Charles Solomon, a Geico Insurance agent, recently became the first African American to ever win the prestigious Agent of the Year Award at the prominent insurance company.
“I am very proud to receive that award. We got that award [because] … we sold the most policies in the region. We really had the sales team that made us stand out. Through their hard work, I was able to stand on that stage. But it really was a team award.”
Solomon won the distinction for selling the most policies in the region from his location on southwest Atlanta’s famous Cascade Road. The award-winning agent stated that Geico created a corporate environment conducive to success, which he says complements his military-molded mentality. “What attracted me to Geico were a number of things which were synonymous with our Air Force core values: excellence in everything you do; integrity first; and service above self,” he explains. “Those are the things that I saw in the Geico approach [that] made me decide to retire and come aboard with Geico — and I haven’t seen anything different in my 10-plus years with Geico.”
In addition, Solomon credits Geico with helping him fulfill his lifelong dream of entrepreneurship. “I did a lot of things over the years in terms of education and career development to get to the point where if I had the opportunity to own my own business, I would do it,” says the 24-year military veteran. “Geico came along and presented me with an opportunity in 2006. Things worked out. I came aboard with it and I haven’t looked back since.”
Why look back when the road ahead looks so bright?–terry shropshire
