SARASOTA, Fla. – This month, Sarasota-based Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency, one of the area’s oldest and largest locally owned insurance agencies, celebrates 60 years of serving the Sarasota community.
Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency represents an insurance tradition spanning five generations. Paul Purmort founded the insurance agency with his two sons Wells and Al and was later joined by Rick Martin, an independent agent in the area.
In 2004, experienced sales agents Matt Stepulla, Jamie Purmort and Russ Bobbitt, who became a producer at Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency in 1997, joined Martin as partners. Bobbitt assumed the role of president and chief executive officer in March 2018 and is now the sole owner of Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency.
With close to 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Bobbitt has handled large self-insured accounts, including contractors, hospitals and governmental entities. He has licenses in property and casualty, life, health and surplus lines. In addition to his licenses, Bobbitt has earned advanced insurance designations, including Accredited Advisor of Insurance (AAI), Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) and Certified Workers Compensation Advisor (CWCA).
A dedicated community advocate, he is active in the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, where he served as a past chairman and acts as a current board member. Bobbitt is the current chairman of the Coalition of Business Associations (COBA), a former president and chairman of the Greater Sarasota Sertoma Club and participates in the 100 Club of Sarasota, the Gulf Coast CEO Forum and Leadership Sarasota (class of 2011). A graduate of Riverview High School, he attended the University of Florida and graduated from the University of South Florida in 1991.
“The agency continues to grow and thrive thanks to the Sarasota community,” said Bobbitt, owner of Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency and a licensed Florida agent since 1996. “Our team is dedicated to customer-focused service and always doing the right thing for our customers. We are personally invested in this community and take pride in the fact that we live in Sarasota, we work in Sarasota, and we raise our families in Sarasota.”
Today, Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency employs more than 20 full-time experienced insurance individuals and five outside licensed sales agents,many who have been with the company for more than 20 years. Specializing in personal and commercial lines, life insurance and workers compensation, among others, the agency provides independent business owners and individuals with professional advice on premier insurance products.
Formerly located at 2805 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Purmort & Martin Insurance moved to its newly constructed building at 2301 Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota in 1979. The agency remains at this location today.
About Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency, LLC
Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency has been a part of the local community since 1957. Asone of the area’s oldest and largest locally owned insurance agencies, it employs more than 20 full-time experienced insurance professionals, specializing in personal and commercial lines, life insurance and workers compensation, among others. The agency also has five outside licensed sales agents: Larry Bowman, Roxanne Sima, Mark Kowalski, Stacey Velardi and Ryan Guttridge.
Located at 2301 Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota, Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency represents an insurance tradition spanning five generations, with a mission to provide independent business owners and individuals with professional advice on premier insurance products. The agency carries several competitive and financially stable insurance companies. For more information, call 941-366-7070 or visit www.Purmort.com.