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AUSTIN, Texas WinStar Insurance Group dba VFIS of Texas has been selected to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Big “I” “Best Practices” Study Group. Only 267 independent agencies throughout the U.S. qualified for inclusion in the 2019 Best Practices Study. An IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company must first nominate the agency which then must qualify based on outstanding customer retention, growth, stability and financial management. More than 1,300 agencies were nominated this year. The Best Practices Study was initiated by IIABA in 1993 as the foundation for efforts to improve agency performance. The annual study of leading independent insurance agencies, which is conducted for IIABA by Reagan Consulting of Atlanta, Ga., documents the business practices of these high performance agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices. Hundreds of workshops and seminars have been conducted at various producer association functions, company sponsored agency meetings and national automation users group conventions. The IIABA and Reagan Consulting jointly maintain the Best Practices Gateway website (http://www.reaganconsulting.com/research/best-practices) that provides executive summaries of the annual Best Practices Studies, the Best Practices Study Comparison Workbook tool and ordering information for Best Practices products. The Gateway, as well as the annual study, is made possible in part through the financial sponsorship of various insurance companies and industry organizations. The 2019 Best Practices Study sponsors include: Agency Business Solutions and Amerisure, Applied, Beyond Insurance, Central Insurance Companies, Chubb, EMC Insurance, Encompass/Allstate, The Hanover Insurance Group, The Hartford, Imperial PFS, InsurBanc, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Safeco Insurance, MetLife, Nationwide, Travelers, Vertafore and Westfield Insurance. WinStar Insurance Group LLC dba VFIS of Texas purchased the assets of Regnier & Associates, Inc. on October 1, 2016. Regnier & Associates, Inc. was founded in May of 1982 providing coverage through the VFIS program for emergency service organizations in Texas. WinStar Insurance Group LLC also dedicates our time insuring niche industries including craft beverage, water districts, commercial ambulances, child care facilities and more and is dedicated to continuing the vision and commitment that Regnier & Associates, Inc. has provided for the past 34 years. For more information on the Best Practices Study, contact Jennifer Becker at IIABA, 1-800-221-7917. Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance – property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement precuts. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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Check out the video above showcasing Tanglewood VFD & how they utilized their 2018 Grant funds
2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds Grant application deadline is December 31, 2018.
Who is eligible:
What is eligible:
How it works:
**THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2018.** DOWNLOAD GRANT APPLICATION HERE How to Apply: Mail to: VFIS of Texas 3420 Executive Center Dr, #301 Austin, TX 78731 Fax to: 512-448-9929 E-mail to: [email protected] 2020 Grant Applications will be Open around July/August 2019. Subscribe to our Newsletter to be Notified:
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Congratulations to the 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Recipients!VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are pleased to announce they have awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 78 emergency responder organizations across Texas. Funds awarded through the 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $233,000 and will enable these organizations to implement or enhance a health and wellness program for their members to prevent on-duty deaths and injuries. 105 applications were received requesting more than $447,000 in grants. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients. “I believe that with this grant we can get everyone fired up about some physical fitness!!” said Barry Mitchell, Assistant Chief of Kountze Volunteer Department. “Many members have wanted to do this for health reasons and for the comradery it brings. This will benefit several of my firefighters that have some significant health issues. The closest "GYM" is 15 miles away in another city and the "Big Box" gyms, as I call them, are over 25 miles away. So as you can see, going to the gym takes a lot more time and money than most people. This will give a benefit to our members that is wanted and needed.” Each recipient submitted an application outlining a specific need or project the grant would fund. This is the fifth consecutive year Texas Mutual and VFIS of Texas have awarded these grants to emergency responders across the state. “These grants directly impact our emergency responders by improving their health and wellness, better preparing them to serve our communities,” Barbara Marzean, President of VFIS of Texas, said. “The more we can do to support these initiatives, the more we can reduce and prevent emergency responder injuries and deaths.” Grant recipients will be recognized at the SFFMA Annual Conference June 23-27, 2018 in Arlington. See a full list of 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness grant recipients below:
The 2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant should open for submissions in Fall 2018. VFIS of Texas & TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. Distribute $228K in Grants to Texas First Responders2/16/2017  VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded $228,000 in grants to 90 emergency responder organizations across Texas. Funds awarded through the 2017 Emergency Responder Safety, Training & Wellness Grant Program will reimburse these organizations for 2017 individual member certification dues, as well as health and wellness programs, and travel costs to attend training.
