Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

Island Heartbeat: Insurance with Soul-State Insurance USA

• "Cabo" Jim Schaller • Season 4 • Episode 6

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What happens when an insurance agency puts love at the center of its business model? Gail Langner from State Insurance USA reveals the remarkable difference this makes for Fort Myers Beach residents in this heartfelt conversation.

State Insurance USA isn't your typical insurance agency. As an independent agent representing virtually every carrier in Florida, they offer something increasingly rare in today's market: options. Founded by second-generation insurance professional Blake Chapman, the agency has grown from a single office to five locations across Southwest Florida. Their secret? A foundation built on love and community connection.

The timing of their Fort Myers Beach office opening—just 28 days before Hurricane Ian—thrust them immediately into crisis response mode. Gail shares emotional stories of how they supported clients through the overwhelmed claims process, sometimes going far beyond insurance matters. When a disabled veteran needed refrigeration for insulin, they didn't hesitate to purchase and deliver one themselves. These moments reveal the true character behind their business philosophy.

What truly distinguishes State Insurance USA is their ability to match clients with the perfect carrier for their specific needs. "Your insurance policy is just a piece of paper until you need it," Gail explains, highlighting why having the right coverage matters more than saving a few dollars. She also shares encouraging news about the insurance market post-Ian, noting that some policies are actually decreasing in cost as the region rebuilds.

Whether you're a current Fort Myers Beach resident or planning your next visit to this resilient slice of paradise, this episode captures the spirit of community that makes our island special. Listen now to discover how businesses with heart are helping rebuild stronger than before—and how finding the right insurance partner might be easier than you think.

State Insurance USA

Gail Lagner - Agency Manager
4450 Camino Real Way
Ft Myers, FL 33966
239-567-9992
100 Lovers Ln 3rd Floor
Ft Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 690-6300
office@StateInsuranceUSA.com
stateinsuranceusa.com
https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa
#StateInsuranceUSA
#SupportLocal 
#WeLoveOurClients

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor Podcast, where the sun's always shining and the stories are even brighter. Each episode we bring you closer to the neighbors, local legends and beachside businesses that make Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Pull up a beach chair, grab a drink and let's meet the people who make this island feel like home. We want to send out some island love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance, usa and Home Well Care Services Fort Myers. Love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance, usa and Home Well Care Services Fort Myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Here's your host, cabo, jim Schaller.

Speaker 2:

Welcome Fort Myers Beach. Good Neighbors, I can get that out this morning. A little struggle there, but today we have good neighbor Gail Langner from State Insurance USA. Boy, I'm having trouble this morning, aren't I?

Speaker 3:

It's okay, it's Monday, it's all right.

Speaker 2:

It is. I think I spent too much time in the sun this weekend. I think it's what happened, but it's been beautiful out there, so who can blame us? Right, exactly right Today, we're going to learn a little bit about State Insurance USA. And, for those of you not familiar with them, gail, why don't we share a little bit about you?

Speaker 3:

Okay, well, I can tell you about our company State Insurance USA. We are a property and casualty insurance company, and what that basically means is we insure almost everything except for health. We don't do health but your home, your auto, flood, your business, any of that. And Blake is our owner Blake Chapman, and he started the business about 12 years ago, but he was a second generation insurance. His dad was an insurance agent long before him, but we started with one office in Fort Myers and now we have five offices. We have two in Fort Myers, one in Fort Myers Beach, of course, one in Estero and then one in Naples on Fifth Avenue as well. So we run our entire agency by Blake's core values. His number one core value is love. He feels like if we all love one another, everything will fall into place after that. Everything is minor after that, and so we're very client focused. Make sure that we give our clients the very best coverage at the very best price.

Speaker 3:

Very important is the fact that we're an independent agent. Well, what the heck does that mean? It means that we write for in fact, we personally write for almost every insurance carrier in the state of Florida. So if you're not happy with the one particular insurance you know, let's say your home insurance. Let's say your home insurance went way, way up. We will, we'll look and see who's the best person for you at the very best rate. And you know, blake always just basically says your insurance policy is just a piece of paper until you need it. And when you get something, like Ian that came through, you need it. And when you need it, you need it. And so that's our job. There's the liaison between the insurance carriers and our super valued clients. So that's who we are.

Speaker 2:

I love that and very community based, obviously here in South.

Speaker 1:

Florida. Yes, we are.

Speaker 2:

That's important. So let's back up your story a little bit. How did you get involved in the insurance industry?

Speaker 3:

Oh gosh, Okay. So I had been a Mary Kay sales director and a TV host for many years and after my husband passed away, I actually went to BNI which is business networking with Blake and we were on the same leadership team and he said what are you going to do now that Gary has passed away, you know, do you have plans? One thing led to another and I agreed to help him with his marketing part-time Monday, Wednesday, half day Friday and I think I did that about a month and then I've been full-time ever since. So it's been almost 10 years I've been with him now. So I think we have three employees when we started and I think, as of today, I think we have 42. So yeah, so it's been an honor to watch it grow.

Speaker 2:

And speaking of that growth you had mentioned, you're headquartered there in Fort Myers, right, but then you expanded to the beach. Why Fort Myers Beach?

