Page 52 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2019

BUSINESS&INDUSTRY insurance is a family thing
AMY BISHOP COAKLEY, left, and Linda Bishop.
story by Jeff Clark photos by Donn Hupp
my Bishop Coakley and her mother Linda Bishop have the Coast’s insurance needs covered from top to bottom. Amy is the owner of Bishop Insurance Services in Pascagoula, an agency that offers a wide array of services for home, auto and commercial properties. And on the west end
of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Linda owns and operates Bishop Insurance Brokers Inc. in Pass Christian. Linda and her late husband John Bishop started “Bishop” in 1976.
“My father had me working for him since I was 12 years old – I would put on a dress and work for him during holidays and the summer, but in 1992, I opened my own business. I left the business in 2008 and in 2013 I got back into insurance when my first child graduated high school. I’ve pretty much been in it all of my life — it’s always been an ongoing thing for me and my family.”
Linda says that she has had “many, many great years” in the insurance business, and while raising five children that was quite a challenge.
“My husband, myself and my son, Johnny Bishop relocated to Pass Christian in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. Previously we had been in Bay St. Louis since the early 90s. Prior to that we got our start in 1976 in Pascagoula.”
Honing in on the needs of her clients as well as saving them money are some of the things Amy said sets her apart
from other agencies. But her core values and business principals are the same ones she learned from her parents. “I learned that the most important things in business are building relationships and customer service, and we pride
ourselves on having great customer service,” she said.
“If people call me at 5 p.m. and ask me what time are we closing, I will stay there until 6 or 7 p.m. or later to help them if they need it. The most rewarding part of my job
is being able to get my clients a better rate and save them some money — we’re an independent agency which allows us to shop for the best prices and packages.”
And although the agencies are owned separately, Linda said she loves being able to work in the same field as her daughter. “Amy is very supportive and she’s great to share trade secrets with,” Linda said. “We may own separate insurance businesses but we not competing with one another – she has her boundaries and I have mine. That’s only fair.”
Bishop Insurance Services, PLLC
1813 Ingalls Avenue, Pascagoula 228.762.5839 • www.bishopinsservices.com
Bishop Insurance Brokers Inc.
517 W North St. Suite A, Pass Christian 228.452.9095 • www.bibrokers.com
52 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • August 2019
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