September 5, 2023 • 49 mins
Jerri Hemsworth, CEO of Newman Grace Marketing, interviews Melissa Phillip-Himes, President of Phillipp & Associates Insurance Services. Melissa shares her story of how she came to be part of the insurance industry and what she has learned in starting her own boutique insurance company. What is a boutique insurance company? What are some of the obstacles she has faced in this industry? Why did she leave the RC car world and does she plan on making a return to it? Listen to how Melissa got her start.
More About Melissa Phillipp-Himes
About Jerri Hemsworth
About Echelon Business Development Network
How She Got Her Start is a podcast devoted to the stories of women business owners and women executives. Listening to their stories, their challenges and their successes is meant to inspire other women while they maneuver the world of business. Whether they are attorneys, accountants, marketing and public relation execs, or IT specialists, every woman has a unique journey with shared threads of commonality. Hearing how we are a community of common goals and dreams hopefully inspires those on the journey with us and those coming after us.
Listening to other women business owners and executives allows a listener to tap into a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and support. Actively seeking out and engaging with our community, one can accelerate their own growth. One may also overcome obstacles, and find inspiration and guidance along the way.
Women business owners and executives can bring diverse perspectives and insights to the table. By listening to How She Got Her Start, one can gain a broader understanding of different industries, markets, and client segments. This diversity can inspire fresh ideas, creativity, and innovation in one's own business approach.
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Episode Transcript
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Announcer (00:00):
And now from the Echelon Studios in Los Angeles,
(00:04):
California it's the How She GotHer Start podcast. So let's all
get started with your host Jerrihemsworth.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:15):
Hi, it's Jerri Hemsworth and welcome to How She
Got Her Start. This is a podcastthat I have developed because of
the inspiration that we can allglean from many women business
owners and executives and todayis no exception. I have Melissa
(00:35):
Phillip-Himes here with me fromPhillips and Associate
insurance. How're you doing?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (00:42):
I'm really good. Yeah. Thanks for
having me.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:44):
It's a Friday, we were just talking about how
we tend to be trashed on theweekends.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (00:50):
Well, this weekend will be no
exception.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:52):
Yeah. We over schedule, we completely
overschedule. So tell us aboutPhillip and Associates.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (01:01):
First, thank you for having me. Oh,
sincerely, I this is I've beenlooking forward to this podcast.
So we're a boutique Insuranceagency. And our design is to be
very customer centric. So what Imean by that is, we plan around
(01:22):
the needs of our customers. Anddesigning insurance policies
deals with transferring risk. Soidentifying what risk needs to
be transferred comes first,right? And then making sense of
all of that to our customers,we've learned to be able to talk
(01:42):
to our customers where they canunderstand where the real risk
lies, and why there might bespending more money in certain
areas than others. And then, ofcourse, we focus on continuing
those conversations. Because aswe know, Jerri, life happens and
things change,
Jerri Hemsworth (02:01):
like fires and like,
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (02:02):
Oh, my goodness, yes. So you know, when
I say that we're customercentric. That's what I mean,
it's not, you know, something wesay in marketing, or it just
because it sounds like we care,that that's our job. That's just
why people come to us. And so weseek out business owners and
(02:24):
individuals who are vested inwanting protection, and they
understand why they need it, andthey're willing to pay for it.
That's how we spend our day. Andwhat type of lines do you offer?
On the commercial side, whichwe're about 65 ish percent of
(02:49):
our day is spent on thecommercial side. Our lines are
professional liabilityinsurance. And whether you're a
lawyer or you're a consultant,you're in marketing advertising.
The decisions that we make, andthe errors perhaps that that we
make, can come back, and peoplecan lose their business. Yeah,
(03:14):
certainly, that would be more ofa catastrophic type error, or an
omission. But really, the thegenius behind buying the
insurance for as a professionalservice provider, we have to
continue our business. We haveother clients that that are
going to need our services, wecertainly are making money to
(03:38):
support family. So havinginsurance is literally a one 800
helped me. They hire the lawyer,the hire the experts, they guide
you through the process.
Absolutely. You're a part of theclaims process. But what a
relief that I can continue on mybusiness, knowing that I have a
group of professionals that arethere to help guide me through a
(04:01):
claim. Yes, you know, and it's avery disruptive time in people's
lives. And so we take matchingour customers with insurance
companies seriously. And we wantto make sure that the insurance
companies for a professionalservice provider are vested in
(04:23):
their business. And so wepartner with carriers who are
looking for a lawyer, amarketing ad person, an HR
consultant, because we knowthey're going to do the best job
and understand the businessmodel with absolute clarity so
they can get to workimmediately.
Jerri Hemsworth (04:45):
That's really that's interesting because I for
me, when I think about insurancefor my business, marketing and
advertising, I don't think aboutthe carrier's being specialists,
you know, in that way. Butobviously from what you're
saying they are.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (05:03):
oh, sure. So when I buy my agencies,
errors and omissions insurance,we've transferred over to
professional liabilityinsurance, but a lot of us still
use the errors and omissionsinsurance. You know, the title
on the declaration page isinsurance agents and brokers
professional liabilityinsurance. When I provide a
(05:26):
insurance policy, providingprofessional liability insurance
to a lawyer, the declarationtitle is lawyers professional
liability insurance. Same thingwith accountants, same thing
with architects. So there arecarriers who have developed
insurance policies, specificallyaround certain industries.
Jerri Hemsworth (05:45):
I did not know that.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (05:46):
So if you fall within one of those
industries, it's important tounderstand that your carrier
knows your business, they don'thave to get caught up in how you
do what you do, in order todevelop a defense, they're
already going to have an idea ofwhat you should be doing. And so
it's, it's an immediateconnection with a lawyer or a
(06:08):
claims adjuster that they knowmy business, there's a
confidence that comes from that.
And that's really what we'retrying to provide, at the time
of a claim as insurance brokers,we sit in the middle, you know,
so I'm talking to a client whohas a risk transfer need. And my
job is to go match that risktransfer with the best insurance
(06:30):
providers that I have availableto me. So that's one of our
focal points.
Jerri Hemsworth (06:39):
And when you say boutique, that truly is the
ability for you to customize.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (06:44):
yes,
Jerri Hemsworth (06:44):
Instead of sitting in a tower and a big
company, and where you can onlysell that company's products,
this probably allows you to justreally have that database.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (06:55):
It does.
The relationships that insuranceprofessionals have with their
insurance carriers. And I'llextend that to also mean a
wholesale insurance agency,because there are times that
insurance placements can't godirect to an insurance company,
we actually need to broker thatout. And we very much focus on
(07:16):
our relationships. Because Ineed to show up when my client
needs me. And that's a claimtime. You know, I mean, don't
get me wrong. We're there atrenewal. We're there during, you
know, a transformation of abusiness as you're taking on
(07:37):
another office. But we're allthere doing that.
Jerri Hemsworth (07:42):
Right.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (07:42):
You know, I mean, that's, that's
kind of the heartbeat of theagency. Is that service? Sure,
day to day service. Right. Butat claim time, you know, that's
when people are gonna say, hey,you know, thanks for having my
back.
Jerri Hemsworth (07:55):
Oh, boy. Yeah.
Yeah, I can't I mean, knock onwood. I've not had to file too
many claims in my history. Butwhen I have it, it, you need
somebody holding your hand?
Because you really just like yousaid, you don't know, as the
policy holder, you're not quitesure what, what what goes next,
(08:18):
where do I go? What do we do?
And that's your I know, there'sa plane flying over. I don't
know if listener can hear that.
That is got to be one of themost important parts for me, as
a policyholder to have somebodylike you said that has my back.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (08:36):
I think the best compliment that I've
had from a customer has been atclaim time. And they said, you
know, I'm really confident inour planning. And I'm grateful
for the conversations and thetime you took with me because I
now know what to expect. So, Iwork for that. Yeah, you know,
(09:03):
every, every moment that I'mthinking about a client's needs,
I'm really working on making theclaim experience less fearful.
And replacing that withconfidence.
Jerri Hemsworth (09:20):
That's wonderful. Now, do you do
personal lines as well?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (09:23):
Well, yes, we do. Bank in California
personal lines, insurance hasbecome newsworthy. I always said
I'm always the uncool kid at thetable, right? No one really
wants to hear from theirinsurance person and but we do
(09:44):
have some really good stories.
We really do have some goodstories. But never in my 33 year
career. Have I been in a marketthis uncertain. It was it's been
described as chaos. otictumultuous all you can, whatever
word you want to place, I'mtelling you for 33 years, being
(10:05):
in the industry, never anythinglike this has happened. And some
carriers are handling itdifferently than others. We're
fortunate to be, I believe ingood partnerships with a few
carriers that we have. But let'sface it, all you have to do is
(10:27):
drive down a freeway system inNorthern or Southern California.
And you can look off into thedistance and you're gonna see a
mountain, you know, where you'regonna see a ridge line. So many
of us are in designated firezones. Yeah, and the
availability of insurance mustbe matched with the solvency of
(10:51):
the insurer. So we're very awarethat an insurance contract is
meaningless if the carrierdoesn't have the money to pay.
So they're working on solvingthose issues. They're working on
rate or for our audience, I'llsay premium. They're working on
(11:14):
getting their premium pricingcorrected to reflect the
exposures. But there's more workthat needs to be done. And it
needs to be done at theinsurance commissioners level,
the roles on ratemaking need tochange. And I believe with time
that could happen. So what we'rereally looking at is, is time
(11:40):
it's not going to be a quickcorrection. Certainly there are
no insurance companies lookingto come back into Cal,
Jerri Hemsworth (11:48):
Is there anybody knocking on the door and
anxious to come back.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (11:51):
No, no.