Grants of up to $5,000 have been awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage all departments to participate in certification, training and health/wellness programs to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. This is the fourth consecutive year of this grant program sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company. Since 2014, close to $500,000 has been distributed to emergency service organizations across the state of Texas. This program has been recognized nationwide among the insurance industry and emergency service community (Insurance Journal). Grant Recipients: Alabama Coushatta Indian Nation VFD Aledo VFD Alvord FD Apple Springs VFD Ata Bexar VFD Beasley Community VFD Ben Bolt VFD Bergheim VFD Black Jack VFD Blackjack VFD of Robertson Co Bovina VFD Bowman Community VFD Brazos Co Precinct 4 VFD Burkburnett VFD Calvert VFD Campbell VFD Cash Fire Dept Castroville Vol Fire Company Cat Spring VFD Central Community VFD Chapel Hill VFD Chatfield VFD Chisholm Trail Fire Rescue City of San Diego FD Coleman FD Cookville VFD Coryell City-Osage VFD Cottonwood Shores VFD Coupland VFD Cove Fire & Rescue Davis Mountains Prop Owners VFD DCBE-Acton VFD Dixie VFD Douglass VFD Eastside VFD Edwards Co EMS Elm Mott Fire Rescue Flint-Gresham VFD Flynn VFD Frelsburg VFD Grand Saline VFD Harleton FD Hughes Springs VFD Indian Creek VFD Iowa Park VFD Iredell VFD Jefferson Co Water District #10 VFD Justin Community VFD La Junta VFD Lakeside City VFD Littlefield FD Malone VFD Mico VFD Morgans Point VFD Mustang VFD Needville VFD Newark VFD Noonday VFD Ore City VFD Overton VFD Peaster VFD Penitas VFD Plum Grove VFD Point VFD Poolville VFD Possum Kingdom Westside VFD Poteet VFD Potosi VFD Prairie Hill Rocky Hill VFD Prairie View Vol FF Assn Preston Vol EMS Punkin-Evergreen VFD Ralls VFD Retreat VFD Rhome VFD Rusk Co Rescue Unit Sandia VFD Silver Creek VFD Socorro FD South Ector Co VFD South Polk Co VFD Southside Henderson Co VFD Southwest Bell Co VFD Springtown VFD Sunset VFD Tanglewood VFD Tolar VFD Tulia VFD Turnersville FD Wayland VFD  We are pleased to announce that effective October 1, 2016 our agency ownership has changed. Ted Regnier has decided to officially retire and has sold his interest in Regnier & Associates, Inc. Regnier & Associates was founded in 1982 by Cynthia Regnier and has been the Texas Regional Director for VFIS since 1985. We have had much growth and success over the past 30 years and we sincerely thank YOU, our customers, for the trust you have placed in us and the opportunity you have given us to serve you. The new agency owners are Barbara Marzean, Stephanie Dew and Glenn Hastings, all of whom have been with the firm for many years. Along with this new ownership, the agency name is now WinStar Insurance Group LLC.  Pictured (L-R): Glenn Hastings (Vice-President), Barbara Marzean (President), Stephanie Dew (Vice-President) Many of you are very familiar with Barbara Marzean. Barbara has been with Regnier for more than 30 years and has served as the President since 2005. She will continue to serve as the President of WinStar. Stephanie Dew has been with Regnier since 2010 and has served as the Director of Sales & Marketing. Steph will serve as VP of Sales & Marketing for WinStar. Glenn Hastings has been with Regnier for over 15 years as an outside Sales Associate for the Houston area. Glenn will serve as VP and will primarily serve the Houston area for WinStar.
