When Champoux Insurance opened its doors in June of 1954, a first class stamp cost three cents. The first book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy – book, not movie – was just published and Bill Haley and the Comets was the hottest thing in pop music!

“One of the best parts about celebrating a 60th anniversary,” said Champoux Insurance President Diane Champoux, “is that it’s a great time to celebrate not only where we’ve come from, but also where we’re going. It’s a time to ‘make new friends, and thank the old friends,’” an affirmation of how much faith Champoux clients have placed in the agency for three generations.

It’s personal. It’s family. It’s community. It’s tradition.

Champoux Insurance has been providing a wide array of protection to individuals, families and businesses for more than half a century by being dedicated to their slogan, “Delivering on the Promise.”

It’s a promise,” explained Champoux, “that is fulfilled by a staff of 35 people with over 400 years of combined service in four owned and operated offices strategically arrayed around Maine, people who are totally dedicated to the safety, security and peace of mind of their customers.”

Champoux Insurance Agency is all about family. The agency was started by Maurice Champoux in 1954 when he purchased the Robitaille Agency, then a very small agency. He and his wife, Pauline, started the business at the kitchen table and grew it to the point where it took over the entire three stories of their Pine Street property.

Diane Champoux joined her father in 1978 and bought the business in 2000. Champoux now has been joined by all four of her children, who are working in the agencies at different capacities.

“This is a family business and our staff is just an extension of our family,” said Champoux. Three generations of validation through long-term relationships, a steady flow of new business expressing confidence in Champoux’s ability to handle their insurance needs, and a commitment to the future are all reasons to celebrate — and the firm will be doing exactly that with a 60th anniversary open house this June.

Champoux helps protect dozens of prominent Maine businesses and often provides personal and life insurance for those business owners and their employees.

“The broad range of our clients has helped us achieve a really unique kind of expertise. There is no insurance-related challenge that we can’t handle. We have enormous resources to find the best solutions for our clients,” Senior Vice President Dick Albert explained.

The agency helps meet the diverse standards of banking customer Mechanics Savings Bank, with all its special regulatory requirements, as well as the unique needs of such long-term clients as Central Distributors, Inc., Maine Awards, Penmor Lithographers, E.W. Mailhot Sausage, and St. Laurent & Son. Champoux is affiliated with the Maine Restaurant Association, Maine Innkeepers, Maine Veterinarians, and the Maine Association of Nonprofits. The firm has acquired an unusual expertise in the field of equine insurance, a service it is licensed to provide in 43 different states.

“Because we represent more than 30 insurance carriers, and offer all types of business, personal and life insurance,” Albert explained, “we can always help clients identify their needs and find the best coverage at the best prices, ensuring that their needs are met. We’ll make sure you have the right coverage, at the best possible price, and that if you ever do have a claim, it gets settled quickly and efficiently so that you can get on with your life!”

Today’s roster includes a balance of those whom Champoux has protected for half a century, some that are new to the firm or new to the Maine business community, and a wide range of civic, faith-based, arts and other nonprofit organizations. Champoux has also been able to work with companies such as the area NAPA stores, Spillers, Bedard Pharmacy, Sam’s Italian Foods and Neokraft Signs for many years.

Davinci’s Restaurant chose Champoux when they first moved into their iconic Mill St. venue in the Bates Mill. Rancourt Shoe and Baxter Brewing Co. have been Champoux clients since their inception.

“Retail, manufacturing, food service, finance — there’s no form of business practiced in Central Maine that we haven’t worked with, some for longer than their current owners have been with them,” Champoux added.

Among the extensive roster of nonprofits helped by Champoux is College for Me-Androscoggin, a tenant in Champoux’s new building, next to the YWCA on East Avenue, in Lewiston.

The former landmark Knights of Columbus building was built in 1963 and was completely rehabbed by Champoux last fall.

“We had simply outgrown our old space on Sabattus Street,” Champoux explained. “We’ve gone from a 7,200-square-foot building to 12,000, but most noteworthy is that we now have plenty of easily accessible parking, both for staff and visitors.”

Other nonprofit agencies served by Champoux include the Franco Center, Kora Shrine, Museum L/A, the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council, Community Little Theatre, Maine Music Society and the United Way, to name only a few.

“The fact that we all live here, we are all connected to the communities we serve, we are all active in community affairs and that as a company we are still family-oriented and committed to serving our clients with complete dedication is really important,” said Albert, himself a former Lewiston city councilor and the current board chair of the United Way. “These communities are our homes, too. We care about where we live, we care about our friends and neighbors, and so we care deeply about providing the very best products and service possible.”

How has Champoux managed to stay so successful through all the ups and downs of the economy? It is all about partnerships.

Champoux actively partners with each and every one of its clients. By the same token, Champoux partners with each and every one of its companies. Champoux represent the interests of both!

“Because we represent more than 30 insurance carriers, and offer all types of business, personal and life insurance,” Albert explained, “we can always help clients identify their needs and find the best coverage at the best prices, ensuring that their needs are met. We’ll make sure you have the right coverage, at the best possible price, and that if you ever do have a claim, it gets settled quickly and efficiently so that you can get on with your life!”

Contact:

Champoux Insurance

150 East Ave, Lewiston, ME 04240

888-783-2246