So it's it's a challenging time,certainly. But it's an
interesting time, because I'musually the one having to break
the news. This is why your ratesare changing, or the carrier's
not renewing or something'sgoing on. Now. It's like Oh, my
goodness, Melissa, I can'tbelieve this one announced they
(12:13):
pulled out that one announcedthey're no longer writing.
There, the consumer base isaware of the marketplace. That's
a first for us. That's howprolific this insurance matter
is for property in California.
So yes, we write home renters,personal auto umbrellas,
(12:37):
watercraft, you know, lifestyle,shoe insurance policy.
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
But we just don't have anyanswers to why am I you know,
window, when will I not bepaying as much for my insurance?
Or when? When can I go get it?
Like I used to be able to get it
Jerri Hemsworth (12:58):
right? Maybe never.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (13:00):
Oh, gosh, the thought of that just
hit me. I sincerely hope thatCalifornia does come back from
this, what I'm going to call itas a market capacity crisis. We
don't have market availabilityright now. Florida, has been
(13:21):
dealing with property insuranceissues for many years. And I've
been it wasn't lost on me. I'vebeen talking to some colleagues
and I said, you know, for yearsI've been going oh, those poor
folks in Florida. Oh, mygoodness, they've lost another
insurer. You know, and but nowin California, it's happened to
us. And I'm like, Oh, this iswhat those poor flittering us
(13:47):
been going through all thistime. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have
to ask yourself, can I afford tobuy a house? Or can I? Can I buy
this house? What happens if Ican't buy insurance or I can't
afford insurance? Yeah, unheardof. Unheard of.
Jerri Hemsworth (14:05):
Gosh, I want to switch gears a little bit. And
you mentioned you've been inthis industry of 33 years. Where
were you born?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (14:15):
I am a San Fernando Valley, born and
raised.
Jerri Hemsworth (14:19):
You know, you're not the first person to
sit in the studio and say thatwhere were you? Where were you
born and raised?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (14:26):
Well, actually, I was born in Burbank
at St. Joseph. Nice. Okay. And Iwas raised in the heart of the
valley. So I think we startedout in an apartment in Van Nuys,
and moved into a house still inVan Nuys, and then we moved over
to what's now North Hills when Iwas seven. So, from the age of
(14:48):
seven, I was raised in NorthHills. And as an adult, I've
lived in Encino and Chatsworthand I I kept coming back to
Chatsworth, where I reside nowwith my, my husband, and where
we operate our business.
Jerri Hemsworth (15:06):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (15:07):
And so Chatsworth is just this really
cool little community, you know,in the very northwestern part of
the valley. Yeah. Yeah. And westill have horse country there.
And it's us this quaint littletown, and we really dig it. So
that's where we are.
Jerri Hemsworth (15:24):
What did your parents do?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (15:26):
Well, my dad was a butcher. Oh, so he
Yeah, he was a butcher. And hewas a butcher that had twin
girls, at a very young age. Hewas 26 years old. 27. Sorry,
when we were born, and he justknew he needed to do something
(15:47):
different, but wasn't reallysure. So he met an insurance
agent who shopped at the butchershop, in Studio City where my
dad was cutting meat. And heliked this individual. And one
day, the insurance agent said tomy dad, you know, you're really
good with people. You shouldcome be an insurance agent. And
(16:14):
my dad spent a lot of timethinking about it, because you
know, you're getting paid anhourly wage, you got a very
young family. Then you go intoan insurance environment where
you don't get paid unless yousell something. Yeah, yeah. But
ultimately, he he made thattransformation and in 1974,
(16:40):
became a licensed insuranceagent. Okay. And that's what he
did until
Jerri Hemsworth (16:46):
So he went to school, or was he trained on the
job?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (16:49):
No, he was trained on the job. He
actually went to work forFarmers Insurance, okay. And was
a very successful agent therewent on to become a district
manager for the company. So hewas then in a position to go
recruit agents to come work forfarmers and manage a district,
develop the talent, so to speak,you know, and woke up one day
(17:13):
and said, I don't I don't thinkI want to do this anymore.
Stepped away. Yeah, yeah. We hada race, a radio controlled
racetrack and hobby center.
Really in Northridge when it wasthe rage.
Jerri Hemsworth (17:31):
What was a call that was RC.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (17:33):
It was called Speed Racer. Oh, my
goodness. Yeah. And we werelocated on Londelius, right off
of Tampa. So kind of across fromwhere Costco is now in that
area. And we were in a bigindustrial unit. And we had a
dirt racetrack we had oval onthe outside and off road on the
inside. And my sister and I ranthe races.
Jerri Hemsworth (17:57):
It was an all RC cars?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (17:58):
it was all RC cars. Yeah, it was great.
Melanie and I, like I said weran the races and I became a
racer myself.
Jerri Hemsworth (18:07):
Really. RC cars?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (18:10):
I was very fortunate to have the one
of the best RC racers on ourmanagement team. My dad had
hired him to run the business.
So he he built my engines for meand wrenched on my car and I was
racing i I've tried I wasactually in Chicago at a race.
(18:31):
So we would travel aroundCalifornia would promote Speed
Racer for my dad and I wouldalso raise and I was a funny
little thing when you're talkingabout how did you get to
insurance?
Jerri Hemsworth (18:46):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (18:46):
The was very competitive. There were
only a few racetracks at thattime. And my dad had one of the
largest indoor racetracks so wewere doing pretty good there for
a while. Well, one of thecompetitors came to me. And he
said, You know, I'm going to berunning a tournament and I'd
(19:08):
like you to come run it for me.
And I and it was a it was athree day weekend, okay. And I
said, you know, went back to mydad, and I said, I have this
opportunity and wants me to goyou know, run run his tournament
for him.
Jerri Hemsworth (19:23):
How old are you?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:24):
My I was, gosh, 18 maybe
Jerri Hemsworth (19:27):
Okay, teenager.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:29):
So he said, yeah, just don't make it
permanent. So I did, I went anddid that and had a great time.
The tournament was verysuccessful.
Jerri Hemsworth (19:40):
How many how many competitors were there?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:43):
Oh, my gosh, there were hunt over
hundreds, hundreds and you doyou know, the fun thing about
that time was the radio controlcar was really at its height.
And so, everybody loved beingthere. And it was super
(20:03):
competitive. But also, peoplewere very supportive. So if your
car breaks and you don't havethe part, one of your
competitors is paying early.
Yeah. And so you made somereally good friends along the
way, too. It was wonderful. AndI'm very competitive. So I, I
enjoyed being top qualifier. AndI enjoyed winning and like I
(20:24):
said it
Jerri Hemsworth (20:27):
Was your sister also competitive or no?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (20:29):
Well, she is, but she had no interest
in driving a radio controlledrace car. So she, she and I ran
the races together for my dad.
Friday nights and Saturdaynights and some Sundays. But
after the racing was over, shewent home and I was wrenching,
you know, on my car andtweaking.
Jerri Hemsworth (20:51):
Tweaking.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (20:55):
So the the unfortunate thing about that
business was my dad didn't quiteunderstand the hobby part. Can't
make a living charging. Forracing, we just can't. Right. So
we're the business was veryreliant on people buying cars
and parts. Well, there's a bigmail order component to the
(21:15):
business that he just didn'tquite understand. Yeah, sure. So
sure, we quickly learned that wecould not be successful, just as
a racetrack and the hobby centerwas just not busy enough. So
that business was closed. Okay.
My dad then came back to theinsurance business, okay, went
back to what he knew, but backto what he knew, but instead of
going to work for a direct ridercarrier, like a Farmers. He went
(21:39):
independent. Interested inthat's where I got introduced to
insurance.
Jerri Hemsworth (21:47):
Okay, so you worked with your dad for a
while?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (21:50):
I did work with my dad for a while we
we built his agency, which wasWhite Oak Insurance Services.
Also in Chatsworth. Yeah. And,you know, I was young, and I
wanted to build a business. Andmy dad and I didn't agree on the
(22:15):
direction. And we fought overit. And it did start to affect
our personal relationship. Andyou know, my dad and I are very
close. My dad passed away in2005. And so it's been a while
now, but he was really one of mybest friends. And I didn't like
(22:39):
our relationship.
Jerri Hemsworth (22:40):
He didn't like the way being so close day in
day out and, and havingdifferences of direction.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (22:47):
Yeah, yeah. Because what happens is it
divides you.
Jerri Hemsworth (22:51):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (22:52):
And I decided, I think it's time for
me to leave. So
Jerri Hemsworth (23:00):
About how old were you when that happened?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (23:04):
I was in my early 30s, when that
happened. So we'd been togethera while, we had been together
for a while. And I credit my dadfor, for really teaching me the
foundation of customer service.
He, his customers loved him,loved him. And he was big on
problem solving. And that wasone of the areas we disagreed
(23:26):
on, because I work at the frontend to avoid a problem. And he
was very focused on all theproblems here. Let's solve it
now. And so even workingtogether, we had a very
different style and approach.
Interesting. So at the end ofthe day, though, his clients
loved him. And that's magic.
Yeah, you know, you can't justgo get a bunch of people
(23:48):
together, who, who liked thisperson for the same reason, you
know, he was very successful.
