When Melinda DiNapoli took over office operations for Vial Electric and Company in 2011, she had her work cut out for her.
Managing Fabricio Vial’s growing New Millford, Connecticut operation was every bit a full-time position and she was charged with smoothing out all the wrinkles. It wasn’t until she did something as simple as request a certificate from Vial’s commercial insurance carrier that she realized she had bigger issues than trying to manage growth. Working largely in Connecticut and sometimes across state lines in New York State, Vial needed certificates of insurance so the company could pull the proper permits.
“Getting any certificates of coverage for permits in other towns took days,” DiNapoli said of working with the insurance carrier she inherited. “It was a God-awful experience. It was just horrible.”
So like any good office manager, DiNapoli made some phone calls and got her boss involved. That’s when the owner called a long-time friend and fellow New Millford business owner to ask his advice. The owner recommended GBRM The Contractor’s Insurance Agency, 2022 Route 22, Brewster, New York.
GBRM owner Gary McCarthy sat down with Vial and his office manager and reviewed the insurance currently in place. DiNapoli distinctly remembers a knot forming in her stomach. “I was astounded to say the least,” DiNapoli said. “Come to find out in the transition that (Vial) didn’t have proper coverage. The other company was unable to provide the proper contractors liability insurance.” Vial had had enough and switched his commercial policies to GBRM on the spot. “I don’t think it was until Gary came into meet with me that we didn’t realize that maybe things weren’t as they should have been,” DiNapoli said. “The way Rob (McCarthy) has managed it, it’s been much more comprehensive.”
Three years later, Vial has as many employees (15) as it does years in business. And DiNapoli doesn’t cringe every time she asks for a certificate of coverage anymore.
“Literally I email him and he sends it right out,” DiNapoli said of Rob McCarthy, who runs his agency on a maximum 90-minute turnaround time for certificates of coverage. “They are an exceptional firm.”
In that time, McCarthy has been able to help DiNapoli sort out Vial’s commercial auto insurance as well as it’s worker’s comp coverage. “We had one guy try to claim an accident on us,” DiNapoli said. “We knew it was a false claim. Rob was very, very helpful in having that proven false.” A claim that is successfully defended against saves a company premium dollars in the future. DiNapoli says it’s just another service that comes standard with GBRM and she can’t imagine having anyone else take care of Vial’s insurance. “It has been an incredible pleasure ever since,” she said.
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