurance experience; “We do that in a way that’s different from anyone else,” he says. “We’ve built an amazingly supportive culture here at VanVleet.”

Outside of work, Bradley is an active committee member of HYPE Wayne County (Helping Young Professionals Engage), and a volunteer and Board Member of the Junior Achievement program. He’s involved in his local church, and spends as much time as he can with family and friends. Bradley is a member of Highland Lake Golf Course, where he likes to hit the links with his brother (and VanVleet Insurance coworker), Jonathan.

When he’s not on the golf course, Bradley stays busy hunting, fishing, traveling, and attending sporting events for his favorite teams, including IU, Cincinnati Reds, Indianapolis Colts, and Indiana Pacers. 

jeffe@vanvleetinsurance.com

 Jeff Eckerle joined VanVleet Insurance in September of 2020 as a Personal Lines Agent. Jeff brings a diverse range of experience in the insurance industry and we are so happy to welcome him to the VanVleet team! 

Jeff grew up in Connersville, Indiana, where he graduated from Connersville Senior High School. Jeff earned his degree in ministry from Sonshine School of Evangelism before choosing to pursue a career in insurance. Jeff married his wife Christy in 2013, and after the two sojourned in Montana, they decided to make Richmond their home.

Jeff has just under ten years of experience in the insurance industry.  For Jeff, the most fulfilling part about working with VanVleet customers is helping people get the correct insurance coverage that will support them through any situation. “Each step has taught me the ins and outs of this industry,” Jeff says. “I use my experience to get my customers the best coverage at the best price and make sure they have the coverage that will cover all of their needs when disaster strikes.”

Outside of work, Jeff is a board member for Junior Achievement. 

Christy and Jeff have two children. Their family attends Greensfork Christian Church. When he’s not spending time with his family, Jeff enjoys watching, playing, and learning about sports. “I love the fact that I have moved back to Indiana to be immersed in our state’s culture of basketball,” Jeff says.  Jeff roots for the Indiana Hoosiers and Pacers in basketball, Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college football, the Cincinnati Reds in baseball, and the Indianapolis Colts in pro football. Jeff is also interested in water polo, curling, speedskating, and luge.

Kyle grew up in Eaton, Ohio and graduated from Eaton High School, where he played football and swam. Kyle worked for Aflac Insurance for 15 years before joining the VanVleet Insurance family in October 2018.

In his role at VanVleet, Kyle is an Employee Benefits Specialist. “I get the opportunity to work with our clients and prospects to form a benefits strategy that fulfills their immediate needs along with accomplishing strategic goals,” Kyle says. His favorite part about working at VanVleet is the incredible group of people he works with.

Kyle is a member of the LifeSpring Church Board. Kyle has been married to his beautiful wife, Laura, for 14 years, and they have two daughters named Kate and Julia.

Outside of work, Kyle loves to watch his kids, nieces, and nephews in their swim meets. In his free time, you can find Kyle working in the garden or building furniture by hand.

Loni graduated from Hagerstown High School, followed by Earlham College, where she still holds the school record for discus, weight throw, javelin and hammer throw. Right out of college, Loni spent five years as an assistant volleyball coach at Manchester College. Then, she moved back to Richmond to be the head volleyball coach at her alma mater for 3 years.  After spending some time in Muncie, Loni moved back to the area about 5 years ago. 

In 2016, Loni joined VanVleet’s front desk team. She quickly transitioned into her current role, helping clients navigate the Medicare process. “I am basically a moving talking encyclopedia for all things Medicare,” Loni says. “I take a very complicated subject and simplify it for our clients so that they can understand and make the best choice for them.” Loni credits her experience as a volleyball coach for her patience and flexibility in assisting clients.   

“I want my clients to leave here thinking they bought the best thing for them,” Loni says, “not that I sold them something.”

Outside of work, Loni has volunteered to help the Northeastern track and field throwers in the past. She spends most of her time on her family farm, established in the early 1900s, which keeps her busy. “I enjoy the nature,” Loni says. “It is very peaceful and seeing different animals wonder by is always a treat.” Loni has an active mixed-breed dog who she loves to spend time with. Loni is also a big sports fan and enjoys watching Notre Dame football games and IU basketball

danielleo@vanvleetinsurance.com

Danielle was born and raised in Richmond. She graduated from Northeastern High School in 2006 before heading to Indiana University East to study Elementary Education. During college, she student-taught 5th graders at Liberty Elementary School. Danielle achieved her bachelors degree in Elementary Education in 2010. 