And but being young, beingstubborn and competitive, I
decided I was going to leave theagency.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:06):
now what? But wait, how many? How many people
were working at White Oak? Atthat
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:11):
At that time there was 15 of us. Wow,
that's pretty good size. It wasfor the time a very, very good
size company. Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:19):
And then you left and went where?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:22):
I went to work for a very large agency
in Santa Monica, who has thensince been acquired, because
there's been a lot of mergersand acquisitions in my business.
So yes, it was an ad personfirm. And I went inside instead
of being in sales, I went insideand I was working in the
marketing department.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:41):
Okay.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:41):
And I had a great experience. However,
being in that new big corporateenvironment coming from Mom and
Pop really Yes, small business.
I quickly learned that that'snot where my my passion is. It
was a is a dynamic group verysuccessful hard chargers, you
know, professionals, I learned alot, but didn't have a life. And
(25:06):
that's where I started thinkingabout life balance.
Jerri Hemsworth (25:13):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (25:14):
So I'm on the golf course with my dad
one day. And he says, So how youdoing? I said, you know, I'm
doing good, you know, I'm nothappy. So I'm thinking about
making a change. And I'll neverforget, I looked back over to
the golf cart. He's sitting inthe driver's seat. I'm waiting
to hit. He's smoking a cigar.
And he looked at me, he has theside glance, Jerri, that will
(25:38):
just break your heart. It wasfantastic. He just kind of sigh
glanced over, he goes, "Well,you know, I think you should
come back and do what you dobest." He says people like you.
And you're good at sellinginsurance. Now, when I heard
that from my dad, I knew he wasright. But the daughter in me
(26:02):
felt so validated because therewas a time. You gotta remember
back in 1974, women didn't ownbusiness. There were, but it was
not a few very few women ownedbusinesses.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:19):
Yeah, you had to have a cosigner for a loan,
or possibly even a credit cardat that point. Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:24):
So this was the environment that my dad
was living in.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:29):
Sure.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:30):
So for him to recognize that his his
daughter was really good at whathe was doing was just the best
validation and so on, and I haddecided that I would give it a
second shot. And I had acontract adjustment that was
very favorable. So I had learneda thing or two being away, and
(26:51):
came back.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:52):
But by the way, before, before we make this
permanent, yes, take a get takea gander at my contract.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:59):
So we came to a quick resolution, I
rejoined the firm, and 2000. Andwant to say late 2000, didn't
know mid 2003. The timelines arekind of important. My dad was
sick at the time and intreatment, but we thought we had
more time. We turns out, wedidn't. So I had to transition
(27:22):
late in 2003, and help my mymom, sell the business. And that
happened in 2004. And in 2005, Ijoined another firm. I left the
firm that my dad had sold. And Itook my my clients with me and I
(27:42):
joined a firm. And that firm was50 people. So I thought, well,
let's try 50 person firm and seehow...
Jerri Hemsworth (27:51):
a little midsize number.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (27:53):
Well without going into any great
detail three years later. Istarted Phillip and Associates
Insurance Services, April of2008.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:05):
Gotcha.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:06):
And my now husband Les joined me at
that time, and so did a thirdagent.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:13):
So he was in insurance also.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:14):
He was he was working with a friend out
of Burbank at that time, and hehad just gotten into insurance a
few years earlier. So wecollectively, you know, put our
clients together and startedPhilip and Associates and April
of 2008. Much to the surprise ofmy colleague friends who were
(28:34):
saying, Why are you starting abusiness in this economic
climate.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:38):
2008. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:40):
I said, because I know how to do it.
I've been doing it so long. Andso
Jerri Hemsworth (28:45):
but did it seemed like a natural step? Yes.
It did. Almost like not evenquestioning it. Absolutely. Just
like okay, this is what I'mgonna do.
Yeah.
There's no, this is this is, youknow, work. Well. And let me
just ask also, were you havingthe lifestyle that you wanted
when you were working for the 50person firm after you know, the
(29:08):
death of your father and yousold the firm with your mom?
Would did you have thelifestyle? Or were you back to
like, I have no life again.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (29:17):
The pressure was there. But I was
more of an adult at that time.
So I was able to insert a littlebit more balanced, but certainly
the pressure was there. Theagency coincidentally, right as
I showed up, sold Oh, tosomebody else who was who was in
the firm. Okay, so I went tojoin a firm under an owner who
(29:39):
sold as soon as I got there. Sothe dynamics that I was
promised, immediately changed.
So I gave it three years Jerryand I really wanted to try and
give it a chance. But it justdidn't fit Hmm. So starting the
(30:02):
the the agency was was very eyeopening, because you work. And
I'm saying this to everybodywho's listening who's thinking
about opening a business, youwork twice as hard for yourself
than you will anybody else.
Amen. And so there was really nolife, you know, you're you're
working to build and create newrelationships as an agency owner
(30:25):
or business owner and attractpeople to come work for you and
figure all those pieces out. Andyou know that that takes a
while. You got to learn how tobuy software programs and
balance your you know, yourbudget, what budget I didn't
think about keeping
Jerri Hemsworth (30:44):
in other types of insurance, you didn't quite
know you had to pay.,
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (30:51):
look back on it now, I think, well, I
know it was the right decision.
But I think the timing for mewas right, because I had been a
part of an agency where Iliterally was helping my dad run
his firm, I was exposed to largebusiness, and saw how they
(31:12):
planned and what their mentalitywas. And I felt that it was
right for me, because I knewwhat I wanted to do with my
agency. So that's what I what Ialways draw back on, it's, you
know, nothing is going to beperfect. But I had my future
vision already set out. So Iwasn't discovering myself at
(31:35):
that time. And I think that forme was a big difference.
Jerri Hemsworth (31:40):
Yeah, I think when you when you have been
there, done that, and you'vegained these building blocks
along the way, you've you'vewatched other people, how they
run their business, what youlike, what you don't like you've
seen pitfalls, you've seen yoursuccesses, you kind of sculpt
your own vision. And and I thinkthat's, that's what helps me
(32:05):
keep going. Because I know I'mdoing the right thing. And even
when times get hard, or low, youknow, okay, I know, I'm still
doing the right thing. So youwere once working with your
father. And I give you kudos tothat. Because I don't know that
I could have ever worked with myfather. Even though my father
(32:26):
was not a serial entrepreneur. Ilearned a lot of things from
him, going to his office andwatching him sell whatever it
was that decade that he was intoselling. I would never have been
able to work with my father. Andnow I also work with my husband,
(32:51):
and you work with your husband?
How would you compare andcontrast the two situations or
what have you? What did youlearn from working with your dad
that you bring to your workrelationship with your husband
Les?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (33:06):
I'm not a very patient person. Neither
was my dad. Okay. My husband,thankfully, yeah, it's a very
patient person. Which I thinkfor me, is critical. Les has the
ability to put pause on for me,that doesn't make me feel like
(33:36):
I'm being oppressed, orinvalidated,
Jerri Hemsworth (33:44):
or held back?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (33:45):
or held back criticized. And those were
the words that I use to relateto my my dad's way, if you will.
We were always, in a sense, atodds, my dad and I. And it
(34:08):
wasn't until I returned to hisbusiness having been out that he
started to listen to me. And ittook me leaving for him to see
what I did bring to the table.
Now don't get me wrong, folksare listening. Dads are always
gonna be dads, right?
(34:28):
Yes.
It wasn't like it wasn'tmagical. But there were
important things that I wantedto do that He then gave me the
reins to explore because I neverpromised it was going to work.
Let me try this. You know, Hey,Dad, let's do that. Les, lets me
(34:49):
do what you know. He lets thatbe we have very defined roles
Jerri Hemsworth (34:54):
I was going to ask you to do you have different
lanes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (34:56):
We do.
Jerri Hemsworth (34:56):
You stay in each other's in your own lane.
Melissa Phillipp-Hi (34:58):
Absolutely.
He'll help probably say I don't
Jerri Hemsworth (35:03):
Pardon me, but your blinkers not stay in your
lane.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:06):
And I wouldn't hurt you. I really
wouldn't. But yeah, weabsolutely do have to find
roles, which is another reasonwhy I think it works better with
my husband, his personality. Andwe absolutely have defined
roles. And, you know, look,let's face it living together
and working together. It's achallenge.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:26):
Absolutely.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:27):
I think we're pretty good at leaving
business during business hours.
Now, there's not to say that ifthere's something important
going on, we're not discussingit on Sunday morning over
coffee. But for most of thetime, we're pretty good at
recognizing this is our time asa married couple. Let's not
insert business.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:49):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:50):
Here.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:51):
It's critical.
It's critical. And I mean, youknow, you've been in the
industry 33 years, you've beenin business with Les since 2008.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:01):
Yes.
Jerri Hemsworth (36:03):
And you learn at, at what like you said, when
when you first start your firm,your everything, you are working
all hours, and he's probablydoing the same thing. And so
you're really stepping on eachother constantly, until you
realize, I'm going to tear youreyeballs out if you don't get
(36:25):
out of my way. And you went, Oh,wait, hey, hang on. That's my
husband, you know. So you, youlearn, okay, we need lanes, and
it's the best way to to surviveand not still not every firm
survives, whereas it's a husbandand wife.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:43):
Yes, absolutely. And because my my
mom worked for my dad.
Jerri Hemsworth (36:48):
Oh, okay.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:49):
But there's a different statement.
My mom worked for my dad. Yes.
Less than I worked together.
