EVEN THE SAVVIEST of consumers can find themselves puzzled by the world of insurance. Coverage of all sorts is necessary in this day and age, but types of coverage vary widely and they change frequently due to market conditions and world events. The Baton Rouge-based independent agency Henry Insurance Service combines personal service, highly trained staff and an extensive product line to help clients make decisions that provide peace of mind and quality protection. 

Henry Insurance Service was founded in 1983 by businessman and insurance industry veteran Melvin Henry. Melvin’s son, Ross, assumed the leadership role in 2006. Ross Henry and his team of 21 experienced employees provide all lines of personal and commercial insurance to a broad spectrum of clients. Lines of coverage offered include workers’ compensation, general liability, property, homeowner’s, auto, life and health, among many others. 

“When I got into the business, I realized quickly it was never boring,” says Henry. “In the morning, you’re working with a restaurant, and in the afternoon you might be working with an individual or an industrial facility.”

It’s been an important objective of Henry’s to stay abreast of trends and events that impact coverage so that he can better minimize risk and exposure for his clients. 

For example, one of the biggest issues impacting businesses today is workplace violence and stalking threats. According to the Occupational Safety and Health  Administration, workplace violence is the second leading cause of work-site death in the United States. If a business experiences this kind of tragedy or threat, it can endure unexpected consequences, including reputation damage, loss of revenue, employee counseling and liability exposure.

“We believe it’s more important to be a problem-preventer than a problem-solver,” Henry says. “This is a really important issue today for businesses, and we’ve spent a lot of time staying on top of the latest in effective risk management.” 

Indeed, Henry Insurance Service not only offers comprehensive workplace violence coverage to businesses of all sizes, it also can provide security assessments to help businesses mitigate exposure. Ross Henry recently formed this new service line with partners Greg Phares, former City of Baton Rouge police chief, and security expert Peter Ochinko, formerly of the U.S Secret Service. 

“We feel this is the evolution of risk management, and we’re pleased to offer this to our clients,” Henry says. “We want to help businesses maintain their culture, while taking sometimes very simple steps that reduce risk and exposure. Every business wants to provide as safe a workplace as possible for customers, clients, patients and employees.”  

Because of the large number of insurance companies  represented, Henry Insurance Service provides clients competitive pricing and better choice in coverage. Not being locked in to one particular carrier allows the Henry Insurance team to “shop” for rates, terms and coverage that fit a client’s needs—whether that means a term life policy, homeowner’s insurance, commercial property coverage or coverage for a car or boat. 

Cyber liability coverage is another expanding area, says Henry. 

“Security and data breaches are more common than we think, and doors can be open in a company when they least expect it,” Henry says. “We’re committed to finding the best products for our clients that provide affordable peace of mind in a volatile world.

“We are your trusted advocate to help you protect what matters.”