Allstate Insurance Agent Michael Higdon, Albertville, AL

Insurance has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad started in the business working at an Allstate booth inside a Sears store in 1979, transitioning to a neighborhood office in Albertville (where I was born and raised) and then buying a second location in Huntsville. I initially thought I’d take a different path, so when I entered Auburn University I declared a major in biomedical sciences. But with a year left in school, I began to realize what a great opportunity my dad had and added a business minor. I went right to work for my dad after my December 2005 graduation.

In April 2006, I purchased an agency of my own in Guntersville, where I live with my wife and three daughters. Things grew from there. In 2012, I bought my dad’s two agencies so he could retire. I added a fourth location in 2014 when I opened an office in Arab. Albertville remains our biggest, though, with a spacious office across from the Piggly Wiggly.

Our four locations keep me busy, but I also take time to help the community and develop our staff. We’re members of the Albertville Chamber of Commerce and the Marshall Young Professionals, and we support The Ogden House and Hospice of Marshall County. We also pay entry fees when our staff participates in 5Ks, and we offer a week’s paid time off when they go on a mission trip — because when our community is healthy and our team is happy, the customers will be, too.