Speaker 3:

We. It was funny because people would say to us they would call in and they would go oh, are you on island? And we'd go, well, no, but it doesn't really matter where we are, we can ride in Key West or Jacksonville or whatever. And they'd go, okay, well, thanks. And these days really, you don't really go into your insurance agent and sit down with them anymore, it's, you know, it can be done so much easier than that. And they have to go and sit at the agent's desk. But they wanted us to be on island, so it was.

Speaker 3:

It took us literally years to find exactly what we were looking for. You know, sometimes they, you know the, the options were way too big. Or when we looked at it we went, oh, no, thanks, um, right, and so, um, it ended up that, um, access title, uh moved into uh, 100 lovers lane, um, there where the chamber is actually, and alex king and so on. And I happen to be at a at a fort myers beach chamber coffee. I'm the chair of the board for the fort myers beach chamber and I happen to be at a Fort Myers Beach Chamber coffee. I'm the chair of the board for the Fort Myers Beach Chamber and I happened to be at a coffee and one of the gals from Access Title was there and I was telling her you know that I was so distressed trying to find some place on the beach and she said well, we have an empty office that we could probably sublet to you. And that's really how. That's how it started.

Speaker 2:

Wow, interesting and you mentioned it's a very particular people on the island.

Speaker 3:

when they do business with people on the island, exactly right, even though we were only like five or six miles off the island. They wanted us to be there and I can understand that. So yeah, but it took us a very long time to find just the thing and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time to have Access Title be there and just have that conversation come up. So yeah, and we did our ribbon cutting, I think 30, no, maybe 28 days before Ian.

Speaker 2:

Wow, Crazy. So talk about challenges. You know we've all been through a lot of big challenges as of late, especially, you know, in your industry, late, especially, you know, in your industry. Is there something that you could kind of look back at now and you can say you know, it's one of my prouder moments through all this and I persevere than I've come through?

Speaker 3:

It was a time for all of us where, at the end of each day those of us that worked here at State Insurance I don't think there was almost a day we didn't go home and were crying.

Speaker 3:

I mean it was a very difficult time, a difficult time for everyone and of course we didn't really know exactly how it was going to work, like first the field adjuster comes and then after that, then the field adjuster takes his reports back to the insurance carrier and then there is a desk adjuster that's set and how that all goes.

Speaker 3:

And for us being the liaison, I mean sometimes our clients would call and say they're not calling me back, they're not calling me, and so we would jump in there and we would try to help. But of course, the people now that we look back, the people at the insurance carriers, they were overwhelmed. You know this was a natural disaster. This wasn't just some thunderstorm that came through, you know. And I think one time we had a disabled veteran that was our client and he needed his refrigerator for his insulin and we bought him a refrigerator and had it delivered, and I mean it was just those kinds of things that we just did everything that we possibly could to help in any way we could, and so, and sometimes it was just to listen. You know it was a bad time.

Speaker 2:

And that's what you know. Sometimes people need that. They need the generosity of their community and coming together and helping each other. And you know it's. We can plan all we want. We never plan for something like that. And when the time does come, we need to come together. And you know, thank God for people like you that you know have come and stepped up and help build Fort Myers Beach back to what it was.

Speaker 3:

Super proud to watch that happen too. It's really exciting to see it happen.

Speaker 3:

And then speaking along those lines, fort Myers Beach. You know, are there certain things you're involved with to give back and help support the community in other ways that maybe we could mention? Well, obviously, being involved with the Chamber Board as many years as I've been is an honor for me. But I can also tell you that Blake actually donates to two different local nonprofit organizations every single month, and we give back to people on the beach as well. I mean whether it's the Friends of Lovers' Cave or the F&B Strong.

Speaker 3:

You know, whatever we've done our level best and then whenever we have an event of any magnitude, we do our best to have it there. We've had an event at Diamond Head. At Pink Shell, at Margaritaville, we're doing our Christmas party. We're going to be taking a party bus from our office and we're going to take the pontoon from Salty Sam's and then we're going to be having dinner at Bonita Bill's. So I'm sorry, bonita Fish, bonita Fish. Sorry, joe, I didn't mean to say Bonita Bills, yeah, Bonita Fish. So we'll be doing our dinner there and then take the bus back. So we try to bring as much money out to the area as what we can.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I love that. And I love where this relationship is going as well too, because, as we mentioned, you're coming on board and sponsoring a segment that we're going to call on this podcast about community charities and nonprofits and help share their story to the people outside here as well too. So I'm very excited about that and where we can take that and raise awareness and really help really give back to the community. So thank you for that.

Speaker 3:

Of course it's an honor to work together, Jim, Really it is.

Speaker 2:

So are you from Southwest Florida originally.

Speaker 3:

No, I was born and raised in Michigan, lived north of Philly for a bit and lived in Minnesota for a few years, and then I lived in Sarasota when I was a little bit younger. Jeez, it sounds like I was running from the law, doesn't it? Actually, my husband's job took us around a bit. So no, born and raised in Michigan. So how about you? I was born in.

