Q
You met your wife at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. But you told me that if someone had said to you, 25 years ago, that you’d live your adult life in Bowling Green, you’d have thought they were crazy. Tell me why.
A
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, which is about two hours away from here, and my wife’s from Nashville, about an hour away. Our whole dream was to get to Nashville, and I spent the first 10 years of my career chasing a role that eventually got me to Nashville. An opportunity came up one day, and I introduced my wife to the idea that we’d maybe go back to Bowling Green, and she just cried. Little did I know how cool the opportunity would be in Bowling Green. We both woke up one morning and said, “Hey, this is what God’s plan is for us.” And that is how we ended up here and then never looked back.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Costa Rica (“I want to be there during the rainy season, so it’s green, but you have so many different terrains and experiences, from the beautiful beaches to the rainforest to the natural spas. It’s all right there at your fingertips. And the people are just wonderful.”)
FAVORITE MOVIE: Tombstone
FAVORITE ACTORS: Val Kilmer, Matthew McConaughey, Billy Bob Thornton
FAVORITE MUSICIANS: “My most recent is Red Clay Strays. I’m fascinated by them. It is really just a group of guys that have stuck together and have experienced some real-life stuff. And they’re Christian-based, but that’s not their music.”
FAVORITE BOOK: “The True Measure of a Man [by Richard E. Simmons III] would probably be the most influential book in my life, but the one that really changed me and allowed me to develop and be most effective is Atomic Habits [by James Clear]. It’s an unbelievable book everybody should read.”
FAVORITE BOWLING GREEN RESTAURANTS: Gerard’s 1907 Tavern and The Bistro
Q
Your daughter Mattie was crowned Miss Kentucky USA this year. Tell me what that felt like as a parent.
A
You’ve got to know my daughter, first and foremost. She’s something special. My daughter got in pageants, which I had less than zero interest in, when she was a freshman in high school. She won her very first pageant. And you would think my daughter was a pageant girl, and she’s really not. I think she won because she was very well-grounded. She’s just a pleasure to have now involved in our business—she’s a recruiter for us. It was a great experience for us. She has gained so much confidence, and it’ll be exciting what life holds for her going forward.
Q
You wake up at 4:30 each morning. How did that practice start?
A
I wanted to make fitness a priority. I journal every morning as well. That allows for uninterrupted time for me. And then I also spend time reading, because I believe you have to invest in yourself first to be able to give back. I have an awesome group of folks that I get to work out with every morning that motivates me. Immediately following that, I have a quiet place where I go every morning and sit. Right now, during the cold months, I sit in front of a fireplace. I really dedicate myself to some quiet time. My belief is becoming 1% better every day. How do I get better than I was yesterday?
Q
Houchens has been named a best company to work for in Kentucky by the state Chamber of Commerce. What makes it such a great place to work?
A
We are customer-focused in the way we approach the business, and we want our employees to love what they do. We believe employees who truly love what they do and love people in the place they work are more productive. So we do everything we can to make that a possibility.
Q
What three words would your co-workers use to describe your management style?
A
The first word, I would put “trust.” The second word, I would put “transparent.” And third is two words: “No surprises.”
Q
If you could change one thing about the insurance industry, what would it be?
A
Tort reform. When you have some of these nuclear verdicts inside of our industry, so much of that is unpredictable and could impact the business far beyond what the true exposure is.
Q
What gives you your leader’s edge?
A
The people I was surrounded by, hands down. I’ve been blessed. I was taught at an early age that birds of a feather flock together. You are the company that you keep. Surround yourself with good people and you’ll be good. And, man, I am a shining example of that, and that’s probably the best lesson that I’ve ever been taught.
