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... Doors For Ward Insurance Agency of Gatesville, opportunity did more than just knock. It walked in the front door and asked for an application. In about 1980, a controller from a construction firm office up the street walked in and asked if we had a contractor surety questionnaire, ' recalls John Ward, one of two principals in the family-owned business. The contractor had messed up the form provided by an out-of-town agent and needed a clean version to fill out. I said I could provide the same service for him locally, ... says Ward. We had never done surety bonds before and I thought it would be like writing a fire policy. It was a real learning experience. Today, due to a lot of hard work and a common sense approach, construction surety bonds-guarantees that contractors will complete construction projects-account for about 15 percent of the agency's $2.25 million in annual premiums. Three-quarters of the agency's business is in commercial lines, and about half of that is with construction businesses, Ward says. When I got in the business in 1979, no one ... is about $9 ,000, with some departments paying as little as $3 ,500 and a few anteing more than $100,000. The Company estimates that about half of the state's 1,300 VFDs are target customers; the others are too small or are required to carry coverage through their city or county. The agency writes about two-thirds of its volunteer fire departments and emergency service organizations directly, with the remainder handled by a network of more than 70 agencies peppered across the state. Regnier refers potential clients ...

... and asked if we had a contractor surety questionnaire,' recalls John Ward, on...nging legislation. 'The notary public bonds and used-car dealer bonds are required by the state,' he exp...