The JR Meyer Insurance Agency has been a staple in the Callaway community for decades, and third generation owner Zach Meyer emphasizes that though the name has changed, clients can expect the same hometown quality service they have always known.

Zach explained that the agency merged with GTA Group, a subsidiary of Highstreet Insurance in September 2023. Since that time, they have continued to do business as JR Meyer Agency. He said there were eight or nine other agencies at the time, including Univeresal Insurance of Broken Bow, who were still operating as DBAs (doing business as) under the Highstreet Insurance umbrella.

“This July we did a full agency management switch to get all on the same page, and at the same time they decided to take the name Highstreet Insurance and Financial Services to try to brand together,” Zach explained. “Highstreet is a national insurance agency that is relatively young but fast growing. It was just a good fit for us.”

He said that throughout the years his family has received lots of phone calls about joining other agencies, but there was never one that appealed to them. As his dad, Randy, edges closer to retiring from the family business, and recent weather events have caused more stress on workflows, this felt like the right time.

“Dad thought it was a good idea, and I thought it was. Our cultures aligned. It was just a good fit, and timing is everything,” said Zach. “This will give our clients more options. We were kind of losing the benefit of being an independent agency with our companies over the years. If you don’t write enough volume with them they don’t really want to service you.”

He said they were down to just a few companies left. “And that’s just not enough to compete.”

Discussions with GTA Group began in May 2023.

cont. PAGE 3 - Merger He shared that everything just seemed to fit and the transition was pretty seamless. Clients have been gradually getting accustomed to the name change of Highstreet Insurance and Financial Services, and most importantly, they now have more options and wider services to choose from.

“There was a lot of confusion upfront, but clients have been understanding. We have very loyal customers, but if you can’t offer them much that’s just not fair to them,” Zach said. “That’s kind of where we got. And we want to be here for a very long time. We have seen good growth since I’ve been back and that is the direction we want to continue.”

Letters were sent to clients last September informing them of the merger and the name change. Zach said one of the biggest factors in his decision to go with Highstreet is the fact that he is now a shareholder in the company. “It was very important to me to have some skin in the game and have equity in the company that I work for,” he shared. “It’s mainly employee owned. I have relayed that to my clients to let them know I am staying in this, that I have equity in it and I don’t plan to go anywhere. This is going to make us a better agency and give us more options.”

Zach did talk to his grandpa and namesake of the company prior to the merger to get his input. “He was very OK with it. He just wants to see us do good,” Zach said.

Zach has recently gotten certified in crop insurance to be able to take that on once his dad retires.

Randy joined his dad, JR Meyer, in the agency in 1991 and purchased the business in 1997. In 2019 Zach bought the agency from Randy.

Though the family name is no longer on the official business title, the legacy of service to their clients and community remains the same as it has for the past 60 years.