By William Jacko
Special to The Laker/Lutz News
When the World Trade Center collapsed during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Steven Papola was close enough to see it fall, as he was on his way to begin the recovery effort at ground zero.
That was the day he gave up a successful insurance business in Blue Point, New York, to resume full-time work as an officer for the New York Police Department, where he had worked previously for 15 years.
After assisting with the 9/11-recovery effort, Papola moved to Florida and served a 10-year stint as a deputy sheriff with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. This past March, he returned to insurance sales, opening an Allstate office in Lutz.
Steve views insurance as a natural extension of serving and protecting the public.
“A customer is a customer, whether you’re wearing a uniform serving them in one capacity, or wearing a suit and serving them in another capacity,” says Steve.
He also considers Allstate, informally called Big Blue, a natural business partner for a former police officer from the NYPD Blue.
Now, Steve protects people against financial loss. His agency offers many types of insurance — automobile, homeowners and property, flood insurance, and business and commercial. He is especially proud of the specialty lines offered, including motorcycle, boat, recreational and off-road vehicle insurance. Papola also offers more than just Allstate products, including life insurance, annuities and retirement plans.
Allstate allows us to access alternative markets that it has selected to be stable enough to meet the standard of Allstate’s quality control, when Allstate has determined the risk to be unacceptable to its underwriting. Those alternative markets are in Property and Commercial Insurance. This allows agents to access additional Homeowners Insurance companies, as well as other companies, not affiliated with and not part of Allstate. Allstate has re-entered the homeowners insurance market with the introduction of Castle Key Indemnity Insurance Company on a limited basis and, if the risk qualifies, the insured is likely to save significantly.
Steve likes to compare the quality of customer service at his agency with those of online, toll-free number insurance services.
“I own this business,” Steve said. “This is me. I represent Allstate, I have skin in the game, and will never treat you like that 800 number. I’m going to make sure you are treated well and are satisfied.”
Steve believes that Allstate agencies like his are an integral part to a community.
“We help communities grow, because we open agencies and employ people who come in and work with us from the local area,” Steve said. “An Allstate agency is not just a place that sells insurance. It’s a business that contributes to the community and puts people to work.”
Papola’s Allstate office is located at 1528 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 102, in Lutz, in Tropical Village Plaza across from WalMart. For more information, call (813) 995-6013, or visit Agents.Allstate.com/Steve-Papola
Published 5/16/18