Yes. Yes. And the other thing Iwill say is, you know, you gotta
remember to say, Hey, babe,that's a great job you just did.
Or I know, that was a toughcall. And you did a really good
job. Yeah, you know, thank you.
Yes, because we forget asspouses to support one another
(37:11):
vocally.
Jerri Hemsworth (37:15):
That is so true. That is so true. Even even
in things that aren't business,I find. I in particular, can
easily take, take Brian forgranted the little things that
he does on a day to day basis,in business and out of business.
And I know as as we get older,and me being 50 something and
(37:39):
being 60 something reallybecomes more important.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (37:43):
Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (37:44):
So it's, it's that's part of the balance that
we were talking about, you know,and when you've been married for
a long time, been in business along time. Mutual respect,
getting back to "okay, what,what makes us feel nice, what
makes us feel good about beingin business together?" And yeah,
(38:07):
celebrating the little tinythings, which, in day to day
business, it can be just aleaving a voicemail for our
client or handling. You know,Brian went out and did a
videotape session with a client.
And I was so grateful that hedid that. And in recognizing
that, it is it is superimportant.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:29):
I think so it also makes me feel good.
Jerri Hemsworth (38:34):
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:36):
Because the more positive affirmation I
think we put out there. Itlightens our load a little bit,
too.
Jerri Hemsworth (38:42):
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:43):
So my husband is really, he's a really
good guy. And he means well, andpeople like him. And, again,
sometimes I'm close to it. And Idon't see it or recognize it. So
I'm working on being better.
Jerri Hemsworth (39:00):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:01):
At vocalizing the appreciation to
me admiration, you know,
Jerri Hemsworth (39:06):
yeah. Because I think my life would be lost
without Brian.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:12):
Oh, mine certainly won't be lost without
less. Yeah. I mean, for example,one of his lanes is he's in
charge of all the books. I don'tdo numbers. I do money
calculations. But I don't donumbers. Yeah. And every tax
(39:32):
season comes around. I'm like,Thank God. Thank you. Thank you.
Where do I sign?
Jerri Hemsworth (39:36):
Yeah Just tell me where? Yes. I'll reveal them
later. Wink wink, nod nod.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:42):
So there are things that less brings to
the table that are on insurancerelated, that are critical to
the business. Yeah, I'd have topay somebody to do that for me
Sure. That I need to bereminding him how valuable he
is. Yeah, so do Shout out toyou, babe.
Jerri Hemsworth (40:00):
Yeah, way to go less way to go. What do you to
do when you're not working?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (40:07):
Well, we less as a reader, okay? I'm not
such a reader. So Les loves toread and I'll drink coffee.
Okay. And we were together. Sothat's kind of a Sunday morning
for us. And I start with Sundaymornings because they're just my
(40:30):
favorite.
Jerri Hemsworth (40:30):
Yeah. aren't that great. No rush to get up
and do anything.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (40:35):
Yeah, it's just great. We love to eat.
We like to go out to eat. So weenjoy a good meal. Together. We
walk our Husky puppy, puppysometimes because we have to.
Otherwise puppy demand we paythe price. So we've developed
(41:01):
nice friendships around theneighborhood. And that's always
nice. We love to travel. So welike cruising. We have family
out of state on both sides. Sowe'll visit with family. And
when we can, Les will be on afishing trip.
Jerri Hemsworth (41:21):
Oh, what kind of fishing does he do?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (41:22):
Oh he's a fly fisherman. Okay, yeah, he
is a float tuber for those ofyou who? Yes. And he's he's a
really good you know, he's beenfly fishing for most of his
life. I when I get to go, liketo float around, and just feel
like I'll catch a fish or two,you know, and that's great for
(41:43):
me. Yeah. There's just nothingmore peaceful. And the phone's
not raining. Right?
Jerri Hemsworth (41:49):
Right.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (41:49):
So when we can do that, and he'll go do
that with buddies you know, orsometimes we can do it together.
I I practice at the game ofgolf.
Jerri Hemsworth (41:58):
I've heard that about you.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:00):
And I'm really practice because I'm if I
get out once a month, I'm lucky.
Wow, that's actually once I'mthat's pretty good. That's
actually me. I'm verycompetitive.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:11):
I'm if I'm once every five to 10 years. I'm
lucky.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:15):
I was at one point working. I had an 18
handicap which for those of youare listening is bogey golf,
which is not great golf. But forme it is Fantastic.
As a man amateur player. So nowI you know, sometimes I don't
even keep score. It's been solong. Yeah. And I'm just like, I
don't think I want to be my day.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:34):
Yeah. Enjoy the surroundings. I don't want to
break clubs. Yeah, to get pissedoff. It's still fun when
everybody's pissed off. I'mhitting birds and and I mean,
real birds not the birdies
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:48):
Actually seen that happen once. Oh, yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:51):
Oh, dear.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:52):
Yeah. So when I can I get out and play
around a golf with some friendsthat I've been playing golf with
for 20 plus years. So I enjoydoing that less does not golf.
So and that's okay.
Jerri Hemsworth (43:08):
I get it.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:09):
And you know, other than work.
Jerri Hemsworth (43:13):
Yeah. But you know, it's interesting because
you brought up fishing, youbrought up cruising. Even on
golf courses. There's a lot ofwater. It sounds like you're
drawn to water.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:25):
I am drawn to water. I love water.
There's nothing more tranquil.
and refreshing. And being aroundwater and again, it could be a
lake it could be an ocean doesyour waterfall it could be my
bathtub. If I'm if I'm aroundwater, yeah, just it's
Jerri Hemsworth (43:51):
It's happy.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:52):
It's my happy place. Yeah,
Jerri Hemsworth (43:54):
Ever get a hankering to race RC cars
anymore?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:59):
It's funny you say that? I do. There.
There's a couple of dads in ourneighborhood that have built a
dirt track for their kids tolaunch their radio controlled
cars off of they've got theYeah. And I'll see them racing
around the neighborhood and Iwant to go snatch that radio out
(44:19):
of their hands and start drivingaround.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:21):
Let me show you something funny. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:25):
You know, so, you know the funny
thing about it is it just itbrings you back to a happy time.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:30):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:31):
You know, because when I think about
it, even though the businessstruggled at the end and needed
to be closed. I never felt that.
You know, because I was youngenough and not involved in the
day to day business so to speak.
That it was just a fun place tobe.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:49):
I bet, i bet.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:51):
It's one of my happy happy moments.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:54):
I RC cars RCS played a lot in my growing up
but they were airplanes And somy brothers, were always
building RC airplanes gliders.
And, and I know RC cars were bigwith neighbors and things like
that. But then when Brian and Iwere newly married, we went out
(45:16):
somebody, I don't remember whywe were out there. And it was a
bunch of people racing RC cars.
And we went, Oh, this is fun.
Let's go get us an RC car. So weinvested about 400 bucks at the
time, which was pretty highzoom. And a lot. Yes. And I
think we we played with it.
(45:42):
Gosh, maybe six months. And thenit went up in the shelf in the
garage and, you know, collecteddust for another 15 years. But
boy, it was fun. It was reallyfun. And I can see how tinkering
and tweaking the car to race. Imean, we were not racers like
you. But oh my gosh, I could, itcould just see you at a track.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (46:05):
I have some magazines that I have saved
just a few where I'mphotographed or there's an
article about me. And so Ipeeked it like 18 guys. But I'll
have to tell you being 18 andbeing able to just travel
around, you know, SouthernCalifornia, even back out to
(46:26):
Illinois for a race. These aregreat experiences. And I was
pretty much the only girl youknow, out there at the time, I
bet. And because my dad owned aracetrack, you know, I was kind
of just accepted, you know, so Iwas cool. No, yeah. And I was
(46:48):
beating them. So that's why Ikept showing up big Anna and I
will admit this, Scott. Yeah, hewas who worked with for my dad,
and was my friend. He was one ofthe best in the business. So I
had a huge advantage. And youknow what? I loved every minute
(47:09):
of it.
Jerri Hemsworth (47:09):
Did they when they saw you? Did they give Oh,
yes. Shit. Here comes Yes, theydo.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (47:13):
Yeah.
Yeah. In fact, there was a kidnamed Sidewinder. That was his
nickname. Good kid. But he waslosing to me, and he didn't like
it. And that was when we were inIllinois. And Sidewinder took me
out. Oh, no. And all I couldhear was Scott, my buddy and my
wrench if you would screaming.
(47:41):
And all I'm focused on us. Yeah,sir. I don't make the lap up.
Okay. That was like, I was like,whatever, you know, I'll show
this kid. But then he took meout at the finish line, and I
couldn't do anything about that.
So, you know, that was the onlynegative experience other than
that one instance, where he justbecame I think so overwhelmed
with competitiveness. Everybodywas really good. You know, and
(48:03):
like I said, my, my greatest joywas being top qualifier, senior
name being the first card upthere. You know, that's,
Jerri Hemsworth (48:14):
did you have a nickname?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (48:16):
I did not that I'm aware of
Jerri Hemsworth (48:19):
that they told you.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (48:24):
I just wanted, you know, I didn't. I
just I just wanted to race. Iwas really, really into it. And
sure, you know, again, comingback to my competitive spirit.
Sure. It was something I wasstarting to excel at. So it was
it was about to start.
