West Valley Insurance continues on under new ownership

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

The Silver Valley can sometimes be a volatile place for a business. Residents have seen many close over the years, especially in the last three decades.

So when one of these local businesses prospers through time and provides enough for a native of the area to semi-retire, it is considered a great achievement. The only way it could be better is if the person taking the reins of the business that you built was a Silver Valley native too, right? Well that is what Gail Haynes, the now former owner of West Valley Insurance, has done.

Friends, family and colleagues of Haynes gathered at the Pinehurst Golf Course clubhouse on Wednesday to celebrate the sale of her business and to welcome the new owner of West Valley Insurance — Kellogg native Ian James.

James, who owns his own financial planning business in Baton Rouge, La., has not lived in the Silver Valley for some time. But after 25 years away, he said that it was finally time to come home, and this business was a way to do it.

“It was an opportunity when I heard that Gail was retiring,” James said. “It’s an established agency that people are comfortable with, that people knew and trusted, and I would be able to come into my home town.”

With the acquisition of West Valley Insurance, James is now able to expand the services he already offers with his financial planning business.

“It was kind of a natural fit. I’ve always wanted to have full service — which is not just stocks, bonds, mutual funds — but also to add auto, home, and that sort of thing.”

This expansion of services also allows him the opportunity to diversify his revenue.

“When you’re in the stock market, there’s a lot of ups and downs, but auto and homeowners (insurance) are pretty steady — you have to have them.”

James’ decision to come back to the Silver Valley was not just spurred by a business opportunity. After living in a city with more than a million people and being within driving distance of even bigger ones for so long, the small-town atmosphere he grew up in was pulling him back.

“I think there’s a big magnet here,” James joked. “Its been good to me (big city life), but this is home. People are good here and they treat you like you want to be treated. These are my people and this is where I’m from.”

James also boasts an impressive lineage of Silver Valley miners going back five generations. He himself worked at the Bunker Hill and Crescent Mines in the early ’90s.

Although he will be running both West Valley Insurance and his financial planning business back in Baton Rouge at the same time, the University of Idaho and Louisiana State University graduate is confident that clients will still receive the top notch service that Haynes has always provided.

“You do the right thing for the clients and offer them more choices and I think everyone wins,” he said.

As for Haynes, she is not entirely stepping away from the working life, as she will still hold onto the real estate side of her business. Even so, she is still hoping to have more free time now to go golfing and four-wheeling.

With more than 35 years of her life invested into the insurance business, the Kellogg native is also looking forward to spending some time on her family ranch in Kingston.

Regarding her decision to sell to James, Haynes believes that it’s a perfect match.

“I think he’s great,” she said. “He was born and raised here, and I think he will do great. He understands (people) and will offer some new products…it should be exciting!”

As of Thursday, West Valley Insurance is now open under its new management and is located at 105 Fairway Shopping Ctr. #4, Pinehurst.