1929
THE BEGINNING
ESTABLISHMENT OF
TB ISBELL INSURANCE
Started in Riceville, Tennessee
In 1929, TB and Kathleen Isbell shared a dream of providing quality insurance products to families, farmers and business owners in southeast Tennessee. So together the husband and wife duo created the TB Isbell Insurance Agency.
Their primary focus was home, auto and farm insurance. Along with the insurance agency, they also ran the Riceville Bank.
1974
A PASSING OF THE TORCH
GROWTH CONTINUES
Ron Hill takes ownership
In 1974 TB and Kathleen Isbell’s nephew Ronnie Hill purchased the agency and brought continued growth to the agency.
1990
ENDING OF AN ERA
TB ISBELL SOLD
Benton Banking Company Purchases TB Isbell
As 1990’s began Ron Hill was faced with a dilemma that most successful small business owners are faced with at some point in the entrepreneurial career, remain small and continue to strive for sustained growth or sell your business to increase its opportunity to reach levels of success that could only be dreamed of.
Therefore in 1990, Ron Hill decided to sell the TB Isbell Insurance Agency to the Benton Banking Company, a local bank located in Benton, Tennessee. As part of the agreement, the Benton Banking Company decided to retain Ron’s services to oversee the day to day operations in Riceville along with their new location in Benton.
1994
TURNING OF A PAGE
THE HILL AGENCY IS BORN
Ron partners with his son Jimmy
After his time with TB Isbell ended, Ron decided that small business ownership was a better option to serve his clients and those that depended on him to protect their way of life.
So in 1994, Ron along with his son Jimmy created The Hill Agency, in the same building his aunt and uncle started their agency some 60 years earlier.
A key to the rebirth of the family agency was the opportunity to represent a highly rated regional insurance provider based out of Columbus, Ohio, Grange Insurance. Through their partnership with Grange Insurance, The Hill Agency’s ability to provide their clients solid insurance products at competitive pricing was greatly increased.
2000
EXPANSION THROUGH GROWTH
WE’RE NUMBER ONE
Shelton joins the family business.
At the close of the 90’s and the years after the turn of the century The Hill Agency continued to achieve new heights of success. Although providing insurance to farmers had always been a cornerstone of their business, it was during this time that The Hill Agency became the largest independent insurance provider of poultry farm insurance in the State of Tennessee.
It was also during this time that Steven Shelton, the great nephew of the TB and Kathleen Isbell joined the agency as a licensed insurance agent.
2007
NEW PARTNERSHIP FORMED
OMEGA ONE INSURANCE
Hill and Shelton
In 2007, Jimmy Hill and Steven Shelton created a partnership called the Omega One Insurance Group. In March of 2007, they acquired Madison Insurance Center in Athens, Tennessee. In December of 2007, they acquired two additional locations Partain Insurance in Athens, Tennessee and the families original business from the Benton Banking Company, the TB Isbell Insurance Agency in Riceville, Tennessee.
They combined these three agencies in January of 2008, under the name of the Omega One Insurance located in Athens, Tennessee.
2008
AFFORDABLE ACQUIRED
CLEVELAND INSURANCE
Expansion to Cleveland
In October of 2008, Omega One Insurance acquired two additional locations in Cleveland and Athens, Tennessee. The acquisition of Affordable Insurance provided Omega One Insurance the ability to open their first office in Bradley County.
Omega One also acquired Affordable Insurance in Athens, Tennessee. After this acquisition, they transferred the Affordable location into their main office Omega One Insurance which is also located in Athens.
Affordable Insurance in Cleveland was rebranded Cleveland Insurance. Along with the name change, Cleveland Insurance was introduced to multiple new top rated insurance providers which expanded the office’s product offering from primarily auto insurance to auto, home, life and business insurance.
2012
TWO ADDITIONAL ACQUISITIONS
VALLEY INSURANCE
Expansion includes Sweetwater
In 2012, the Omega One Insurance Group added two additional insurance agencies. The first was Prime One Insurance located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Prime One Insurance and its policyholders were combined with Cleveland Insurance in late 2012.
The second agency was a partial purchase of Valley Insurance Service located in Sweetwater, Tennessee. At the time of the acquisition Valley Insurance Service was celebrating 30 years as the premier insurance agency in Monroe, County. Long time partner Linda Thearp remained with the agency to serve her clients and as a special adviser to the Omega One Insurance Group. Linda has remained in her role and continues to enjoy serving her clients.
2013
OMEGA BECOMES CARTER
CARTER INSURANCE
Omega moves downtown
In October 2013, the Omega One Insurance Group acquired an additional agency in Athens, Tennessee. The acquisition was of longtime independent insurance provider Carter Insurance from owner Jan Carter.
With the acquisition of Carter Insurance, the Omega One Insurance Group decided to also obtain the building in which Carter Insurance was located. This building purchase paved the way to move Omega One Insurance from Decatur Pike to 206 N White Street in historic downtown Athens, Tennessee. Jimmy Hill and Steven Shelton decided to keep the rich heritage built by Mrs. Carter’s 32 years of dedicated service by retaining the name Carter Insurance.
2017
VALLEY PURCHASE COMPLETE
PURCHASE COMPLETED
Valley Insurance Strengthens
In January 2017, the Omega One Insurance Group completed their purchase of Valley Insurance by acquiring the remaining shares of the agency from agency founder Louise Barnes.
As with her business partner before her, Mrs. Barnes remains a vital part of Valley Insurance where she continues to serve her clients and as an ambassador of Valley Insurance and special adviser to the Omega One Insurance Group.
Today Valley Insurance continues to grow through the leadership and mentoring of Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Thearp, Office Manager Terri Riddle, Jack Jones and Sammy Phelps.