Jerri Hemsworth (48:46):
Any RC modelers out there. Scale arsema? Well,
it's interesting because thepublisher that Brian and I met
that we publish scale, RCmodeler, scale ship modelers. We
published a lot of those narrowniche market publications.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:03):
Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:03):
And so yeah, it was a that was an interesting
world. So I may have seen you inone of those pictures back the.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:13):
Oh, smallworld.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:16):
Melissa, thank you so much for being with me
today. This has been great.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:20):
Well, it's been my pleasure, Jerri.
Thank you so much.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:22):
Thanks so much.
Announcer (49:25):
You've been listening to the How She Got Her Start
podcast brought to you byEchelon Business Development.
More than just networking, waymore.
And now from the Echelon Studios in Los Angeles,
(00:04):
California it's the How She GotHer Start podcast. So let's all
get started with your host Jerrihemsworth.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:15):
Hi, it's Jerri Hemsworth and welcome to How She
Got Her Start. This is a podcastthat I have developed because of
the inspiration that we can allglean from many women business
owners and executives and todayis no exception. I have Melissa
(00:35):
Phillip-Himes here with me fromPhillips and Associate
insurance. How're you doing?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (00:42):
I'm really good. Yeah. Thanks for
having me.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:44):
It's a Friday, we were just talking about how
we tend to be trashed on theweekends.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (00:50):
Well, this weekend will be no
exception.
Jerri Hemsworth (00:52):
Yeah. We over schedule, we completely
overschedule. So tell us aboutPhillip and Associates.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (01:01):
First, thank you for having me. Oh,
sincerely, I this is I've beenlooking forward to this podcast.
So we're a boutique Insuranceagency. And our design is to be
very customer centric. So what Imean by that is, we plan around
(01:22):
the needs of our customers. Anddesigning insurance policies
deals with transferring risk. Soidentifying what risk needs to
be transferred comes first,right? And then making sense of
all of that to our customers,we've learned to be able to talk
(01:42):
to our customers where they canunderstand where the real risk
lies, and why there might bespending more money in certain
areas than others. And then, ofcourse, we focus on continuing
those conversations. Because aswe know, Jerri, life happens and
things change,
Jerri Hemsworth (02:01):
like fires and like,
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (02:02):
Oh, my goodness, yes. So you know, when
I say that we're customercentric. That's what I mean,
it's not, you know, something wesay in marketing, or it just
because it sounds like we care,that that's our job. That's just
why people come to us. And so weseek out business owners and
(02:24):
individuals who are vested inwanting protection, and they
understand why they need it, andthey're willing to pay for it.
That's how we spend our day. Andwhat type of lines do you offer?
On the commercial side, whichwe're about 65 ish percent of
(02:49):
our day is spent on thecommercial side. Our lines are
professional liabilityinsurance. And whether you're a
lawyer or you're a consultant,you're in marketing advertising.
The decisions that we make, andthe errors perhaps that that we
make, can come back, and peoplecan lose their business. Yeah,
(03:14):
certainly, that would be more ofa catastrophic type error, or an
omission. But really, the thegenius behind buying the
insurance for as a professionalservice provider, we have to
continue our business. We haveother clients that that are
going to need our services, wecertainly are making money to
(03:38):
support family. So havinginsurance is literally a one 800
helped me. They hire the lawyer,the hire the experts, they guide
you through the process.
Absolutely. You're a part of theclaims process. But what a
relief that I can continue on mybusiness, knowing that I have a
group of professionals that arethere to help guide me through a
(04:01):
claim. Yes, you know, and it's avery disruptive time in people's
lives. And so we take matchingour customers with insurance
companies seriously. And we wantto make sure that the insurance
companies for a professionalservice provider are vested in
(04:23):
their business. And so wepartner with carriers who are
looking for a lawyer, amarketing ad person, an HR
consultant, because we knowthey're going to do the best job
and understand the businessmodel with absolute clarity so
they can get to workimmediately.
Jerri Hemsworth (04:45):
That's really that's interesting because I for
me, when I think about insurancefor my business, marketing and
advertising, I don't think aboutthe carrier's being specialists,
you know, in that way. Butobviously from what you're
saying they are.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (05:03):
oh, sure. So when I buy my agencies,
errors and omissions insurance,we've transferred over to
professional liabilityinsurance, but a lot of us still
use the errors and omissionsinsurance. You know, the title
on the declaration page isinsurance agents and brokers
professional liabilityinsurance. When I provide a
(05:26):
insurance policy, providingprofessional liability insurance
to a lawyer, the declarationtitle is lawyers professional
liability insurance. Same thingwith accountants, same thing
with architects. So there arecarriers who have developed
insurance policies, specificallyaround certain industries.
Jerri Hemsworth (05:45):
I did not know that.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (05:46):
So if you fall within one of those
industries, it's important tounderstand that your carrier
knows your business, they don'thave to get caught up in how you
do what you do, in order todevelop a defense, they're
already going to have an idea ofwhat you should be doing. And so
it's, it's an immediateconnection with a lawyer or a
(06:08):
claims adjuster that they knowmy business, there's a
confidence that comes from that.
And that's really what we'retrying to provide, at the time
of a claim as insurance brokers,we sit in the middle, you know,
so I'm talking to a client whohas a risk transfer need. And my
job is to go match that risktransfer with the best insurance
(06:30):
providers that I have availableto me. So that's one of our
focal points.
Jerri Hemsworth (06:39):
And when you say boutique, that truly is the
ability for you to customize.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (06:44):
yes,
Jerri Hemsworth (06:44):
Instead of sitting in a tower and a big
company, and where you can onlysell that company's products,
this probably allows you to justreally have that database.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (06:55):
It does.
The relationships that insuranceprofessionals have with their
insurance carriers. And I'llextend that to also mean a
wholesale insurance agency,because there are times that
insurance placements can't godirect to an insurance company,
we actually need to broker thatout. And we very much focus on
(07:16):
our relationships. Because Ineed to show up when my client
needs me. And that's a claimtime. You know, I mean, don't
get me wrong. We're there atrenewal. We're there during, you
know, a transformation of abusiness as you're taking on
(07:37):
another office. But we're allthere doing that.
Jerri Hemsworth (07:42):
Right.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (07:42):
You know, I mean, that's, that's
kind of the heartbeat of theagency. Is that service? Sure,
day to day service. Right. Butat claim time, you know, that's
when people are gonna say, hey,you know, thanks for having my
back.
Jerri Hemsworth (07:55):
Oh, boy. Yeah.
Yeah, I can't I mean, knock onwood. I've not had to file too
many claims in my history. Butwhen I have it, it, you need
somebody holding your hand?
Because you really just like yousaid, you don't know, as the
policy holder, you're not quitesure what, what what goes next,
(08:18):
where do I go? What do we do?
And that's your I know, there'sa plane flying over. I don't
know if listener can hear that.
That is got to be one of themost important parts for me, as
a policyholder to have somebodylike you said that has my back.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (08:36):
I think the best compliment that I've
had from a customer has been atclaim time. And they said, you
know, I'm really confident inour planning. And I'm grateful
for the conversations and thetime you took with me because I
now know what to expect. So, Iwork for that. Yeah, you know,
(09:03):
every, every moment that I'mthinking about a client's needs,
I'm really working on making theclaim experience less fearful.
And replacing that withconfidence.
Jerri Hemsworth (09:20):
That's wonderful. Now, do you do
personal lines as well?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (09:23):
Well, yes, we do. Bank in California
personal lines, insurance hasbecome newsworthy. I always said
I'm always the uncool kid at thetable, right? No one really
wants to hear from theirinsurance person and but we do
(09:44):
have some really good stories.
We really do have some goodstories. But never in my 33 year
career. Have I been in a marketthis uncertain. It was it's been
described as chaos. otictumultuous all you can, whatever
word you want to place, I'mtelling you for 33 years, being
(10:05):
in the industry, never anythinglike this has happened. And some
carriers are handling itdifferently than others. We're
fortunate to be, I believe ingood partnerships with a few
carriers that we have. But let'sface it, all you have to do is
(10:27):
drive down a freeway system inNorthern or Southern California.
And you can look off into thedistance and you're gonna see a
mountain, you know, where you'regonna see a ridge line. So many
of us are in designated firezones. Yeah, and the
availability of insurance mustbe matched with the solvency of
(10:51):
the insurer. So we're very awarethat an insurance contract is
meaningless if the carrierdoesn't have the money to pay.
So they're working on solvingthose issues. They're working on
rate or for our audience, I'llsay premium. They're working on
(11:14):
getting their premium pricingcorrected to reflect the
exposures. But there's more workthat needs to be done. And it
needs to be done at theinsurance commissioners level,
the roles on ratemaking need tochange. And I believe with time
that could happen. So what we'rereally looking at is, is time
(11:40):
it's not going to be a quickcorrection. Certainly there are
no insurance companies lookingto come back into Cal,
Jerri Hemsworth (11:48):
Is there anybody knocking on the door and
anxious to come back.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (11:51):
No, no.
So it's it's a challenging time,certainly. But it's an
interesting time, because I'musually the one having to break
the news. This is why your ratesare changing, or the carrier's
not renewing or something'sgoing on. Now. It's like Oh, my
goodness, Melissa, I can'tbelieve this one announced they
(12:13):
pulled out that one announcedthey're no longer writing.
There, the consumer base isaware of the marketplace. That's
a first for us. That's howprolific this insurance matter
is for property in California.
So yes, we write home renters,personal auto umbrellas,
(12:37):
watercraft, you know, lifestyle,shoe insurance policy.
