Amy Burns Recognized with Safeco Award of Excellence

October 2023 (Wilmington, VT) – Amy Burns, Personal Lines Senior Account Manager at The Richards Group in Wilmington, VT has earned the Safeco Insurance Award of Excellence for her superior underwriting skills and long-term commitment to Safeco® Insurance.

This prestigious award recognizes those individuals with excellent underwriting skills who have developed a solid underwriting partnership with Safeco and whose agencies have qualified for the Safeco Insurance Premier Partner Award, the company’s top recognition program. Agents who earn this designation will have the ability to make selected underwriting decisions, in addition to being recognized publicly as an Award of Excellence recipient.

Burns, a resident of Wilmington, joined The Richards Group in 2000. An Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR), Amy is highly qualified to meet the complex insurance challenges facing today’s consumer. She helps The Richards Group deliver customized insurance solutions from many of the country’s finest insurance companies at competitive prices.

“Amy’s expertise, skill and dedication have been a true asset to The Richards Group and our clients,” said Hayley Hill, Personal Lines Manager. “We’re honored to have Amy on our award-winning Personal Lines team.”

Compensation Services

Stay ahead in the race for talent

Looking to attract and retain top talent while ensuring fairness and transparency? We’re here to help. Our comprehensive compensation services are tailored to your organization’s size, industry, and culture. Let us help you build a fair, competitive, and motivating strategy that benefits your employees and business.

Compensation Internal and External Factors + Job Evaluation + Type of Pay System + Types of Pay+ Legal and Pay Theories = Implementation of Compensation Strategy

Contact our Senior HR Consultant Dave Twitchell to learn more. (603) 443-2779

Download a PDF of our Compensation Services >

2023 Vermont Worksite Wellness Award Winners Announced!

More than 100 businesses and organizations that employ Vermont workers have been selected to receive a 2023 Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness. Developed more than 20 years ago by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and presented in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health, the annual awards provide an opportunity for the governor and health commissioner to thank businesses and organizations for their efforts to support Vermonters’ health and make Vermont a great place to live and work.

The Richards Group is proud to partner with so many organizations committed to supporting the health and well-being of their employees. One out of every four 2023 award recipients is a TRG client! As a company, we are also deeply committed to the well-being of our own employees and offer a generous, varied set of wellness benefits. Learn more about our workplace well-being consulting services here. Contact Directors of Wellbeing Lindsay Simpson lsimpson@therichardsgrp.com or Mari Walsh mwalsh@therichardsgrp.com.

Congratulations to all TRG clients who received a 2023 Vermont Worksite Wellness Award:

GOLD LEVEL

ARIS Solutions

Brattleboro Retreat

Chroma Technology Corp.

Community Care Network

Copley Hospital

Franklin County Home Health Agency

Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital

King Arthur Baking Company, Inc.

Lamoille County Mental Health Services

Mascoma Bank

New Chapter, Inc.

North Star Health

Northwestern Counseling & Support Services

Senior Solutions

Springfield Hospital

The Richards Group

Town of Brattleboro

United Counseling Service

VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region

Washington County Mental Health Services

SILVER LEVEL

Aspire Living & Learning, Inc.

Bread Loaf Corporation

Gifford Health Care, Inc.

Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont

Norwich University

Vermont Law and Graduate School

Vermont Packinghouse LLC

BRONZE LEVEL

Brattleboro Food Co-op

DEW Construction

Vernon Advent Christian Home

The Richards Group Named One of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Vermont !

The Richards Group was recently named one of Vermont's Best Places to Work for an 8th consecutive year. This award was created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group. This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, workforce, and businesses.

"Our strategy has always been to create a culture where all our employees feel empowered to reach their full potential in addition to having a strong sense of comradery and purpose” commented Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Over the past year we have focused on re-establishing connections and opportunities for togetherness. Be it virtual or in-person, our sense of community is valuable to us, and it has been immensely rewarding and great fun to develop new and creative ways to enjoy each other’s company as we emerge from the pandemic. Our people are our greatest asset and thanks to their hard work and dedication, we’re honored to be recognized once again as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont.”

 The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits, Wealth Management, and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has 165 employees and 12 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness, and Human Resources consulting. TRG Investment Advisors, LLC dba TRG Retirement Plan Consultants is a Registered Investment Adviser. For more inform

W.H. Shaw Insurance Agency to Join The Richards Group!

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that it has acquired the W.H. Shaw Insurance Agency of Manchester, Vermont. The partnership with The Richards Group will benefit clients by ensuring that decisions and service remain local for years to come, while expanding client services and resources. Shaw Insurance's staff will remain at their current office, located at 135 Bonnet Street, Manchester, Vermont.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Andy and Craig and the talented staff employed by W. H. Shaw. The respect and admiration are mutual and the fit undeniable. We’re so pleased that Andy and Craig would put their trust in The Richards Group to carry on the legacy of what their families built, over the past 100 plus years” said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group. “We look forward to collaborating with each of them as we move forward and to serving their customers with the same care and professionalism they’ve come to deserve and expect.”

“A great deal of consideration was given to choosing the right buyer for our business, and we truly believe that The Richards Group is an excellent fit for our clients and employees. We could have looked at selling to some national-based organization,” commented Andy Shaw, President of W.H. Shaw Insurance. “But frankly, we felt more comfortable with The Richards Group. They are family-owned and Vermont-based, and both of those things are big for us.”

The Richards Group has made a strong commitment to communities in Bennington County over the past decade, with the acquisitions of Wills Insurance, Briggs, Fowler Insurance, and now the W.H. Shaw Insurance Agency.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts since 1867. In addition, TRG offers consulting services to help employers with Safety, Wellness, Human Resources and Fiduciary Stewardship. The firm has over 150 employees in 12 locations and has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 7 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.