Josh Huff launched Blue Oak Insurance Agency in 2019 and is now expanding the company’s presence in Springfield and elsewhere. The business recently relocated to a larger office at 2205 W. Wabash Ave. and has plans to continue expanding into other territories.
Huff started his insurance career with Farmers Insurance in 2009 and later worked for another national agency. In March 2019, he decided to open an independent insurance agency and chose a name that had a lot of meaning for him.
Huff said he started small and worked hard.
“I started out of my house for the first three months, and then I rented an office the size of a closet. It worked for me. I put my head down and worked my butt off for about a year and a half,” he said.
In 2021, Huff acquired an agency in Peoria which now operates under the Blue Oak name, followed by an office in Genosea in 2024.
“Beyond Illinois, we’ve just launched in Wisconsin and are moving into Indiana, with several other acquisition opportunities in discussion across the country,” he said.
Huff said he hopes to find other agents to work with him as the business continues to grow, although he knows from personal experience that “leaving the captive world and going independent is scary. …But we’re on a good path here for agents; we all have a good relationship and work well together,” he said.
Huff said he is grateful for the experience he gained during his time working for national companies. “It prepared me for something bigger and better.”