By Jessica Coates

jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Steve Hodge said his insurance agency serves a population that most insurance agencies don’t — high-risk drivers.

“Ninety-nine percent of all companies, all they want is preferred drivers,” Hodge said. “They take the top 10 percent, cream of the crop.”

Hodge said that’s one of the reasons he became an independent agent and joined forces with fellow insurance agent Marilyn Borrell to form Cabarrus Rowan Insurance in November.

“I’m serving the community where most agents can’t,” Hodge said. “When I was at All State, if they didn’t fit … their little model, that was it.”

Hodge said he previously worked for All State and said Borrell previously worked for “the big three”: All State, Nationwide and State Farm.

“We both have 30 years of experience, so 60 years combined,” Hodge said.

Hodge said he and Borrell specialize in car insurance but also offer coverage for homes, boats and motorcycles.

Borrell is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. She said she has a following with clients.

“They come to me for solutions. Sometimes they just call me for advice that’s not even related,” Borrell said. “You become a part of their family.”

Hodge and Borrell said their commitment to clients is one of the things that sets them apart from other agencies.

“I put my cell number on my business card,” Hodge said. “I can talk with people at 9 at night or 5 p.m. on a Saturday. Basically, they can call us anytime.”

“We really care and we appreciate them. And we’re not burned out like most agents are,” Borrell said. “It’s the people. We want to resolve their needs.”

Cabarrus Rowan Insurance is next to the vehicle license office in Kannapolis at 1513 Dale Earnhardt Blvd.

The office phone number is 704-925-3800.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.