Before joining VanVleet Insurance, Danielle spent eight years serving her community as a Family Coach for Early Head Start. “It was fulfilling to see the growth in children and families over the years,” Danielle says. “Sometimes, their accomplishments were noticeable even from week to week.” She also has experience working in retail and restaurants.

In 2018, Danielle started as a Claims Manager. She became the Commercial Account Manager in April 2020. The best part of her job? “Helping make people happy,” Danielle says. She applies her dedication to customer satisfaction to all her responsibilities. Danielle is the go-to-gal for business clients, assisting with quoting and writing new business, reviewing and processing renewal business, processing policy changes, generating and distributing certificates of insurance.

“It is great to get to help people when they are in need,” Danielle says, “And rewarding when they are doing well and look to us to help them stay on track!”

Danielle recently married her husband, Eric, and gained a beautiful daughter, Tabitha, through that union. Danielle’s family lives on the county line between Fayette and Union Counties with their fur baby Roxie and a flock of chickens. Danielle spends her days with family whenever possible, playing games, spending quiet moments in their hammock that overlooks the countryside, cooking, or just working around the house.

In her free time, Danielle is interested in more traditional hobbies and activities that help her family become more self-sufficient, including crocheting, knitting, quilting, canning, baking, and doing yard work. And those skills aren’t reserved just for Danielle’s family; “We enjoy helping others in our community when we can,” Danielle says, “Even if it’s just helping someone mow or making them a meal.”

 fCarol was born and raised in Indianapolis. She graduated from Warren Central High School with Academic Honors in 2000, then moved for the first time out of Indiana to attend Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Carol achieved her BS in Business Administration with a concentration in management and an accounting focus.

Carol and her husband Adam married in 2002. Before they had kids, the couple moved around quite a bit, so Carol became accustomed to being the new gal at the office. She worked in banking for several years, in Financial Aid at her alma mater, and at an insurance agency in Kentucky before moving back to Indiana in 2013.

Carol has worked full-time while being a mom to two kids, managing her household and supporting her husband, who is a Children’s Minister. Thankfully, Carol is adaptive to new situations, and carries her attention to detail with her wherever she goes.

In 2014, Carol joined VanVleet as a member of the front desk staff, where her vast experience in business administration immediately came in handy. In her current role, Carol is responsible for all things customer service. Her best days at work involve working with clients; “I like helping folks understand the details so they can make the best decision for their situation,” Carol says. “We are not salespeople, we are here to provide information.”  She also handles the company’s bookkeeping.

Carol and her husband, Adam, juggle a robust schedule of activities for their kids, Addi and Cooper, and for themselves! They are constantly attending sporting events, school activities, and church functions.

In her sparse free time, Carol enjoys photography, puzzles, and reading (especially books for teens), including sci-fi, mystery and fiction novels. Among all that, she makes time for a side gig she calls Carol’s Glitz and Glam

Tammy grew up helping her grandparents work on their farm. She graduated from Gettysburg High School in Ohio. She received her associates degree from Columbus Business University. Tammy was a stay-at-home mom until her two daughters started school, and joined the Insurance Industry in 1987 as a receptionist. During her first years working in insurance, Arcanum, Ohio was hit by a tornado, and Tammy quickly learned the importance of providing the proper coverage for clients. She’s been licensed in Property & Casualty Insurance since 1988. She achieved her Life and Health Insurance licenses in 2001.

Tammy joined VanVleet Insurance in September 2016 as a Customer Service Agent in Personal Lines. “I love the insurance business because it changes constantly; I’m learning something new every day alongside a great group of caring people at VanVleet.” 

“My two greatest achievements are raising two remarkable daughters and being able to achieve a career in the insurance business while being a wife and mom,” Tammy says.

Tammy currently lives in Arcanum, Ohio, and is involved in her Ohio community as a member of the village council for four years. Tammy currently stays busy attending sporting events for her four grandchildren and attending the EUM Church in Greenville, Ohio.

When she’s not spending time with her grandchildren, Tammy loves being around the water. “I love fishing, water skiing, jet skiing and just cruising around the lake in my boat,” Tammy says. Tammy’s favorite vacation spot is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tammy’s third favorite thing? Travel. She’s looking forward to a lot of traveling when she eventually retires.

dianak@vanvleetinsurance.com

Diana was born and raised right here in Richmond, Indiana. She graduated from Northeastern High School with honors in 2019. Diana started her college career at Ivy Tech and recently transferred to Indiana University East.

