Getting to Know HawkSoft's New Director of Partner Integrations with Darrin DeFouw

Building a Growth-Focused Agency with Jason Larsen

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives Podcast, Brad Boldt sits down with Jason Larsen, CEO and Risk Advisor at First State Insurance Agency Southwest, to discuss his rapid journey from outside the insurance industry to agency owner. Jason shares how an unexpected career transition led him into insurance during the COVID era, and how strong mentorship, structure, and a willingness to learn helped him step into leadership quickly. He opens up about the challenges of leading through a hard insurance market, building team culture across multiple locations, and balancing growth with thoughtful decision‑making. Takeaways: * Strong mentorship can accelerate leadership readiness and ownership transitions. * Clear structure and documentation are essential for sustainable agency growth. * Culture is built through everyday moments, not just big initiatives. * Technology should enhance workflows through integration, not complexity. * Community involvement builds trust and long‑term client relationships. * Serving people well ultimately drives agency growth. Learn more about First State Insurance Agency Southwest: https://firststateinsurance.net/ [https://firststateinsurance.net/] https://www.facebook.com/Firststateinsurancesw/ [https://www.facebook.com/Firststateinsurancesw/] https://www.instagram.com/firststateinsuranceagency/ [https://www.instagram.com/firststateinsuranceagency/] To get in touch with today's guest, reach out below: * Jason Larsen (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-larsen-94a01b1a6/]) * Brad Boldt (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/]) ________________________________________________________________________ If you’re looking to reach out to HawkSoft, please email marketing@hawksoft.com. For more information on HawkSoft, visit: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft]https://x.com/HawkSoft [https://x.com/HawkSoft]https://instagram.com/hawkSoft [https://instagram.com/hawkSoft] Music by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Growing a Values‑Driven Agency with Jesse Villafranca

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives Podcast, host Brad Boldt sits down with Jesse Villafranca, owner of Evergreen Insurance, to share the story of building an independent insurance agency from the ground up. Jesse walks through his journey of starting with almost nothing, opening Evergreen Insurance at age 33, and growing it into a respected, community‑focused agency. This conversation dives into family‑first leadership, mentoring the next generation (including bringing his son into the agency), and why doing the right thing for employees and clients always pays dividends. Takeaways * Values and family drive long‑term agency success * Staying paperless early created lasting efficiency * Leadership evolves from client service to team development * Mentoring the next generation strengthens continuity * Community and relationships fuel sustainable growth * Doing the right thing builds trust and loyalty Learn more about Evergreen Insurance: https://evergreen-insurance.com/ [https://evergreen-insurance.com/] https://www.facebook.com/EvergreenInsurance [https://www.facebook.com/EvergreenInsurance] https://www.instagram.com/evergreenvanwa/ [https://www.instagram.com/evergreenvanwa/] To get in touch with today's guest, reach out below: * Jesse Villafranca (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-villafranca-99699b7/]) * Brad Boldt (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/]) ________________________________________________________________________ If you’re looking to reach out to HawkSoft, please email marketing@hawksoft.com. For more information on HawkSoft, visit: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft]https://x.com/HawkSoft [https://x.com/HawkSoft]https://instagram.com/hawkSoft [https://instagram.com/hawkSoft] Music by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Getting to Know HawkSoft's New Director of Partner Integrations with Darrin DeFouw

