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Business Spotlight: FARMERS INSURANCE

Hello, I’m Lisa Montminy, owner of the Farmers Insurance agency at

106 Ave. C in Cloquet, across from the new Holy Smokes Coffee House & BBQ.

I am originally from Duluth and I have two children, Mylee and Brock. Prior to purchasing my agency, I worked in the restaurant industry, and was general manager of several restaurants in Duluth, and the food and beverage manager at Northland Country Club starting in 2018. It was fun to be part of such a creative team of people working together on the same vision. While working at Northland, I met Mark Lipke, the district manager for Farmers Insurance, and over the years came to know him quite well. In February 2021, he mentioned he had an agent who was interested in selling his agency, and asked if I would be interested in buying it. I was, and began working on getting licensed. I worked 10-hour days, then went home and studied until 2 a.m. every day, determined to buy the agency. And I did just that, on Sept. 1, 2021.

In October of that year, I reached out to my longtime friend and former co-worker Heather Amborn and asked if she would be interested in working with me. She was, and we have never looked back. Heather grew up in the Saginaw area and has lived in Cloquet for six years. She has a horse, and is very active in the equine community; she competes in horse shows and is also the treasurer of the Dirt Floor Arena In Proctor. Her son, David, 6, has also taken a liking to horses, and their busy summers are filled with horse shows most weekends, as well as camping and four-wheeling.

By continuing our professional education, we have expanded our scope of services — in addition to writing home, auto, business and life insurance, we now offer additional lines of business such as equine mortality and farm and ranch, as well as Medicare, Medicaid, disability, dental and vision insurance.

2023 presented great life challenges, with my dad passing away unexpectedly in January. I moved into his house shortly after, then five months to the day after my dad died, my mom passed away, also unexpectedly. So, the greater part of the year was spent in and out of the hospital with my parents as well as planning their celebrations of life. To say that 2023 was the toughest year of my life is an understatement.

I am looking forward to 2024 being a bit calmer, and to meeting others and being more involved in community events around the area. Heather and I look forward to assisting this tight-knit community in any way we can.

 
 
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