SYRACUSE — CH Insurance of Syracuse, a multi-line insurance agency and benefits manager, is offering a group-benefits program, called BOOST, specifically designed for small businesses.

CH Insurance is headquartered inside the Atrium building at 100 S. Salina St. in Syracuse.

BOOST stands for benefits-optimization opportunities for small-business teams, says Joseph (Joe) Convertino, Jr., president of CH Insurance, who spoke with CNYBJ on Oct. 9.

“So, think of small employers. Let’s just call it under 100 employees. We want to boost their benefit program with six items,” says Convertino.

As he explained the program, the six elements include an online portal and all COBRA administration for small businesses. In addition, CH Insurance will act as a client’s total advocate with an insurance company in helping in claims or other scenarios. As the firm’s website says, “We work with the individual and gather all the details and deal directly with the carrier on their behalf.” 

The program also includes multiple carrier options and human-resources (HR) services with a CH employee handling HR and compliance issues for small businesses, Convertino noted.

The program also includes a financial-wellness component. “So, financial wellness would mean do you need personal life insurance? Do you need help with a bank? Do you need a financial review for your personal finances? We have an in-house person that helps you with that,” says Convertino. 

Launched in 1999, CH Insurance is an independent insurance agency that represents commercial insurance, personal insurance (home and auto), group benefits (health insurance, group life, group dental) risk management, and human-resource services. The business has 27 employees and Convertino says the firm is in a “growth mode.”

“We look for one to two sales producers each year. One to two service representatives each year in both our commercial and group-benefit division,” he notes.

CH Insurance uses the slogan, “In your corner … Every day, every way.” The firm advertises quite a bit on TV and radio. Convertino believes marketing is important because it “highlights who your company is.”

“It helps in your brand promise,” he says. “We show the local community what we’re about.” 

Convertino explains that his firm works in a “boring” business. “My little secret is we try to make insurance fun with what we do in our advertising, our radio [spots], our digital [advertising].”

Convertino also added that the firm believes in using Facebook, X (the site formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn to promote itself. And the company’s name is visible on the Atrium, where it’s operated since 2017. 

He called the firm’s decision to move to the Atrium building “a home run.”

“Not only with signage. We are in the heart of downtown,” he says. “We are such a local company. We can’t be happier being where we are today.”

SMALL BIZ SNAPSHOT

– CEO: Joseph (Joe) Convertino, Sr.
– President: Joseph (Joe) Convertino, Jr.
– Location: 100 S. Salina St. (Atrium building), Suite 370, Syracuse, N.Y. 13202
– Phone: (315) 234-7500 or (888) 400-8087
– Type of business: Independent insurance agency
– Employees: 27
– Annual revenue: Undisclosed, but Convertino, Jr. says the firm is “doing well”