Wrangler News · page 24

A legacy of commitment: Rick Utter hands reins to son Keith

By Barbi Walker-Walsh · December 16, 2023 · 471 words

In an era where following in your father’s footsteps is less common than it once was, Tempe businessman Rick Utter is passing the torch to his son Keith.

After 34 years of service to American Family Insurance and its customers, Rick is retiring, leaving his legacy of commitment and service to his 33-yearold son.

“They started this agency before I was even born,” Keith said.

“So I grew up in the business, you know, seeing how hard they’ve worked.”

Growing up and witnessing the relationships his father built over the past 30-plus years inspired Keith.

“It’s a relationship business,” Rick said of the insurance industry. In fact, a colleague of Rick’s got him into the industry back in ‘89 when he was working as a probation officer.

Adding that some of the best agents end up being referrals.

Now, the referral relationship has been passed on to Keith. Keith occupies the big corner office, with windows that look out onto the foliage and let the sunshine in, while Dad is now in Keith’s old office.

Smaller and windowless, but with a fridge and coffee maker, Rick is happy for the switch, he said with a laugh, that he can hide out in there.

Even though Keith wishes his parents would just go sit on a beach somewhere, he really does like working together. They have a good relationship, and both say it’s all been a positive experience.

Rick said that working together as a family (Keith’s mom and wife also work in the office) “It’s been fun having him here.”

Sometimes a parent brings a kid into the business, but when the young adult realizes all the hard work—that all they saw from the outside was the fun part—they’re no longer interested in taking over, Rick said.

Rightfully so, building a successful business of any kind is hard work. Building and maintaining a career based on relationships in one's community with people you’ve known for decades is especially hard work.

Which is why the transition for Keith and Rick is so essential. Keith already has sales experience, and when his dad said he was ready to retire, it seemed like the right time for Keith to take over.

As Rick toys with how often he’ll come into the office, he still has his foot in the door and wants his customers to know it’s still the same Utter team.

For now, the plan is to keep on much of what they’ve been doing, both Utter men said. They’ve built such a great foundation here, and he doesn't want to mess that up, Keith said. But with a new generation comes newfound energy, and Keith is eager to go out and find new business, too.