With this change, there is no change in staff or the way we operate and we will continue to do business as “VFIS of Texas”. We are excited for the future and we want to thank all of our friends and customers for your continued loyalty and trust! VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Award $144k in Grant Money to Texas Volunteer Fire Departments2/16/2015  AUSTIN, TX – VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 86 volunteer fire departments across Texas. Funds awarded through the Firefighter Safety, Training & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $144,000 and will enable these departments to participate in a certification program, attend critical workplace safety training, and/or set up training/wellness programs to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries. Over $300,000 in grant requests were received. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients. “This award will serve as valuable funding that will enable us to better serve our community,” said Dennis Bailey, Lieutenant & Training Coordinator of Sunset Volunteer Fire Department. “This grant, I can assure you, will allow our members to actively pursue formal certification that will develop them into safer firefighters. Thanks again for your contribution to making our community safer." To see a full list of 2015 Safety, Training & Wellness recipients, CLICK HERE. Grantees will be recognized at the SFFMA Conference June 12-17, 2015 in Galveston, Texas.   The 2015 First Responder & Legislator Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, March 25. The day will start with a kick-off breakfast at 7:30am at the Austin Club sponsored by VFIS of Texas. SFFMA as well as other emergency service groups will speak about their legislative agendas. Space is limited so if you would like to attend the breakfast, please RSVP by CLICKING HERE or by contacting Kash Sarkaria at [email protected] or (512) 628-5047 by March 18th.
Following the breakfast, we will head to the Capitol to meet with legislators and their staff to ask for their support on key bills that relate to the fire and emergency services. At 10:00am, the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service will be held to honor those that have lost their lives protecting our great state as well as the unveiling of the new memorial expansion. After the Memorial Service, a complimentary fish fry luncheon will be served on the Capitol grounds. More time will then be available to again visit with legislators. For more information on the day’s events, contact Chris Barron at [email protected] or (512) 454-3473. Click here for the VFIS of Texas breakfast invitation: Click here for the SFFMA invitation for the day’s events: We look forward to seeing you there!  Fire and emergency service organizations throughout Texas have relied on VFIS’s Accident and Sickness program to cover emergency services related accidents and illnesses including heart attacks. However, many heart and circulatory related claims (including Cancer) may not be covered by Workers’ Compensation or Accident & Sickness policies.
Now, with the VFIS Critical Illness Insurance Program, Texas' emergency service personnel can receive a lump sum cash benefit when diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke or life threatening cancer. Learn More: http://www.vfistx.com/critical-illness.html  The start of the Volunteer Retention Study sponsored by the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System in partnership with VFIS of Texas and SFFMA has been postponed. According to Michelle Jordan, Executive Director for TESRS, the start date for data collection has been postponed because not enough departments have signed up for a statistically valid sample. Currently, 47 departments have agreed to participate, which is short of the goal by about 120 departments. We’re hoping that a strong push in February will enable a March 1 start date.
In addition to a late start, the monthly reporting has been eliminated. The data to be collected has been revised to include current roster numbers and demographics, as well as year-end numbers from the previous five years, and retention strategy information. By eliminating the monthly reporting, the time and effort required to participate has been greatly reduced. Any volunteer fire department in the state can participate, as well as combination departments (only information on the volunteer side will be reported). This study will predict statewide and regional declines over the past five years, as well as provide demographic information that may be helpful. In addition, retention strategy information will be collected and shared. This is an important study to determine whether or not pension programs and other incentives help to retain volunteers in Texas. If you have any questions or would like to participate in this study, please contact TESRS at [email protected] for more info. Thank you for your interest! AUSTIN, TX – VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded grants of up to $2,500 to 39 volunteer fire departments across Texas. Funds awarded through the Firefighter Safety & Training Grant Program will enable these departments to participate in a certification program and training to support critical workplace safety training.
Fifty-eight volunteer fire departments applied for the grant and the 39 grantees were selected based on their financial needs and the impact the funds would have in their safety and training efforts. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firemen’s & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients. “We are very fortunate and thankful to VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual for this grant, which will help us pay our 2014 annual membership dues to SFFMA,” said Jack K. Rymer, Fire Chief of Possum Kingdom West Side VFD. “This is a very important association that greatly benefits volunteer fire departments such as ours by providing certified training courses and other training programs to make our department safer and more professional. Like many volunteer fire departments, our department is short on resources and this grant money goes a long way in helping us meet our budget.” In addition to Possum Kingdom West Side VFD, the following volunteer fire departments were awarded grants: Bowman Community VFD, Boyd Fire Rescue, China Spring VFD, City of San Diego FD, Clint FD, Cookville VFD, Cottonwood Shores VFD, Crafton VFD, Cresson VFD, Daingerfield FD, Indian Creek VFD, Jamaica Beach VFD, Kaufman VFD, LaRue-New York VFD, Levita FD, Lone Star VFD, Mico VFD, Nevada VFD, Paducah VFD, Pleasant Grove VFD, Rising Star VFD, Rocksprings/Edwards County VFD, Sand Hills VFD, Santa Rosa VFD, Santo Fire and EMS, Six Mile Community VFD, Somervell County Fire, South Ector County VFD, Sunset VFD, Terrell VFD, Tolar VFD, Trout Creek VFD, Turnersville VFD, Village of Pleak VFD, Wayland VFD, Westminster VFD, Whitney VFD and Windthorst VFD. Grantees will be recognized at the SFFMA Conference June 6-11, 2014 in Lubbock, Texas. |
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13625 Ronald W. Reagan Blvd. Building 3, Suite 100 Cedar Park, Texas 78613 (512) 448-9928 [email protected] |
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The content of this website was not prepared by VFIS. VFIS does not warrant or represent in any way that your use of the materials displayed on this Site will not infringe rights of third parties. Nothing on this Site should be construed as granting a license or any other right to use any copyrighted materials displayed on this Site. Moreover, the downloading or printing of any materials on this Site will not result in the transfer, explicit or implied, of any rights.
The information and descriptions contained herein are not necessarily intended to be complete descriptions of all terms, exclusions and conditions applicable to the products and services, but are provided solely for general informational purposes as a convenience to customers of VFIS of Texas; please refer to the actual policy or the relevant product or services agreement. VFIS products or services may not be available in all countries or states, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Certain insurance products and other services represented on this website may be provided through independent producer by independent third parties.
Licensed & doing business in Texas only.
© 2024 VFIS of Texas, an Independent Producer and Regional Director of VFIS | All rights reserved. "VFIS" and the VFIS logo are registered service marks of Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services, Inc. (“VFIS”). The VFIS service mark is licensed to the independent producer hosting this website ( the “Site”) under a separate written agreement on a limited, nonexclusive basis for use in connection with the solicitation and sale of VFIS insurance products and such use shall be in strict compliance with said agreement. Nothing contained on the Site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any other license or right to use any VFIS service mark displayed on this Site without the express written permission of VFIS. For all other purposes, any use of the VFIS service mark by third parties is strictly prohibited, without VFIS’s express written consent. Independent producer shall use its corporate name or other business name on all documents and other communications in conjunction with use of the VFIS service mark.
The content of this website was not prepared by VFIS. VFIS does not warrant or represent in any way that your use of the materials displayed on this Site will not infringe rights of third parties. Nothing on this Site should be construed as granting a license or any other right to use any copyrighted materials displayed on this Site. Moreover, the downloading or printing of any materials on this Site will not result in the transfer, explicit or implied, of any rights.
The information and descriptions contained herein are not necessarily intended to be complete descriptions of all terms, exclusions and conditions applicable to the products and services, but are provided solely for general informational purposes as a convenience to customers of VFIS of Texas; please refer to the actual policy or the relevant product or services agreement. VFIS products or services may not be available in all countries or states, and coverage is subject to actual policy language. Certain insurance products and other services represented on this website may be provided through independent producer by independent third parties.
Licensed & doing business in Texas only.