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
But we just don't have anyanswers to why am I you know,
window, when will I not bepaying as much for my insurance?
Or when? When can I go get it?
Like I used to be able to get it
Jerri Hemsworth (12:58):
right? Maybe never.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (13:00):
Oh, gosh, the thought of that just
hit me. I sincerely hope thatCalifornia does come back from
this, what I'm going to call itas a market capacity crisis. We
don't have market availabilityright now. Florida, has been
(13:21):
dealing with property insuranceissues for many years. And I've
been it wasn't lost on me. I'vebeen talking to some colleagues
and I said, you know, for yearsI've been going oh, those poor
folks in Florida. Oh, mygoodness, they've lost another
insurer. You know, and but nowin California, it's happened to
us. And I'm like, Oh, this iswhat those poor flittering us
(13:47):
been going through all thistime. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have
to ask yourself, can I afford tobuy a house? Or can I? Can I buy
this house? What happens if Ican't buy insurance or I can't
afford insurance? Yeah, unheardof. Unheard of.
Jerri Hemsworth (14:05):
Gosh, I want to switch gears a little bit. And
you mentioned you've been inthis industry of 33 years. Where
were you born?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (14:15):
I am a San Fernando Valley, born and
raised.
Jerri Hemsworth (14:19):
You know, you're not the first person to
sit in the studio and say thatwhere were you? Where were you
born and raised?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (14:26):
Well, actually, I was born in Burbank
at St. Joseph. Nice. Okay. And Iwas raised in the heart of the
valley. So I think we startedout in an apartment in Van Nuys,
and moved into a house still inVan Nuys, and then we moved over
to what's now North Hills when Iwas seven. So, from the age of
(14:48):
seven, I was raised in NorthHills. And as an adult, I've
lived in Encino and Chatsworthand I I kept coming back to
Chatsworth, where I reside nowwith my, my husband, and where
we operate our business.
Jerri Hemsworth (15:06):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (15:07):
And so Chatsworth is just this really
cool little community, you know,in the very northwestern part of
the valley. Yeah. Yeah. And westill have horse country there.
And it's us this quaint littletown, and we really dig it. So
that's where we are.
Jerri Hemsworth (15:24):
What did your parents do?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (15:26):
Well, my dad was a butcher. Oh, so he
Yeah, he was a butcher. And hewas a butcher that had twin
girls, at a very young age. Hewas 26 years old. 27. Sorry,
when we were born, and he justknew he needed to do something
(15:47):
different, but wasn't reallysure. So he met an insurance
agent who shopped at the butchershop, in Studio City where my
dad was cutting meat. And heliked this individual. And one
day, the insurance agent said tomy dad, you know, you're really
good with people. You shouldcome be an insurance agent. And
(16:14):
my dad spent a lot of timethinking about it, because you
know, you're getting paid anhourly wage, you got a very
young family. Then you go intoan insurance environment where
you don't get paid unless yousell something. Yeah, yeah. But
ultimately, he he made thattransformation and in 1974,
(16:40):
became a licensed insuranceagent. Okay. And that's what he
did until
Jerri Hemsworth (16:46):
So he went to school, or was he trained on the
job?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (16:49):
No, he was trained on the job. He
actually went to work forFarmers Insurance, okay. And was
a very successful agent therewent on to become a district
manager for the company. So hewas then in a position to go
recruit agents to come work forfarmers and manage a district,
develop the talent, so to speak,you know, and woke up one day
(17:13):
and said, I don't I don't thinkI want to do this anymore.
Stepped away. Yeah, yeah. We hada race, a radio controlled
racetrack and hobby center.
Really in Northridge when it wasthe rage.
Jerri Hemsworth (17:31):
What was a call that was RC.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (17:33):
It was called Speed Racer. Oh, my
goodness. Yeah. And we werelocated on Londelius, right off
of Tampa. So kind of across fromwhere Costco is now in that
area. And we were in a bigindustrial unit. And we had a
dirt racetrack we had oval onthe outside and off road on the
inside. And my sister and I ranthe races.
Jerri Hemsworth (17:57):
It was an all RC cars?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (17:58):
it was all RC cars. Yeah, it was great.
Melanie and I, like I said weran the races and I became a
racer myself.
Jerri Hemsworth (18:07):
Really. RC cars?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (18:10):
I was very fortunate to have the one
of the best RC racers on ourmanagement team. My dad had
hired him to run the business.
So he he built my engines for meand wrenched on my car and I was
racing i I've tried I wasactually in Chicago at a race.
(18:31):
So we would travel aroundCalifornia would promote Speed
Racer for my dad and I wouldalso raise and I was a funny
little thing when you're talkingabout how did you get to
insurance?
Jerri Hemsworth (18:46):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (18:46):
The was very competitive. There were
only a few racetracks at thattime. And my dad had one of the
largest indoor racetracks so wewere doing pretty good there for
a while. Well, one of thecompetitors came to me. And he
said, You know, I'm going to berunning a tournament and I'd
(19:08):
like you to come run it for me.
And I and it was a it was athree day weekend, okay. And I
said, you know, went back to mydad, and I said, I have this
opportunity and wants me to goyou know, run run his tournament
for him.
Jerri Hemsworth (19:23):
How old are you?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:24):
My I was, gosh, 18 maybe
Jerri Hemsworth (19:27):
Okay, teenager.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:29):
So he said, yeah, just don't make it
permanent. So I did, I went anddid that and had a great time.
The tournament was verysuccessful.
Jerri Hemsworth (19:40):
How many how many competitors were there?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (19:43):
Oh, my gosh, there were hunt over
hundreds, hundreds and you doyou know, the fun thing about
that time was the radio controlcar was really at its height.
And so, everybody loved beingthere. And it was super
(20:03):
competitive. But also, peoplewere very supportive. So if your
car breaks and you don't havethe part, one of your
competitors is paying early.
Yeah. And so you made somereally good friends along the
way, too. It was wonderful. AndI'm very competitive. So I, I
enjoyed being top qualifier. AndI enjoyed winning and like I
(20:24):
said it
Jerri Hemsworth (20:27):
Was your sister also competitive or no?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (20:29):
Well, she is, but she had no interest
in driving a radio controlledrace car. So she, she and I ran
the races together for my dad.
Friday nights and Saturdaynights and some Sundays. But
after the racing was over, shewent home and I was wrenching,
you know, on my car andtweaking.
Jerri Hemsworth (20:51):
Tweaking.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (20:55):
So the the unfortunate thing about that
business was my dad didn't quiteunderstand the hobby part. Can't
make a living charging. Forracing, we just can't. Right. So
we're the business was veryreliant on people buying cars
and parts. Well, there's a bigmail order component to the
(21:15):
business that he just didn'tquite understand. Yeah, sure. So
sure, we quickly learned that wecould not be successful, just as
a racetrack and the hobby centerwas just not busy enough. So
that business was closed. Okay.
My dad then came back to theinsurance business, okay, went
back to what he knew, but backto what he knew, but instead of
going to work for a direct ridercarrier, like a Farmers. He went
(21:39):
independent. Interested inthat's where I got introduced to
insurance.
Jerri Hemsworth (21:47):
Okay, so you worked with your dad for a
while?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (21:50):
I did work with my dad for a while we
we built his agency, which wasWhite Oak Insurance Services.
Also in Chatsworth. Yeah. And,you know, I was young, and I
wanted to build a business. Andmy dad and I didn't agree on the
(22:15):
direction. And we fought overit. And it did start to affect
our personal relationship. Andyou know, my dad and I are very
close. My dad passed away in2005. And so it's been a while
now, but he was really one of mybest friends. And I didn't like
(22:39):
our relationship.
Jerri Hemsworth (22:40):
He didn't like the way being so close day in
day out and, and havingdifferences of direction.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (22:47):
Yeah, yeah. Because what happens is it
divides you.
Jerri Hemsworth (22:51):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (22:52):
And I decided, I think it's time for
me to leave. So
Jerri Hemsworth (23:00):
About how old were you when that happened?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (23:04):
I was in my early 30s, when that
happened. So we'd been togethera while, we had been together
for a while. And I credit my dadfor, for really teaching me the
foundation of customer service.
He, his customers loved him,loved him. And he was big on
problem solving. And that wasone of the areas we disagreed
(23:26):
on, because I work at the frontend to avoid a problem. And he
was very focused on all theproblems here. Let's solve it
now. And so even workingtogether, we had a very
different style and approach.
Interesting. So at the end ofthe day, though, his clients
loved him. And that's magic.
Yeah, you know, you can't justgo get a bunch of people
(23:48):
together, who, who liked thisperson for the same reason, you
know, he was very successful.
And but being young, beingstubborn and competitive, I
decided I was going to leave theagency.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:06):
now what? But wait, how many? How many people
were working at White Oak? Atthat
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:11):
At that time there was 15 of us. Wow,
that's pretty good size. It wasfor the time a very, very good
size company. Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:19):
And then you left and went where?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:22):
I went to work for a very large agency
in Santa Monica, who has thensince been acquired, because
there's been a lot of mergersand acquisitions in my business.
So yes, it was an ad personfirm. And I went inside instead
of being in sales, I went insideand I was working in the
marketing department.
Jerri Hemsworth (24:41):
Okay.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (24:41):
And I had a great experience. However,
being in that new big corporateenvironment coming from Mom and
Pop really Yes, small business.
I quickly learned that that'snot where my my passion is. It
was a is a dynamic group verysuccessful hard chargers, you
know, professionals, I learned alot, but didn't have a life. And
(25:06):
that's where I started thinkingabout life balance.
