A LITTLE BIT OF COUNTRY ... AND A WHOLE LOT OF FAMILY FUN

Rough Notes,  Jan 2004  by Boone, Elisabeth

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Small-town values and big-time entertainment spell Eranson, Missouri, home of the Akers & Arney agency

What do world-renowned violinist Shoji Tabuchi, country and gospel group The Baldknobbers, and master illusionist Kirby Van Burch all have in common? You might be scratching your head and saying, "Nothing"-but you'd be wrong. What brings together these performers, and a myriad of other bigname stars and local acts, is a small town in the Missouri Ozarks that in less than a generation has gone from a dot on the map to family fun capital of the world: Branson, USA. With a year-round population of just 7,700, Branson graciously plays host to millions of visitors to the theatres, hotels, restaurants, and other attractions that line a hilly strip along U.S. Highway 76-and at the same time maintains its identity as a close-knit rural community that cherishes God, family, and country. Walk through the door of any local store or office and you'll find the same brand of old-fashioned courtesy and down-home warmth that prevailed long before the Branson boom. But don't be fooled by appearances: That grizzled old codger in the faded John Deere baseball cap might just be the millionaire owner of a waterfront resort or the hottest barbecue place in town.

According to the Motor Coach Association, Branson is the #1 motor coach destination in the country, and has been for the last several years. The city is home to 40-plus theatres with close to 60,000 seats that host more than 60 shows-more theatre seats than Manhattan's famed Broadway. There are 198 lodging facilities with 17,000 rooms; 392 restaurants with more than 34,000 seats, and more than 15,000 condominium and timeshare units. Branson draws between 7 million and 8 million tourists annually and is expected to top the 10 million mark within the next several years.

Modest, folksy, and down to earth, Branson hasn't let fame go to its head. Thanks to carefully planned growth, local residents haven't been forced out of their homes or driven from their Main Street businesses by skyrocketing property values. Instead they're mapping-and profiting from-their town's transition from Mayberry RFD to the country's hottest destination for family entertainment.

Squarely at the forefront of Branson's business community is Akers & Arney Insurance Associates, a leading independent agency with strong ties to the town's past, present, and future. Established in 1952, Akers & Arney began serving Branson when it was a little-known destination for outdoor lovers. All four of the agency's current partners graduated from Branson High School between 1960 and 1986, and its office is still located on East Main Street, just two blocks from its original headquarters. Just up the street are such Branson fixtures as the Fudge Shop and Dick's 5 & 10, where locals and tourists alike enjoy a visit back to yesteryear.

Hometown leadership

The senior partner of Akers & Arney is Edd Akers, CIC, CPCU, who serves as chairman of the board. Edd is a native of Ozark Mountain country and was born at home in the back of a general store located near what is now called Branson West. Edd is the son of the late Elven Akers, founder of the Akers Insurance Agency. David Arney, president and co-owner, joined the agency in 1987, bringing strong experience in advertising, communications, and banking. Edd's son, John Akers, came on board in 1992 and is vice president and a co-owner with responsibility for the life, health, and financial services department. Last July, John was voted Outstanding Young Agent of Missouri by the Missouri Association of Independent Agents. Heading up the business and family unit, which handles personal lines and small commercial accounts, is Tim Huddleston, LUTCF. Also a co-owner, he joined the agency in 2000 after serving 14 years as an agent with a local office of Farmers Insurance. Akers & Arney also owns Akers & Arney Financial Services, which operates separately from the agency and works mainly from referrals provided by the agency's producers. The unit's business is handled by Mike Tucker, who acts as an independent contractor.

Akers & Arney has a staff of 16 employees, 12 of whom are licensed agents, and owns its 4,400-square-foot building in downtown Branson. The van bearing the agency's logo is a familiar sight around town as producers call on clients and prospects. "We have to be careful," Edd Akers says with a chuckle. "Sometimes we're asked what we were doing parked in front of a liquor store at ten in the morning, and we have to explain that we were visiting with an insured."

Of the agency's total premium volume, approximately 65% is commercial lines and 35% is personal accounts. Between 30% and 35% of total revenue is comprised of life, health, and benefits business. Akers & Arney's clientele runs the gamut from small, local businesses to major accounts like the area's leading hospital, Skaggs Community Health Center, and the Grand Palace, which at 4,000 seats is Branson's largest theatre. The agency operates within a 25-to-30-mile radius of Branson, serving Taney and Stone counties in the Tri-Lakes region that encompasses Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake.