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Fortified Insurance Agency of Manchester, N.H., Named New England Regional Office of Merchants Insurance Groups 2021 Agent of the Year

Group photo of Fortified Insurance Agency, Merchants' Agent of the Year, with Merchants colleagues

Last Row: Keith Beausoleil (Fortified), Kevin Lasante (Merchants), Ward Emanuelson (Merchants); Second Row: Christine Sylvain (Merchants), Jeff Benjamin (Merchants), Wendy Viola (Fortified), Kathy Sousa (Fortified), June Mittelmark (Merchants), Lynn Lavallee (Fortified), Rose Mason (Merchants); First Row: Sarah Lawrence (Merchants), Debbie Ventre (Fortified), Stacy Barilone (Fortified)

Merchants Insurance Group is proud to recognize Fortified Insurance Agency of Manchester, N.H., as our New England region’s Agent of the Year.

Traditionally, the Agent of the Year award celebrates one distinguished independent agency each year for its commitment to customer service and reflection of Merchants’ core values. Due to the outstanding year that Fortified Insurance Agency has had, the New England Regional Office has decided to honor the agency with this distinction for the region.

“We are pleased to celebrate Fortified Insurance Agency as Merchants New England’s 2021 Agency of the Year,” said Kevin Lasante, Regional Vice President of Merchants Insurance Group’s New England Regional Office (NERO).

Founded and owned by Keith Beausoleil, Fortified Insurance Agency has been a trusted independent insurance agency for the state of New Hampshire since 2009. Fortified prioritizes building long-lasting relationships with each customer, insurance carrier, and employee.

“We believed in Keith and his ability to build a successful independent agency when we were one of his first direct appointments more than a decade ago,” Lasante said. “It has been a joy witnessing Keith build his staff and agency volume.”

Beausoleil chose the name Fortified, meaning made stronger or more secure, to emphasize the agency’s commitment to providing strong protection and service and treating customers with the utmost integrity.

“I love working with the Fortified Agency,” said Sarah Lawrence, Merchants’ NERO Territory Manager for New Hampshire. “The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and cares about their customers.”

Fortified Insurance Agency’s 2021 Performance

Fortified’s Keith Beausoleil, President, and Merchants’ Kevin Lasante, New England Regional Vice President

Fortified’s Keith Beausoleil, President, and Merchants’ Kevin Lasante, New England Regional Vice President

In 2021, Fortified Insurance Agency had an impressive year of substantial growth. The agency saw 50.7% year-over-year growth in written premium with Merchants Insurance Group, writing 41 new policies. New business premium increased by 164%!

Additionally, Fortified Insurance Agency was one of the first agencies to embrace Merchants’ paperless capabilities and automation efficiencies. They’ve maintained excellent service to customers, actively engaging on social media and adapting to allow curbside and remote service as needed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortified Insurance Agency embraces digital marketing efforts to communicate with customers and even has a TikTok account, where Beausoleil once documented himself traveling to work during a blizzard!

“The agency’s core values are in alignment with Merchants’ [core values],” said Lasante. “The relationship is rock solid.”

As a leader, Beausoleil is “very humble,” according to Lawrence, noting that “every success is a Fortified Success.”

In 2009, Fortified consisted of three employees: owner Keith Beausoleil and two support staff. Today, the agency employs nineteen seasoned professionals! In the future, Beausoleil hopes to attract the next generation into the insurance industry through a junior, entry-level program at Fortified Insurance Agency.

“This agency proves that, with some attention and relationship building, a little agent can turn into a tremendous success!” Lawrence stated.

Merchants Insurance Group is proud to have Fortified Insurance Agency as a partner and congratulates them on their impressive performance and dedication to customers!

About Fortified Insurance Agency

Fortified Insurance Agency provides auto, home, life, and business insurance to all of New Hampshire, including Manchester, Bedford, Goffstown, Derry, Bow, New Boston, Weare, Londonderry, Concord, and Nashua. For more information, visit https://www.fortifiedins.com/.

Katherine Trautwein

Merchants Insurance Group

Merchants Insurance Group sells its products through a network of more than 1,000 independent insurance agents in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. We sell our products through independent insurance agents because we believe they provide value to policyholders through their broad range of products and their insurance expertise.