Jerri Hemsworth (25:13):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (25:14):
So I'm on the golf course with my dad
one day. And he says, So how youdoing? I said, you know, I'm
doing good, you know, I'm nothappy. So I'm thinking about
making a change. And I'll neverforget, I looked back over to
the golf cart. He's sitting inthe driver's seat. I'm waiting
to hit. He's smoking a cigar.
And he looked at me, he has theside glance, Jerri, that will
(25:38):
just break your heart. It wasfantastic. He just kind of sigh
glanced over, he goes, "Well,you know, I think you should
come back and do what you dobest." He says people like you.
And you're good at sellinginsurance. Now, when I heard
that from my dad, I knew he wasright. But the daughter in me
(26:02):
felt so validated because therewas a time. You gotta remember
back in 1974, women didn't ownbusiness. There were, but it was
not a few very few women ownedbusinesses.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:19):
Yeah, you had to have a cosigner for a loan,
or possibly even a credit cardat that point. Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:24):
So this was the environment that my dad
was living in.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:29):
Sure.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:30):
So for him to recognize that his his
daughter was really good at whathe was doing was just the best
validation and so on, and I haddecided that I would give it a
second shot. And I had acontract adjustment that was
very favorable. So I had learneda thing or two being away, and
(26:51):
came back.
Jerri Hemsworth (26:52):
But by the way, before, before we make this
permanent, yes, take a get takea gander at my contract.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (26:59):
So we came to a quick resolution, I
rejoined the firm, and 2000. Andwant to say late 2000, didn't
know mid 2003. The timelines arekind of important. My dad was
sick at the time and intreatment, but we thought we had
more time. We turns out, wedidn't. So I had to transition
(27:22):
late in 2003, and help my mymom, sell the business. And that
happened in 2004. And in 2005, Ijoined another firm. I left the
firm that my dad had sold. And Itook my my clients with me and I
(27:42):
joined a firm. And that firm was50 people. So I thought, well,
let's try 50 person firm and seehow...
Jerri Hemsworth (27:51):
a little midsize number.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (27:53):
Well without going into any great
detail three years later. Istarted Phillip and Associates
Insurance Services, April of2008.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:05):
Gotcha.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:06):
And my now husband Les joined me at
that time, and so did a thirdagent.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:13):
So he was in insurance also.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:14):
He was he was working with a friend out
of Burbank at that time, and hehad just gotten into insurance a
few years earlier. So wecollectively, you know, put our
clients together and startedPhilip and Associates and April
of 2008. Much to the surprise ofmy colleague friends who were
(28:34):
saying, Why are you starting abusiness in this economic
climate.
Jerri Hemsworth (28:38):
2008. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (28:40):
I said, because I know how to do it.
I've been doing it so long. Andso
Jerri Hemsworth (28:45):
but did it seemed like a natural step? Yes.
It did. Almost like not evenquestioning it. Absolutely. Just
like okay, this is what I'mgonna do.
Yeah.
There's no, this is this is, youknow, work. Well. And let me
just ask also, were you havingthe lifestyle that you wanted
when you were working for the 50person firm after you know, the
(29:08):
death of your father and yousold the firm with your mom?
Would did you have thelifestyle? Or were you back to
like, I have no life again.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (29:17):
The pressure was there. But I was
more of an adult at that time.
So I was able to insert a littlebit more balanced, but certainly
the pressure was there. Theagency coincidentally, right as
I showed up, sold Oh, tosomebody else who was who was in
the firm. Okay, so I went tojoin a firm under an owner who
(29:39):
sold as soon as I got there. Sothe dynamics that I was
promised, immediately changed.
So I gave it three years Jerryand I really wanted to try and
give it a chance. But it justdidn't fit Hmm. So starting the
(30:02):
the the agency was was very eyeopening, because you work. And
I'm saying this to everybodywho's listening who's thinking
about opening a business, youwork twice as hard for yourself
than you will anybody else.
Amen. And so there was really nolife, you know, you're you're
working to build and create newrelationships as an agency owner
(30:25):
or business owner and attractpeople to come work for you and
figure all those pieces out. Andyou know that that takes a
while. You got to learn how tobuy software programs and
balance your you know, yourbudget, what budget I didn't
think about keeping
Jerri Hemsworth (30:44):
in other types of insurance, you didn't quite
know you had to pay.,
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (30:51):
look back on it now, I think, well, I
know it was the right decision.
But I think the timing for mewas right, because I had been a
part of an agency where Iliterally was helping my dad run
his firm, I was exposed to largebusiness, and saw how they
(31:12):
planned and what their mentalitywas. And I felt that it was
right for me, because I knewwhat I wanted to do with my
agency. So that's what I what Ialways draw back on, it's, you
know, nothing is going to beperfect. But I had my future
vision already set out. So Iwasn't discovering myself at
(31:35):
that time. And I think that forme was a big difference.
Jerri Hemsworth (31:40):
Yeah, I think when you when you have been
there, done that, and you'vegained these building blocks
along the way, you've you'vewatched other people, how they
run their business, what youlike, what you don't like you've
seen pitfalls, you've seen yoursuccesses, you kind of sculpt
your own vision. And and I thinkthat's, that's what helps me
(32:05):
keep going. Because I know I'mdoing the right thing. And even
when times get hard, or low, youknow, okay, I know, I'm still
doing the right thing. So youwere once working with your
father. And I give you kudos tothat. Because I don't know that
I could have ever worked with myfather. Even though my father
(32:26):
was not a serial entrepreneur. Ilearned a lot of things from
him, going to his office andwatching him sell whatever it
was that decade that he was intoselling. I would never have been
able to work with my father. Andnow I also work with my husband,
(32:51):
and you work with your husband?
How would you compare andcontrast the two situations or
what have you? What did youlearn from working with your dad
that you bring to your workrelationship with your husband
Les?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (33:06):
I'm not a very patient person. Neither
was my dad. Okay. My husband,thankfully, yeah, it's a very
patient person. Which I thinkfor me, is critical. Les has the
ability to put pause on for me,that doesn't make me feel like
(33:36):
I'm being oppressed, orinvalidated,
Jerri Hemsworth (33:44):
or held back?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (33:45):
or held back criticized. And those were
the words that I use to relateto my my dad's way, if you will.
We were always, in a sense, atodds, my dad and I. And it
(34:08):
wasn't until I returned to hisbusiness having been out that he
started to listen to me. And ittook me leaving for him to see
what I did bring to the table.
Now don't get me wrong, folksare listening. Dads are always
gonna be dads, right?
(34:28):
Yes.
It wasn't like it wasn'tmagical. But there were
important things that I wantedto do that He then gave me the
reins to explore because I neverpromised it was going to work.
Let me try this. You know, Hey,Dad, let's do that. Les, lets me
(34:49):
do what you know. He lets thatbe we have very defined roles
Jerri Hemsworth (34:54):
I was going to ask you to do you have different
lanes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (34:56):
We do.
Jerri Hemsworth (34:56):
You stay in each other's in your own lane.
Melissa Phillipp-Hi (34:58):
Absolutely.
He'll help probably say I don't
Jerri Hemsworth (35:03):
Pardon me, but your blinkers not stay in your
lane.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:06):
And I wouldn't hurt you. I really
wouldn't. But yeah, weabsolutely do have to find
roles, which is another reasonwhy I think it works better with
my husband, his personality. Andwe absolutely have defined
roles. And, you know, look,let's face it living together
and working together. It's achallenge.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:26):
Absolutely.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:27):
I think we're pretty good at leaving
business during business hours.
Now, there's not to say that ifthere's something important
going on, we're not discussingit on Sunday morning over
coffee. But for most of thetime, we're pretty good at
recognizing this is our time asa married couple. Let's not
insert business.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:49):
Yes.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (35:50):
Here.
Jerri Hemsworth (35:51):
It's critical.
It's critical. And I mean, youknow, you've been in the
industry 33 years, you've beenin business with Les since 2008.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:01):
Yes.
Jerri Hemsworth (36:03):
And you learn at, at what like you said, when
when you first start your firm,your everything, you are working
all hours, and he's probablydoing the same thing. And so
you're really stepping on eachother constantly, until you
realize, I'm going to tear youreyeballs out if you don't get
(36:25):
out of my way. And you went, Oh,wait, hey, hang on. That's my
husband, you know. So you, youlearn, okay, we need lanes, and
it's the best way to to surviveand not still not every firm
survives, whereas it's a husbandand wife.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:43):
Yes, absolutely. And because my my
mom worked for my dad.
Jerri Hemsworth (36:48):
Oh, okay.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (36:49):
But there's a different statement.
My mom worked for my dad. Yes.
Less than I worked together.
Yes. Yes. And the other thing Iwill say is, you know, you gotta
remember to say, Hey, babe,that's a great job you just did.
Or I know, that was a toughcall. And you did a really good
job. Yeah, you know, thank you.
Yes, because we forget asspouses to support one another
(37:11):
vocally.
Jerri Hemsworth (37:15):
That is so true. That is so true. Even even
in things that aren't business,I find. I in particular, can
easily take, take Brian forgranted the little things that
he does on a day to day basis,in business and out of business.