Speaker 2:

Wisconsin and grew up in Illinois and got out of college and said I don't want to shovel snow anymore.

Speaker 3:

No, thank you.

Speaker 2:

See how smart we are. I know right.

Speaker 3:

And now all our friends want to come visit us, right? Yes, they do, we're very popular down here.

Speaker 2:

So are there certain places that you would maybe suggest to our listeners when they do have people come visit, like we so often do, to take them to Fort Myers Beach and share their experience?

Speaker 3:

Oh my gosh, absolutely. I mean, look at the restaurants that are up and running now. I mean you've got Nervous Nellie's and La Ola and of course, the Whale's on its way and the Beach Bar, and you know it's coming back and it feels so good. It feels so good and of course people say, well, you know it doesn't look the same anymore. Well, no, it can't. You know, we've got to be mindful Again. Go back to the insurance industry. We have to. You know, we have to be safe and be up to standards and be up to code and all of that. So, no, it won't work exactly the same, probably won't look the same, but boy, the people are still here. And whether you just go to Mojo's and get a cup of coffee or you know whatever I mean it's, you know it's it still has the same, still has the same people and the same family feel.

Speaker 2:

And it's got. It's got that vibe, it's got that. It's got that vibe, it's got that energy and it's nice to have that back and seeing the new things sprout up and come back that we all know and love so that's exactly right, yep on your industry. Do you notice? Certain things may be changing or trending now because of what happened no, well, I mean it.

Speaker 3:

There was a time when some of the insurance carriers would say, well, we're just not going to write in this zip code or that zip code or whatever, and it was. It limited us completely, because I think some of the insurance carriers might just say, ok, well, we, you know, we need a break from that area, a break from that area, and so uh, but I can tell you, I, I have my home policy with frontline and it actually went down from from when it, when it renewed, wasn't much went down three or four hundred dollars.

Speaker 3:

But hey, I'll take it you know, because, you know before, the rates are going up and up and up and um. So no, it actually it decreased. And so and and they uh, fema, actually also um did where I live, I live in Estero they went through and did a remapping and now, all of a sudden, I'm not in an AE zone anymore, now I'm in an X zone, flood-wise, and so I don't have to carry my flood insurance. I'm not dumb, so I still carry it. But yeah, I mean. So, yeah, no, I'm not, and we really in the industry are not as nervous as what we were before.

Speaker 3:

That's good, that's a good question yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah because, every time a natural disaster or something like that comes along, people think oh, there go the reefs, there we go, yeah.

Speaker 3:

There we go.

Speaker 2:

But it's good to see things like that coming down.

Speaker 3:

It's scary, though. No-transcript USAA who targets the? I don't mean to say targets, that's not a nice word. They market to the service people. Right, they can write for USAA. Yeah, so this is your option. So now I've heard that they're awesome with their claims. I mean really, really awesome. But when you're independent and we have all these different options, you may say, okay, well, tower Hill won't write this, but People's Trust will. Well, people's Trust won't write that, but Frontline will, and so it does give us an advantage to really help our clients give them the best coverage that they can have.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. You can find what fits their needs exactly and kind of tailor it and say, hey, this is what we have. This is all you get. You know, I love that. So is there one thing that you wish our listeners knew about State Insurance USA that maybe they wouldn't be too aware of?

Speaker 3:

I think it's our heart. You know, when I'm interviewing people, I can teach them skills not me personally, but my team leads can teach them skills, but I can't teach them heart. And that's the one thing that we have that sets us apart. It's our culture. It's truly our culture and we really do the very level best that we can for our clients. We really do, and we're the first ones to also say you know, jim, we looked at your stuff and you know what we think.

Speaker 3:

You should probably just stay right where you are, you know, and so that's who we are and that is what I'm most proud of working for Blake and working for this agency, yeah.

Speaker 2:

I love it. I love it. You know, and again, we appreciate everything you guys do with the community. How would our listeners go about contacting you if they wanted to learn more or had some questions? If?

Speaker 3:

they wanted to learn more or had some questions. You can either call us at 239-567-9992. That's our main number, or you can go to stateinsuranceusa. com or our Facebook page, and so State Insurance USA is our full name and that's how you'll get us.

Speaker 2:

But yeah, we'd be happy to help anybody that we can. Very good Any last words for our listeners today.

Speaker 3:

I thank you, jim, for what you're doing with this podcast, and I know that it's going to be a great thing for our community and I thank you for doing that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I appreciate your support and your help and I'm looking forward to where our podcast goes.

Speaker 3:

That sounds great, We'll go from here right, that's it.

Speaker 2:

That's it. Thank you for being such a good neighbor and we'll see you at the beach soon.

Speaker 3:

All right, thanks, jim, bye, bye.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor podcast, where community meets paradise. If you love what you heard, share it with a friend and keep the good vibes going Until next time. Stay sunny, stay salty and keep being a good neighbor. Also, to nominate your favorite neighbors, local legends, heroes or island businesses to be on the show, go to cabo wabo gymcom. That's cabo wabo gymcom. Or call 239-427-4100. We want to send out some island love to eric tibbs from edward jones, state insurance usa and home welfare services fort myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love.