Community Coverage
By Alice York
By Alice York
For the past 80 years, and spanning three generations, the family-owned Viti Companies has been helping individuals, families, and businesses across the North Shore navigate the often-intimidating fields of insurance and finance.
Founded by Guy Viti Sr. in 1938, the company was soon joined by his son Gabriel, who came on after graduating from college. Business boomed, more than tripling, and has not stopped growing since, now including a Chicago office and a roster of out-of-state clients. Gabriel credits their initial, and continued, success to his father’s connections to the community and the family’s tireless involvement to this day.
This includes daughters Anna Maria Viti-Welch and Ester Viti, who now lead the company, which is organized into two branches: Guy Viti Insurance, dedicated to personal and commercial insurance needs, and Viti Financial, which includes employee and executive benefits, business succession planning, individual benefits, IRAs, and more.
Anna Maria, President of The Viti Companies, brings her background in education to the forefront in her approach: “We’re consultants—we want to educate you, not just take your order. We know insurance is hard to understand, so we’re here to take the mystery out of it.”
“There are numerous insurance options in the marketplace. However, what truly distinguishes us from the pack is our approach: to really listen and speak to our clients about what they need and identify what they’re looking for. We give options and allow them to decide, no pressure.”
She adds, “A lot of things change, and business owners are busy—we take the burden off of our clients to keep up by calling them throughout the year to check in.”
In her current role, she continues to lead and teach in her work with the startup world, for which Viti has a dedicated division: “We can advise and grow with them,” she explains.
Ester, Vice President of Viti Financial, arrived at the company after 14 years working with Nike, spearheading Viti’s financial division. “Our goal is to be a one-stop shop,” she says. “We can help people from when they are young through retirement, from companies with two employees to 500—we don’t differentiate service by volume of a company.”
“When you’re full-service,” Ester continues, “you want to make sure you’re covering the entire spectrum for your clients; protecting them. Our goal is to take care of everyone’s needs.”
This emphasis on care extends not just to clients but into the community, carrying on their grandfather’s and father’s legacy. Anna Maria was the first female member of the First Bank of Highland Park’s Board of Directors, also counting Fill a Heart 4 Kids, WPO Chicago, 1871, and many other non-for-profit and networking organizations among her engagements. Ester has followed in her father’s footsteps at the Highwood Chamber of Commerce, where she is an active board member and is also a member of the Allendale Shelter Club.
From charitable work to impeccable customer service, Viti Companies is ready with whatever support is needed. With fall just around the corner and individual health enrollment on November 1, they suggest making sure your policies are up to date. Viti provides a complimentary review of your plans, and should you need a change or upgrade, they represent many insurance companies and can help you shop around.
In other words, as Anna Maria says, “We help you make sure you’re ahead of the game.”
For more information, visit viticompanies.com.
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