“There have been a lot of people who have supported our business in the area over the years. We would be remiss if we didn’t thank them. We are nothing without our clients. We appreciate all their support over the years that has allowed us to grow and be successful.” – Brent Johnson, Agency Founder
 
Alyssa Kendrick, a native of Winston-Salem, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in psychology. As the first in her family to earn a four-year degree, she set a high standard for her siblings and extended family. After graduation, Alyssa was torn between pursuing further education in psychology or diving into the workforce. She opted to return to her hometown and took an entry-level position with an insurance company. Looking back, Alyssa is thankful for a humble beginning that led to a solid foundation for her career.

 

Meanwhile, Brent Johnson grew up in West Virginia and graduated from Concord University with a degree in business marketing and computer science. After starting his career developing computer systems with Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, OH, Brent moved to Winston-Salem in 1988 to become a district sales manager. In 1993, he started his own small Nationwide agency that now has grown into one of the most successful independent agencies in the region, with a dedicated team of 65 employees. Under Brent’s leadership, the business has experienced double-digit growth annually.
 
“We have a very experienced staff who work more in an advisory role with our clients than other insurance companies. For that reason, we’ve been able to build our agency from within and continue our growth through a steady stream of referrals from existing clients.” – Brent

 

For Alyssa, the transition to sales happened naturally after working in the industry for several years. She joined Brent’s team in 2018 and quickly became a core asset to the company, learning the business from the inside out and focusing on building strong connections with local REALTORS® and mortgage lenders. She’s active in local real estate associations and frequently speaks at REALTOR® and mortgage group meetings. In addition, her personalized approach, such as offering closing gifts on behalf of her referral partners after she writes a policy, helps ease the workload for her partners in the industry.

“When I network and talk to clients, I want them to realize that insurance isn’t just business, it’s personal. You want to really know and trust your agent—especially on those scary days when you have a claim and your world feels shattered. You want to trust that person in your corner to guide you and help put the pieces back together.” – Alyssa Kendrick, Agent

 

“The ultimate satisfaction in this job is helping someone who has been involved in a terrible claim and just being there to help them ASAP to make sure we can get them back on their feet. It’s great to be able to make people whole again after bad things happen.” – Brent

 

Alyssa's dedication to networking and building relationships over the last six years has been instrumental in the company’s success. Her hard work paid off—last year, she won “Rising Star” for their entire group and was recognized at their annual meeting.

 

"Since I’ve been in a sales role, the majority of my business has come from REALTORS® or mortgage lenders. For me, it’s figuring out how to be a resource for each specific partner and always trying to help solve their problems and reach their goals. In the insurance world, we approach this as a marathon, where other sales organizations are running sprints. We’re getting clients that we hope to retain and work with for many years so we have a lot more contact with them, at least once a year for many years. It takes a lot of grit and stamina.” – Alyssa

 

Three years ago, the team partnered with a national company, HighStreet Insurance Partners, and recently rebranded their agency as HighStreet Insurance and Financial Services. The partnership was driven by the opportunity to expand the repertoire of services they could offer clients.
 
“It’s been a great partnership because they bring more to the table for us and offer us the opportunity to provide more products and services to our clients.” – Brent

 

Now, as Brent approaches retirement from the agency after a long and successful career, he’s thrilled to see people like Alyssa and new agency President, Chuck Eyler, taking the initiative to keep the business healthy and growing. Alyssa’s commitment to the relationships she’s established in the real estate community and always putting her clients first is sure to drive HighStreet to new heights in the coming years.