Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Delores Groomes-Dickey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Delores thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was to kickstart my career off by paying for me to get my Insurance Agent License and offer me a partnership without any financial exchange, just to be the best I can be. His name is James David Brinson

David Brinson and I worked together at Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company from 1996-2002. David’s family and I had formed a close relationship throughout the years. He sang at my wedding, and we did several outside family events together. We always talked about partnering up and running the business together.

Kyle Williams, also an Insurance Agent worked with Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company as well but at a different time than David and me. Kyle joined our team at Brinson and Dixon Insurance.

David Brinson, founder and CEO opened the doors May 8, 2002, as Brinson and Dixon Insurance, Dixon being a financial backer. David contacted me a year before and asked me to join his company. A year later, I came aboard.

I grew up in New Jersey, so every year I traveled to visit family. In 2012 after my return, to my surprise David informed me that the new name of the business was Brinson, Williams & Groomes Insurance, James David BRINSON, Richard Kyle WILLIAMS and Delores GROOMES Dickey. I have since married with the last name Dickey but didn’t want to go through the hardship of changing the business name.

And there you have it!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Delores Groomes Dickey. I am the Coo of Brinson, Williams and Groomes Insurance. I have 2 adult children, Kamala and Michael Groomes and a grandchild named Kamryn. I was married for 30 years and re-married April of 2019 to Victor Dickey. Victor has 3 children and 10 grandchildren. I am on the Board of Directors for The Averitt Center for the Arts, The Downtown Statesboro Development Authority and the Statesboro Landbank.

I explained how I got to be a Businessowner. The road that led me to Georgia Farm Bureau and working in Insurance was losing my job. My family and I were military. My husband at the time got out of the military in Savannah after many years. I worked for a company in Savannah in logistics. One of my co-workers approached me with an offer to buy some land from him as he was going through a divorce. It was NOT in Savannah. It was in the country, small community called Stilson, Ga. I’m from New Jersey, as we have established earlier in my story. We built a house on the land and got insurance with Georgia Farm Bureau. My agent was very helpful with questions and seemed to be truly nice guy I never thought I would see again unless I had to pay my premium or file a claim. Little did I know.

My company started downsizing and laying off. I was one of the last to go and was very hurt, upset and angry. We had just built a house and moved our family; I needed a job!

I met a neighbor whose son wanted to cut our grass and we became acquainted. She needed help with an annual dinner for Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company. She was a board member. I helped with food and decorating. During the meeting they shared that they were hiring. I went the next day to apply and met my agent in the parking lot! We both were shocked to see one another.
I interviewed and got the job the same day. I replaced another Delores!

Working with the public can be a challenge. I come to work each day ready for anything. The special thing is that for the most part, our customers are family. They have insurance needs that we fulfill, what comes with that are formed relationships. What comes with formed relationships in the insurance industry, is knowing their insurance needs. A newlywed couple buys a house, they need home insurance, they buy a vehicle, they need auto insurance, they have a baby, they need life and health insurance, they build a business, they need General Liability, Workers Compensation and maybe an Umbrella policy. We’re an Agency, so we have numerous companies that we can quote through to fit different aspects of the public. We’ve been around long enough to see our customer’s children grow up, get married and have babies themselves.

What sets Brinson, Williams and Groomes Insurance apart from others is we truly CARE. We don’t hide behind glass doors or have a telephone system that takes messages. We see our customers in person, and we have live people answering our calls. No appointments necessary. Although, you may have to wait until we’re free from helping others before you. If you desire to make an appointment, we set aside that time especially for you.

Brinson, Williams and Groomes Insurance celebrated 20 years of service to our community May 8, 2022! James David Brinson, CEO, Richard Kyle Williams, CFO and Delores Groomes Dickey, COO. In 2015 the operation expanded again and opened an office in Metter, Ga. with Chriss Webb as the managing agent.

Through the years, Brinson, Williams and Groomes Insurance has grown and changed, but its commitment to service for its clientele has never wavered. The company’s mission statement can be found in Philippians chapter 2, verse 3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself”.

We are both thankful and humbled by the confidence, trust and loyalty of our clients. We strive every day to prove that trust is well-placed in our company.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build a reputation within my market was socializing. I use anything I can to be in the public eye. We built our social media and have an employee that updates daily. I did Dancing With The Statesboro Stars in 2017 and we had a huge advertisement online with it along with fundraising. This event raises money for domestic violence. We raised over $130,000. No, I didn’t win or come close, but it was an experience. I go to monthly business after hours events. This is where businesses around me host a social event for businessowners and employees. We get together and network. We have food, drinks and entertainment. I have also joined many organizations as a board member. I sponsor a series called The ONE Series. This series is where a Director from the Averitt Center for the Arts chooses 3 people a year to share their talents with a live audience. They have a 30-minute interview and perform the rest of the show. Doesn’t appear to be a good way to build a reputation or market but you would be amazed. When I’m introduced as the sponsor, people want to know who you are, or they knew you but didn’t know your profession. I’ve given out many business cards at this event. This is the 4th year being the sole sponsor. I’m very proud of it.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me is going into the community. Visiting restaurants, beauty parlors, sandwich shops, cleaners, etc. Building relationships is something I do every day. I go to banks and take goodies and business cards. They do home and auto loans to people that need insurance. Sometimes they have it already and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they shop it out if they see they may save money. I have family and loyal customers that send me business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bwgins.com
• Instagram: delo_50
• Facebook: Brinson, Williams and Groomes Insurance

Image Credits
DeWayne Grice – 3 agents outside with logo above head Frank Fortune – Head Shots and Dancing alone photo