Unexpected medical crisis and bills lead James Conner to become an insurance agent
NEWCOMERSTOWN − “Five years ago coming into the insurance industry, I did not know what to expect. I had no knowledge of insurance and never owned a suit or tie," James Conner said. "I did, however, know what it was like to have a son born prematurely with a myriad of medical conditions leading to an extended stay in NICU. Within a few days, I realized I did not possess the appropriate medical coverage."
He quickly became educated on how a lack of benefits can devastate a family financially.
"Not only was I going through one of the grimmest times of my life, I still had to navigate through the expenses of my son’s medical crisis. The one thing I knew for certain, after our challenges with Daxton’s health, I never wanted to see anyone walk through the financial destruction my family was facing."
Today James is an agency manager and insurance agent for Colonial Life Sales, located on North College Street, where he hosted an opened house for the new branch earlier this month."My son’s full name is Daxton Augustus Conner. It was not selected with meaning as we did not know of his upcoming battles. After his birth we learned that his name translates in French to “A Warrior who conquers great obstacles." He is our warrior. At 4 years of age, he still has challenges that may remain long term, but he is a happy, healthy little man who knows no bounds.”
At the time of Daxton’s birth, James had spent nine and a half years as an infantryman in the Army National Guard. “It was an easy decision for me. I left the service to focus on the health of my little man and to take the steps needed to start my new career to be an insurance agent,” James said.The new agency in Newcomerstown is the second office for Colonial Life Sales. The other is in Cuyahoga Falls.
“Newcomerstown allowed me a convenient, affordable location while putting me into the heart of the community that I serve in Tuscarawas and surrounding counties. Though we have clients we support in over 30 different states, the heart of our business remains in the roots of where I was born and raised. "My younger years were spent in Midvale, most of my teens in Gilmore and we moved to Dover during my late teens. I then attended Buckeye Career Center, and graduated from Dover, but I will forever claim Indian Valley as a big part of my high school years too,” James said.
James and his family currently reside in Strasburg, and they plan to build a new home somewhere within Tuscarawas County in the near future.
“My family includes my better half Tayshia and our blended family. I have two boys, ages 7 and 4. She has two girls, ages 8 and 3. To me, they are my daughters and vice versa. My older son currently attends school in Dover. I am actively involved in assisting with coaching his sports, plus my family is very deeply rooted in the community."
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: James Conner is an agency manager for Colonial Life Sales
