Organizations looking out for the best interests of the Mahoning Valley workforce are attractive to Mullen Insurance Solutions in Boardman. For owner, Nate Mullen, Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition fits that category, and becoming a member makes sense.
“We’re just trying to get our name out there a little more,” he said.
Connecting with MVMC
Mullen, a health insurance broker, started the company in 2021 but has been in the industry for 13 years. He already had established relationships with some MVMC members before joining the coalition.
The other meaningful connection was through one of his account managers, Heather Willison. She previously worked with MVMC assistant director Gina Pastella.
Mullen worked with his other two account managers, Mary Ann Christie and Becky Miller, before starting his company. All three say they’re good at something different, which helps their process run smoothly.
Mullen always dreamed of having his own business, but it came true sooner than expected.
“I didn’t think this would happen until my late 40s or 50s, but when my old employer sold to a large agency, I decided it was time to move on,” he said.
Close-knit team
To say Mullen clicks with his employees is an understatement. He swells with pride and emotion talking about the company environment.
“We just have the most incredible team of people here,” he said.
Mullen Insurance currently handles health insurance plans for about 60 groups in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. It ranges from one-person businesses up to groups of more than 200 employees.
“The unique thing about our business is the way we work with companies. We only grow when they grow. It’s not about premiums. As the workforce grows, that’s how we see growth,” Mullen said.
Standing out from the competition
He says the challenging part is trying to be different. In health insurance, the pricing is all the same.
“There is no ‘better deal’. If a broker tells you that, they’re lying. So, our way of being different is our service model and through the technology we use for enrollment platforms,” he said.
That is important to larger employers and multi-location businesses because work for HR becomes easier.
Mullen Insurance is affiliated with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber. Being part of the MVMC is just another opportunity to be more engrained in the Mahoning Valley.
“We feel our service method is different than larger companies, and customers get a more personal experience using our business,” Mullen said.
