Van Gilder Insurance Corporation.

• Position: Outstanding Business Leaders

As the Van Gilder Insurance Corporation prepares to celebrate its 100 year anniversary, Dell Van Gilder is confident that the company's commitment to service and independence will ensure continued success.

Van Gilder's grandfather started the business in 1905. When his father joined the company in 1926, he concentrated on selling insurance, going door to door.

Dell Van Gilder joined the company in 1963. "We only had five employees with about $500,000 in premiums sales. Not knowing any better, I just started selling. My dad's goal was to reach $1 million in premium production," said Van Gilder.

In 1969, the year his grandfather passed away, the company incorporated and hit the million dollar mark, fulfilling his father's goal. "I told him that I wanted to reach $100 million. Of course, my Dad scoffed at that," said Van Gilder.

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By 1978, the company was at about $3.5 million in premiums and attracted many national agencies interested in buying the company. Rather than selling, they set out to compete by growing the company. They began making acquisitions, purchasing 15 agencies over a 25 year period.

Last year, Van Gilder was in excess of $300 million in sales with 260 employees and $36 million in commission revenues. The company has offices in Kansas City, Dallas, Carlsbad and Phoenix as well as branch offices in Colorado Springs, Parker and Sterling.

Van Gilder is quick to share the credit for all the company has achieved with his employees. "People tend to laud me for building such a company. I've been lucky because I've been able to hire some great employees. It is those employees that have created our success," said Van Gilder.

He attributes the company's commitment to independence with its ability to attract some of the best in the industry. "Many in our industry have been through mergers and acquisitions. We have concentrated on perpetuation all of our life. It's been the hallmark of our success," said Van Gilder.

That commitment to perpetuation...