How one consistent act of kindness changed Nate Herndon’s life
Nate Herndon moved his family to Knoxville to establish Foundation Insurance Group's presence in the fast-growing East Tennessee area.
Before Nate Herndon ever sold an insurance policy, he showed up for someone who needed a friend. Two years later, that same teenager spelled out the words that launched Nate’s career in insurance: “You should work for my dad.”
It was a touching beginning to Herndon’s journey with Foundation Insurance Group (FIG), one rooted in relationships. Now, he’s excited to bring a branch of the business to Knoxville.
In 2015, Herndon was living in Virginia, working at a seminary. He went through a program similar to the Knoxville Fellows called “Falls Church Fellows,” which connected him to workplace opportunities, his church, and friends. It was through that program that he met James Potthast, the youngest son of the Potthast family.
“He was a teenager who had never been to a youth group. He’d never been around guys his own age, because he has nonverbal autism,” Herndon said. “The only way James can communicate is by pointing out letters one by one on a board.”
Herndon took James under his wing and, over the course of two years, became acquainted with the Potthast family.
“It was James who, on his board, wrote that I should consider working for his dad,” Herndon said.
Little did Herndon know that James’ parents, John and Brooke Potthast, were already thinking the same thing.
“I had no insurance background. And John said ‘Nate, we know you. We know what you stand for. You have our core values. I can teach you insurance,'” Herndon said.
In July of 2017, Herndon joined FIG full-time, changing the trajectory of his career and ultimately leading to his relocation to Knoxville.
Diving into Insurance
FIG is an independent insurance agency with core niches in Business Insurance, Auto Insurance, and Home Insurance. As an independent agency, FIG partners with a range of national, regional, and international insurance providers to provide solutions that fit the needs of clients, whether they are individuals or businesses.
Herndon takes a unique view of insurance. He views it as a means to protect the things that matter in life.
“The clients that I enjoy the most are the ones where we can talk about the things that matter, like how do we protect and take care of our employees? How do we keep our employees safe so that they can provide for their families? How do we steward our businesses well so that we can have an impact on the community?” Herndon said.
FIG focuses on serving businesses that have from 10 to 500 employees, with revenues from about $1 million up to about $100 million.
The reason? Those businesses are often too large for mom-and-pop shops to service their insurance needs, and some are too small for the national agencies to focus on.
Bringing Foundation to Knoxville
The company was founded by the Potthast family in Falls Church, Virginia, in 1994. Through the years, the company has expanded into a secondary space in Louisville, Kentucky. From those two offices, FIG services businesses across the United States.
Herndon is the first employee to locate in Knoxville.
“Knoxville is a very popular city, and it’s growing, which means new opportunities,” Herndon said. “That means new construction, landscaping, and new service professions. It’s leading to a vibrant and robust economy, and people want to be in Tennessee.”
Herndon includes himself in that statement. He and his family wanted to be in East Tennessee to be a bit closer to family. His side is in Murfreesboro, and his wife’s family is in North Carolina. Plus, his wife is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville graduate. Knoxville was the perfect middle spot.
“Knoxville is a very central place for where we want to grow our footprint– personally and professionally,” he said.
Welcome Nate Herndon to Knoxville!
Learn more about Foundation Insurance Group.
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