Hispanic Heritage Month Series – Rudy Garza of the Garza Insurance Group
Q&A Featuring Rudy Garza of The Garza Insurance Group
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15. In partnership with Cherokee By Choice investor Georgia Power, COED is honoring Cherokee County’s thriving Hispanic Community by shining a light on some local Hispanic-owned businesses.
This week we will hear from Rudy Garza of the Garza Insurance Group. Rudy has been in the insurance business since 1987 and has happily called Cherokee County home for 15 years. He now resides in Woodstock with his wife, children and grandchildren.
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What inspired you to start your business?
If you know me, I’ve always sold something and I’ve always had a desire to help people out. When I was 10-years-old, my father, on one of our trips to Mexico, bought these little devices to make shaved ice. So, wherever me and my brothers were at, we would pull out some ice blocks and some syrup and make snow cones to sell. My father had two Coke machines, and it was my responsibility to fill all the drinks so we could sell them. I even sold ice cream out of my house up in Wisconsin.
I started in the insurance industry back in 1987. I’ve always had dreams of opening up my own business, but never did anything with it. I went to work for AAA Auto Club South for 23 years – from agent to manager and then overseeing the entire branch. One day, I was approached by my daughter-in-law and my stepson. They said, “If you open up your own agency, we will help you,” – that’s what sparked the whole process.
A person I respect sat me down and told me if there was ever a time to start your own agency, it is now – that was two years ago. I took his advice, and little by little, people from all walks of life started asking me, “Hey, will you quote me?”
Sometimes people laugh at me because I say that I hate insurance. The reason I hate it is because the industry can be so complicated, and there’s no one there to help people out in average terms, especially because of the language barrier some Hispanics face. My Mexican heritage tells me to help the Hispanic people.
That is why I love helping people understand their policy and making sure that they have the right coverage, and not only that, but being on the lookout if the policies are going to cancel for non-payment of premium or other underwriting reasons. I like to help people and to be dependable.
How has being in Cherokee County helped grow your business?
The Cherokee County community has helped me in the sense that they talk about me, they follow me on my social media, I’m the first person that they refer to. There are so many businesses that are trying to help people out, just like I am.
All my business has come from referrals from network groups. I am one of the founding fathers of the Woodstock Business Club, and other business clubs have started in Cherokee County – the Canton Business Club, the Ball Ground Business Club.
It’s really a micro-community of people helping each other out, giving advice to one another and growing. I’m also heavily involved in the Acworth community. Next year I’m going to be the President of the Acworth Business Association. Acworth also has a Hispanic community, and then that’s going to help me reach those individuals. At the end of the day, if I can help someone, that is my ultimate goal.
What can we as a community do to continue to support you?
Continue to share the Garza Insurance Group, continue to talk to me. I think that’s the biggest support that we can give each other, regardless of what industry you’re in, what background you’re from – just as long as you lock arms with someone that is willing to help others.
At the end of the day, we’re going to make Cherokee even greater and stronger than what it already is.
What advice would you give to other small business owners in Cherokee County?
First, I would tell them to get involved in network groups and show up with a smile. Show up with brazos abiertos – open arms, open mind. Try to embrace the help that people are trying to give you.
It’s kind of interesting how some days I may go to a network group and I don’t want to be there, it is the last place I want to be – and that’s the day that I need it most because there might be a little nugget that I walk away with that not only helps me, but I can pass it on to someone else.
Sep. 15 – Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. What does Hispanic Heritage month mean to you as a business owner?
Si se puede. Yes, you can.
My siblings told me a long time ago I should open up my own agency. I just didn’t think I could. This community has given me the confidence to be able to do that and because of that I can tell other Hispanics, yes you can.
One person that I look up to and that tells me, “Yes, you can,” is Oscar Velez, from Three Brothers Painting. He is like a little brother that gives me so much advice. I have other people that are of other ethnic groups, that are younger or older than me, that take me under their wings and help me out too – it means a lot whether you’re Hispanic or not.
That’s where I feel responsible. Business owners in Cherokee are the ones that should be telling them and showing them yes, it is possible. In this world, anything is possible. Si se puede.
It doesn’t matter if you’re Hispanic or not, I believe wholeheartedly that’s what Cherokee County has. It doesn’t matter what ethnic group you are in – that acceptance exists in our county. We support each other, and that’s a beautiful thing.
To learn more about the Garza Insurance Group, visit www.garzaig.com.