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives podcast, host Brad Boldt sits down with Darrin DeFouw, Director of Partner Integrations at HawkSoft, to explore his 20‑year journey with the company and his new role building and maintaining HawkSoft’s partner ecosystem. Darrin shares what it was like joining HawkSoft as one of the company’s first employees, how his experience across every department shaped his perspective, and why partner integrations play a critical role in solving real‑world agency problems.  Takeaways * Partner integrations solve agency problems holistically. * HawkSoft carefully vets partners for quality and fit. * Agencies retain full ownership of their data. * Cloud architecture enables better, faster integrations. * Technology should support real agency workflows. Learn more about HawkSoft and the Partner Program: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.hawksoft.com/about/partners/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/about/partners/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft/ [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft/] https://www.instagram.com/hawksoft/ [https://www.instagram.com/hawksoft/] To get in touch with today's guest, reach out below: * Darrin DeFouw (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrin-defouw/]) * Brad Boldt (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/]) ________________________________________________________________________ If you’re looking to reach out to HawkSoft, please email marketing@hawksoft.com. For more information on HawkSoft, visit: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft]https://x.com/HawkSoft [https://x.com/HawkSoft]https://instagram.com/hawkSoft [https://instagram.com/hawkSoft] Music by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Choosing a Network and Auditing Tech with Michael Ley

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives podcast, host Brad Boldt is joined by Michael Ley, HawkSoft Director of Networks, to discuss choosing the right network and conducting effective technology audits. Michael shares practical guidance on how agencies should evaluate networks, identify red flags in contracts, and avoid common mistakes that can lead to costly exits or misalignment. The conversation concludes with a discussion on technology audits and how agencies can assess their current tech stack, avoid “shiny object syndrome,” and ensure new tools actually support workflows and growth goals. Takeaways * Interview multiple networks before committing. * Always review contracts and exit terms. * Strong networks offer more than commissions. * Annual tech audits reduce waste and improve ROI. * Assign a tech owner to drive adoption. * New tech should support clear workflows. * Integration and training matter more than price. Learn more about HawkSoft: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/]https://www.hawksoft.com/networks/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/networks/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft/ [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft/] https://www.instagram.com/hawksoft/ [https://www.instagram.com/hawksoft/] To get in touch with today's guests, reach out below: * Michael Ley (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/realmichaelley/]) * Brad Boldt (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/]) ________________________________________________________________________ If you’re looking to reach out to HawkSoft, please email marketing@hawksoft.com. For more information on HawkSoft, visit: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft]https://x.com/HawkSoft [https://x.com/HawkSoft]https://instagram.com/hawkSoft [https://instagram.com/hawkSoft] Music by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Family Dynamics with Dirk and Beth Zeigler

In this episode of the Insurance Perspectives podcast, host Brad Boldt sits down with Dirk and Beth Zeigler of Zeigler Insurance to discuss the realities of building and running an independent insurance agency as a married couple. Dirk and Beth share their journey from the early days of starting the agency out of necessity, through the leap from a captive model to independence, and into the long‑term growth of a community‑focused agency. They open up about the challenges of working alongside a spouse, setting boundaries between work and home, navigating major business decisions together, and learning to trust each other’s strengths. Takeaways * Working with a spouse requires clear role separation and strong communication. * Setting boundaries between work and home helps protect both the business and the marriage. * Mentorship and business coaching can accelerate growth and clarity in leadership roles. * Shared values and community involvement strengthen agency culture and client trust. * Empowering both partners as true owners leads to long‑term sustainability. Learn more about Zeigler Insurance: https://www.zeiglerinsurance.com/ [https://www.zeiglerinsurance.com/] https://www.facebook.com/zeiglerinsurance/ [https://www.facebook.com/zeiglerinsurance/] https://www.instagram.com/zeiglerins/ [https://www.instagram.com/zeiglerins/] To get in touch with today's guests, reach out below: * Dirk Zeigler (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkzeigler/]) * Beth Zeigler (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethzeigler/]) * Brad Boldt (click here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-boldt-00318278/]) ________________________________________________________________________ If you’re looking to reach out to HawkSoft, please email marketing@hawksoft.com. For more information on HawkSoft, visit: https://www.hawksoft.com/ [https://www.hawksoft.com/] https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft [https://www.facebook.com/hawksoft]https://x.com/HawkSoft [https://x.com/HawkSoft]https://instagram.com/hawkSoft [https://instagram.com/hawkSoft] Music by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/