How Insurance Agencies Celebrate Christmas- Christmas at Bitner-Henry Insurance Group

Have you ever wondered how insurance agencies celebrate Christmas? At Bitner-Henry Insurance Group, our Decembers begin in a flurry of activity.

This year, we opened the month by welcoming our agents from all across the country to our annual Christmas training. Underneath the twinkling Christmas trees and crackling fireplaces of the hotel where we stayed, our agents set new goals, learned the latest strategies to help their clients, and reflected on the goodness of the past year. Our very own Steve Henry gave a State-of-the-Agency speech after the opening prayer, and we all looked forward to two-and-a-half days of working together for our customers. Top agents gave panels on goal-setting and talking to underwriters. Provider groups themselves discussed how best to present and market to their underwriters. We worked hard, but after the seminar, our agents are even better prepared to help our customers find safety and security through insurance.

After a second day of studying and working together, our whole agency drove through historic Hagerstown to the beautiful Maryland Theater for a Christmas dinner.

From the sugar-frosted scent of the red velvet cake to the warm laughter at the PowerPoints, the dinner was a success! Agents and office staff talked together over brie cheese and roasted, rosemary chicken. When everyone had eaten, the Henrys gave out speeches and gifts, including decadent chocolates from a local nonprofit and handmade Christmas tree ornaments. The dinner was warm, cozy, and full of friends. When it came time to leave the ballroom and its sparkling glass chandelier, everyone bundled up in winter coats, stepping back out into the wintry night, aglow with streetlights.

The next week brought the competitive Christmas Cubicle Decorating and Ugly Sweater Contests! The front desk bedazzled the office with a Macy’s-Christmas-level Whoville display. Using peppermints, wrapping paper, a present tower, and banners hung from the ceiling, Hannah and Leah- both dressed in Grinch costumes- won the decorating contest. Only two votes behind, Marketing stunned with a handmade Charlie Brown presentation. Featuring Snoopy’s doghouse, complete with a Snoopy stuffed animal, a construction-paper children’s choir in the snow, and exceptional drawings of Lucy and Charlie Brown recreating a scene from the movie, the competition was fierce!

The office also took the Ugly Sweater Competition seriously. Bethany stunned in a multicolored knit, while Bethany and Lexi wore green and red jackets that evoked the feeling of the Christmas season. Adam was ultimately our winner, with a sweater that recreated the famous Leonardo DiCaprio meme! Bakers from all around the office swapped cookies in a well-organized cookie exchange that included everything from chocolate chip to coconut cookies.

With freshly fallen snow dusting the sign and lawn outside, the atmosphere in our office could not have been more festive. Steve and Carol received a gift from the office to show our appreciation for them and all that they do. We closed out our party with brownies, Christmas cookies, and our favorite mini-cheesecakes, happy to celebrate the December birthdays and anniversaries with each other.

Finally, our friends from Cincinnati Financial Insurance treated us to a night of bowling and fun! Steve, Joel, and Stephanie tied for the highest point score. We cheered for each other, enjoyed pizza and nachos, and gave out fun nicknames as we bowled, aiming for a strike.

Christmastime at Bitner Henry is full of fun, friends, and excitement. While we celebrate our successes from the past year, such as Daryl Henry crossing a record million dollars in sales, giving our customers digital document access, and helping our thousands of customers navigate a challenging insurance market, we are grateful for our customers who make it possible to serve them. So many groups that we work with do such good work: helping others, going where few go, helping shepherd God’s family, and more.

As we look towards this brand-new year, we are excited to do life alongside you! No matter what next year brings, Bitner Henry is ready to do more than just insurance: we’re ready to serve those who serve others.