Before joining the VanVleet Insurance family, Diana worked in extended care at the Community Christian School and as a temporary employee at Wayne Bank.

Diana is a Customer Service Agent at VanVleet. She is dedicated to providing top-notch customer support to clients at all steps of the process. “I love people,” Diana says. “Everyone here works together as a team which I have found very encouraging.”  Diana is licensed in Property & Casualty Insurance.  

Outside of work, Diana stays busy in the community. She is an involved member of the Christ Presbyterian Church and volunteers at Circle U. When she’s not volunteering, Diana spends her time singing, dancing, doing archery, reading mystery novels, writing, baking, painting, and enjoying Marvel and Harry Potter. In any free time, you can find Diana hanging out with friends and family, including her golden retriever Harvey.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Carolyn moved to Richmond when she was a child. She graduated from Richmond High School, then and Indiana University. After college, Carolyn lived and worked in St. Louis, Missouri and West Chester, Ohio before moving back to Richmond in the early 2000s.   

Before joining VanVleet Insurance, Carolyn has worked in banking, as a Business Group Travel Accountant, a pre-school teacher’s assistant and a Certified Pre-Planning Consultant in a funeral home. Carolyn gained 8 years of experience in commercial insurance before joining the VanVleet family in September 2018. 

Carolyn started in a part-time position at VanVleet, assisting with commercial insurance and receptionist duties. She became a full-time employee in August 2019, starting in personal lines quoting home, auto, boat, motorcycle, etc. “It’s a daily learning experience and I really enjoy talking to people and helping them reach their goals,” Carolyn says.

Carolyn is married with two children, now 28 and 26, three step-children and four grandchildren. Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with friends and family – especially her grandchildren.

Jonathan lives in Greens Fork, Indiana. He graduated from Hagerstown High School in 2016, then went to Grace College to study marketing. Jonathan graduated with a BA in marketing from Grace College in 2019.

Before joining the team at VanVleet, Jonathan worked at Highland Lake Golf Course in the pro-shop and on the grounds crew.

In October 2019, Jonathan joined VanVleet as a member of the front desk staff. He was quickly promoted to a position in the claims department. As a Claims Manager, Jonathan advises clients through all things related to claims: reporting, submitting, monitoring, and more. Jonathan likes to look on the bright side, and is known for helping clients find positive outcomes from their accidents.

Jonathan is a member of New Testament Church of Christ. He also spends a lot of time at Highland Lake Golf Course. “I’m always looking for new things to become a part of!” Jonathan says. For Jonathan, family is everything. He enjoys living close to his parents, both work for Doan & Mills Funeral Home here in Richmond and his brother, Bradley Clark, is also an agent at VanVleet.

Outside of work, Jonathan can usually be found (surprise!) golfing with friends at Highland Lake Golf Course. He also enjoys watching and attending professional sporting events with friends and family. Jonathan loves exploring new states and countries, and hopes to travel the world someday.

courtneyv@vanvleetinsurance.com

Courtney is a Richmond native who graduated from Richmond High School before moving to Fort Wayne to attend Purdue University. She recently graduated from Purdue at Fort Wayne with a Bachelors in Business Management. Before joining VanVleet, Courtney worked in banking as a Relationship Banker for about 4 years. Courtney is looking forward to building relationships with clients at VanVleet as a Group Health Client Coordinator. “It is very gratifying to be the person your client can turn to whenever they have a need and they know you have a solution,” Courtney says. 

 Courtney joined VanVleet in July 2021 to help ensure a smooth transition for new group health clients and provide the highest level of customer service for all group health clients. Courtney says she enjoys being part of the VanVleet team because everyone cares so much about each other and their clients. She says: “VanVleet is heavily involved in the community and actively participates in the areas that we service!”  

 Outside of work, you can usually find Courtney spending time with her family. She and her family often go to Tennessee for ATV riding on the weekends. In recent months, Courtney and her boyfriend have been renovating their first home. They enjoy supporting RHS athletics as alumni. They also love spending time with their extremely energetic German Shepherd, Finn. Courtney also likes to visit the Richmond Farmers Market and take Finn on walks at the Cardinal Greenway.