Derek Hamons

November has always been one of my favorite months of the year. My wife and I are celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary this month and as a veteran, I always look forward to all the activities that surround Veteran's Day. It's great being around men and women who served our country. As the month ends, we have a great reminder that we have a lot to be thankful for. November is great time to remember the importance of being grateful and to find ways to serve others.

I am excited for the opportunity to serve Amherst and Lorain County and the surrounding areas. If you are looking for an insurance agent that values you as a person and will take the time to educate you on the options to protect you and your family, then call my team.

I was fortunate to grow up in the close-knit community of Willard, Ohio. It was there that I learned three of the most important life-long lessons a young person could learn. My father taught me and my three siblings the value of hard work, as he would leave for the factory every morning before any of us would even wake up. My mother taught me the importance of serving others when she attended night classes to fulfill her dream of becoming of a hospice nurse. Even though it was the toughest job anyone could ever have, she loved being there for people in their last days. And from the rest of the town, I learned the value of community. Whether it was coaching a youth team, volunteering or just watching the football game on Friday night, I discovered that life is meant to be spent with others.

After high school, I attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee where I studied Business Administration. It was there that I learned about business, but more important, I learned about life. Being far from home, I learned to be independent and not knowing anyone when I walked on campus forced me to learn how to make friends. During college, I took a semester after to attend US Army Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I spent twelve years in the Army Reserves including a year in Iraq in 2003. Being a Non-Commissioned Officer, I learned about leadership, training and how to accomplish a mission. Another great opportunity was when I had the privilege of serving as director of the Willard Hope Center in which we provided after-school programs for the youth of the area. What a great experience it was to provide kids a safe and fun environment where they could learn about life.

Seven years ago, I meet with my local State Farm agent to talk about my insurance and was surprised when she offered me a job. Looking back, accepting her offer was a great decision. I was able to help many of my friends and neighbors, helping to ensure that they were properly protected for the risks of everyday life and to help them achieve their financial goals and dreams. I am excited to bring that passion to help my friends and neighbors to Amherst and Lorain County.

Another great decision was to marry my wife, Sandy. We have three kids, Richard, Jacob and Ashley. When I'm not working, I enjoy being outside hiking, kayaking or taking care of the yard and also watching some of my favorite teams playing.

When you are looking for home, auto, life insurance or financial services, and want an agent who will take the time to treat you as individual and help you understand the policy you are purchasing, give my team a call.