And I know as as we get older,and me being 50 something and
(37:39):
being 60 something reallybecomes more important.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (37:43):
Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (37:44):
So it's, it's that's part of the balance that
we were talking about, you know,and when you've been married for
a long time, been in business along time. Mutual respect,
getting back to "okay, what,what makes us feel nice, what
makes us feel good about beingin business together?" And yeah,
(38:07):
celebrating the little tinythings, which, in day to day
business, it can be just aleaving a voicemail for our
client or handling. You know,Brian went out and did a
videotape session with a client.
And I was so grateful that hedid that. And in recognizing
that, it is it is superimportant.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:29):
I think so it also makes me feel good.
Jerri Hemsworth (38:34):
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:36):
Because the more positive affirmation I
think we put out there. Itlightens our load a little bit,
too.
Jerri Hemsworth (38:42):
Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (38:43):
So my husband is really, he's a really
good guy. And he means well, andpeople like him. And, again,
sometimes I'm close to it. And Idon't see it or recognize it. So
I'm working on being better.
Jerri Hemsworth (39:00):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:01):
At vocalizing the appreciation to
me admiration, you know,
Jerri Hemsworth (39:06):
yeah. Because I think my life would be lost
without Brian.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:12):
Oh, mine certainly won't be lost without
less. Yeah. I mean, for example,one of his lanes is he's in
charge of all the books. I don'tdo numbers. I do money
calculations. But I don't donumbers. Yeah. And every tax
(39:32):
season comes around. I'm like,Thank God. Thank you. Thank you.
Where do I sign?
Jerri Hemsworth (39:36):
Yeah Just tell me where? Yes. I'll reveal them
later. Wink wink, nod nod.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (39:42):
So there are things that less brings to
the table that are on insurancerelated, that are critical to
the business. Yeah, I'd have topay somebody to do that for me
Sure. That I need to bereminding him how valuable he
is. Yeah, so do Shout out toyou, babe.
Jerri Hemsworth (40:00):
Yeah, way to go less way to go. What do you to
do when you're not working?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (40:07):
Well, we less as a reader, okay? I'm not
such a reader. So Les loves toread and I'll drink coffee.
Okay. And we were together. Sothat's kind of a Sunday morning
for us. And I start with Sundaymornings because they're just my
(40:30):
favorite.
Jerri Hemsworth (40:30):
Yeah. aren't that great. No rush to get up
and do anything.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (40:35):
Yeah, it's just great. We love to eat.
We like to go out to eat. So weenjoy a good meal. Together. We
walk our Husky puppy, puppysometimes because we have to.
Otherwise puppy demand we paythe price. So we've developed
(41:01):
nice friendships around theneighborhood. And that's always
nice. We love to travel. So welike cruising. We have family
out of state on both sides. Sowe'll visit with family. And
when we can, Les will be on afishing trip.
Jerri Hemsworth (41:21):
Oh, what kind of fishing does he do?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (41:22):
Oh he's a fly fisherman. Okay, yeah, he
is a float tuber for those ofyou who? Yes. And he's he's a
really good you know, he's beenfly fishing for most of his
life. I when I get to go, liketo float around, and just feel
like I'll catch a fish or two,you know, and that's great for
(41:43):
me. Yeah. There's just nothingmore peaceful. And the phone's
not raining. Right?
Jerri Hemsworth (41:49):
Right.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (41:49):
So when we can do that, and he'll go do
that with buddies you know, orsometimes we can do it together.
I I practice at the game ofgolf.
Jerri Hemsworth (41:58):
I've heard that about you.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:00):
And I'm really practice because I'm if I
get out once a month, I'm lucky.
Wow, that's actually once I'mthat's pretty good. That's
actually me. I'm verycompetitive.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:11):
I'm if I'm once every five to 10 years. I'm
lucky.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:15):
I was at one point working. I had an 18
handicap which for those of youare listening is bogey golf,
which is not great golf. But forme it is Fantastic.
As a man amateur player. So nowI you know, sometimes I don't
even keep score. It's been solong. Yeah. And I'm just like, I
don't think I want to be my day.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:34):
Yeah. Enjoy the surroundings. I don't want to
break clubs. Yeah, to get pissedoff. It's still fun when
everybody's pissed off. I'mhitting birds and and I mean,
real birds not the birdies
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:48):
Actually seen that happen once. Oh, yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (42:51):
Oh, dear.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (42:52):
Yeah. So when I can I get out and play
around a golf with some friendsthat I've been playing golf with
for 20 plus years. So I enjoydoing that less does not golf.
So and that's okay.
Jerri Hemsworth (43:08):
I get it.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:09):
And you know, other than work.
Jerri Hemsworth (43:13):
Yeah. But you know, it's interesting because
you brought up fishing, youbrought up cruising. Even on
golf courses. There's a lot ofwater. It sounds like you're
drawn to water.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:25):
I am drawn to water. I love water.
There's nothing more tranquil.
and refreshing. And being aroundwater and again, it could be a
lake it could be an ocean doesyour waterfall it could be my
bathtub. If I'm if I'm aroundwater, yeah, just it's
Jerri Hemsworth (43:51):
It's happy.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:52):
It's my happy place. Yeah,
Jerri Hemsworth (43:54):
Ever get a hankering to race RC cars
anymore?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (43:59):
It's funny you say that? I do. There.
There's a couple of dads in ourneighborhood that have built a
dirt track for their kids tolaunch their radio controlled
cars off of they've got theYeah. And I'll see them racing
around the neighborhood and Iwant to go snatch that radio out
(44:19):
of their hands and start drivingaround.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:21):
Let me show you something funny. Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:25):
You know, so, you know the funny
thing about it is it just itbrings you back to a happy time.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:30):
Yeah.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:31):
You know, because when I think about
it, even though the businessstruggled at the end and needed
to be closed. I never felt that.
You know, because I was youngenough and not involved in the
day to day business so to speak.
That it was just a fun place tobe.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:49):
I bet, i bet.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (44:51):
It's one of my happy happy moments.
Jerri Hemsworth (44:54):
I RC cars RCS played a lot in my growing up
but they were airplanes And somy brothers, were always
building RC airplanes gliders.
And, and I know RC cars were bigwith neighbors and things like
that. But then when Brian and Iwere newly married, we went out
(45:16):
somebody, I don't remember whywe were out there. And it was a
bunch of people racing RC cars.
And we went, Oh, this is fun.
Let's go get us an RC car. So weinvested about 400 bucks at the
time, which was pretty highzoom. And a lot. Yes. And I
think we we played with it.
(45:42):
Gosh, maybe six months. And thenit went up in the shelf in the
garage and, you know, collecteddust for another 15 years. But
boy, it was fun. It was reallyfun. And I can see how tinkering
and tweaking the car to race. Imean, we were not racers like
you. But oh my gosh, I could, itcould just see you at a track.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (46:05):
I have some magazines that I have saved
just a few where I'mphotographed or there's an
article about me. And so Ipeeked it like 18 guys. But I'll
have to tell you being 18 andbeing able to just travel
around, you know, SouthernCalifornia, even back out to
(46:26):
Illinois for a race. These aregreat experiences. And I was
pretty much the only girl youknow, out there at the time, I
bet. And because my dad owned aracetrack, you know, I was kind
of just accepted, you know, so Iwas cool. No, yeah. And I was
(46:48):
beating them. So that's why Ikept showing up big Anna and I
will admit this, Scott. Yeah, hewas who worked with for my dad,
and was my friend. He was one ofthe best in the business. So I
had a huge advantage. And youknow what? I loved every minute
(47:09):
of it.
Jerri Hemsworth (47:09):
Did they when they saw you? Did they give Oh,
yes. Shit. Here comes Yes, theydo.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (47:13):
Yeah.
Yeah. In fact, there was a kidnamed Sidewinder. That was his
nickname. Good kid. But he waslosing to me, and he didn't like
it. And that was when we were inIllinois. And Sidewinder took me
out. Oh, no. And all I couldhear was Scott, my buddy and my
wrench if you would screaming.
(47:41):
And all I'm focused on us. Yeah,sir. I don't make the lap up.
Okay. That was like, I was like,whatever, you know, I'll show
this kid. But then he took meout at the finish line, and I
couldn't do anything about that.
So, you know, that was the onlynegative experience other than
that one instance, where he justbecame I think so overwhelmed
with competitiveness. Everybodywas really good. You know, and
(48:03):
like I said, my, my greatest joywas being top qualifier, senior
name being the first card upthere. You know, that's,
Jerri Hemsworth (48:14):
did you have a nickname?
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (48:16):
I did not that I'm aware of
Jerri Hemsworth (48:19):
that they told you.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (48:24):
I just wanted, you know, I didn't. I
just I just wanted to race. Iwas really, really into it. And
sure, you know, again, comingback to my competitive spirit.
Sure. It was something I wasstarting to excel at. So it was
it was about to start.
Jerri Hemsworth (48:46):
Any RC modelers out there. Scale arsema? Well,
it's interesting because thepublisher that Brian and I met
that we publish scale, RCmodeler, scale ship modelers. We
published a lot of those narrowniche market publications.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:03):
Yeah.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:03):
And so yeah, it was a that was an interesting
world. So I may have seen you inone of those pictures back the.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:13):
Oh, smallworld.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:16):
Melissa, thank you so much for being with me
today. This has been great.
Melissa Phillipp-Himes (49:20):
Well, it's been my pleasure, Jerri.
Thank you so much.
Jerri Hemsworth (49:22):
Thanks so much.
Announcer (49:25):
You've been listening to the How She Got Her Start
podcast brought to you byEchelon Business Development.
More than just networking, waymore.
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