Iscential Teams with Nationwide Insurance and SafeWay Driving Centers to Display NASCAR Show Car at Local Schools

As part of its sponsorship of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Nationwide Insurance brought the high-speed action to its local agents. Iscential, in conjunction with SafeWay Driving Centers, hosted the NASCAR Nationwide Series show car at two local schools on April 4 and 5. More than 800 kids, faculty members and guests were provided the opportunity to see the excitement of NASCAR first hand.

"When we get the Nationwide Show Car, it's always a big deal and really a lot of fun," says Iscential CEO Warren Barhorst. "The simulator gives the driver a score so the kids can compete against each other. They love it, it's almost like a big video game. These kids definitely had a great time." 

Barhorst adds, "The real take away from these events is the importance of safe driving. This is a critical time for families as their children venture out on the road. Nationwide and SafeWay share a passion for improving the skills of all drivers and of promoting safe and responsible driving, especially to teens.”

The Nationwide Show Car made pit stops at Houston Christian High School and Memorial Middle School. Famed NASCAR driver (and Memorial Middle School graduate), Brad Coleman was on hand both days to greet the kids, sign autographs, and impress upon them the importance of driving undistracted. 

To further its commitment to safe driving, Nationwide has maintained a long and successful alliance with SafeWay Driving Centers, the largest driving school in the Greater Houston Area and Texas. SafeWay's exclusive partnership with Nationwide offers insurance discounts to students and their families after they successfully graduate from one of its centers. The two companies work together to promote and encourage safe driving for all drivers.

“I am Iscential” Reigns as Overall Theme of Iscential’s Corporate Kick-Off and Awards Weekend

CEO Warren Barhorst sporting
the mantra of the weekend

Iscential recently hosted its 17th Annual Kick-off Meeting and Agency Awards. The two-day event was held at the Omni Houston Hotel and Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant in Houston’s Galleria area.

In addition to kicking off the new year, the agency took the opportunity to formally introduce its new name and brand (Iscential). Team members attended an all-hands corporate meeting and were treated to a dynamic presentation about the history of the company and how it developed into the company it is today. The meeting featured new company mascot “Iscential Man” and wrapped with the entire team dancing and chanting, “I am Iscential”.

“We’re so excited to finally get the brand off the ground and out to our employees and the public,” says CEO Warren Barhorst. “It’s already gotten an incredibly positive response, not only from our employees, but from people just walking by and seeing the new logo. Everyone seems to like it and that’s very motivating for all of us.”

At the event, Barhorst delved deep into the topic of company culture and its importance on the success of any organization. Team-building sessions featured “out-of-the-box” activities including painting in one and, in another, teaming together to produce skits to illustrate the core values of the company: communication, integrity, objectives, respect, dedication, teamwork and attitude.

One of the weekend highlights was the agency’s annual awards dinner and ceremony. Top team members who walked away with awards included:

Top Contract Operative:  Lance Weeks

Top X-Date Operative:  Kelly McCartney

Top Appointment Operative:  Kelly McCartney

Top Quote Operative:  Casandra Massey

Top DWP Operative:  Phuc Dang

Top Life Operative:  Marilyn Ward

Top Commercial Operative: Jacob Jones

Top Telephone Ratio Operative:  Beth Devaney

Top Cross-Sell Operative:  Beth Devaney

Top Service Quality Operative: Shayla Funk

Most Cross Sells:  Team Fidelis

Highest Customer/Agent Satisfaction:  Team Memor

Highest Retention: Team Veritas

Account Team of the Year:  Team Fidelis

Commercial Line Leader:  DSC (Bedford, Texas)

Life and Financial Line Leader:  Barhorst Agency

Policies Per Household:  Bobby Talbott

Highest Retention:  Eugene Pryor

Growth Agency of the Year:  Gloriod Agency

Sales Agency of the Year:  Agency Yu

Agency of the Year:  Barhorst Agency (Houston, Texas)

Iscential's newest office in Bedford, Texas walked away
with an award for being the Commercial Line Leader

“We hope the weekend was full of fun and excitement and energized our team for a successful new year,” says Barhorst. “We absolutely could not be successful without our employees and partners. As they return to work and everyday life, I want them to remember that they are a part of something great, and that they are appreciated. We’ve come a long way and have an exciting future ahead, and they are a huge part of that.”


Iscential’s partners and event sponsors included: Nationwide Insurance, Nationwide Financial, Nationwide Flood Program, National Flood Services, Insurance Intermediaries, Inc. (III), Service King Collision Repair Centers, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, PURE Insurance, and ServPro Industries, Inc.

Texas Insurance Agency, Iscential, Will Kick Off New Year and Celebrate Agency Stars at 17th Annual Meeting and Awards in Houston

The agency is starting off 2012 with a new brand, a new mission, and awarding team members who raised the bar in 2011

Houston-based insurance agency, Iscential (formerly known as Barhorst Insurance Group) is planning its 17th Annual Kick-off Meeting and Agency Awards for February 10-11, 2012. The two-day event will be held at the Omni Houston Hotel and Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant in Houston’s Galleria area.

“This is my chance to formally thank our team for all they do,” says CEO Warren Barhorst. “We owe our success to these people:  our employees, their families, and our outside partners. We absolutely could not do it without them.”

Since 1994, Barhorst has hosted the annual program for his entire agency. Alternating between family and adults-only events, one thing remains the same:  he insists on hosting a venue that is exciting and outside the norm so it’s a memorable experience for all. This year, team members and their spouses will be treated to a full two days of relaxation, fun, and a little business at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston’s famed Galleria area.

One of the weekend highlights will be the agency’s annual awards dinner and ceremony. Barhorst will honor his top team members in several categories, including:  Highest Customer/Agent Satisfaction, Top Service Quality, Most Cross Sales, Commercial Lines Leader, Life and Financial Leader, and Agency of the Year. The awards are highly coveted by the team members who work all year toward this goal.

In addition to kicking off the new year, the agency will be formally transitioning over to its new name and brand:  Iscential.

“We’re so excited about the Iscential brand and the meaning behind it,” states Barhorst. “We always strive to provide an extraordinary service experience for our customers. Our new branding position reiterates to our existing and future customers, as well as our business partners, that we are committed to serving them with excellence. That’s how it’s always been, but now we’re just putting a name to it.”

Iscential’s partners and event sponsors include:  Nationwide Insurance, Nationwide Financial, Nationwide Flood Program, National Flood Services, Insurance Intermediaries, Inc. (III), Service King Collision Repair Centers, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, PURE Insurance, and ServPro Industries, Inc.

For more information, call 713.856.5533 or visit iscential.com.

Texas Insurance Agency, Barhorst Insurance Group, Rebrands as Iscential

Here we go everyone! New year, new name... changes that will only better our service to our customers.
We hope you will join us as we celebrate our first year as "Iscential!"





Barhorst Insurance Group starts out 2012 with a new name, logo, and a renewed commitment to extraordinary customer service. The successful insurance agency will rebrand as "Iscential" and emphasize the critical importance of putting the customer first.

Houston-based insurance agency, Barhorst Insurance Group (BIG) is starting out the new year with a new name: Iscential.

The rebranding initiative includes a new name, logo and tagline that represent the company’s ongoing commitment to customer service. The tagline, “Trusted advice. Peace of mind” reflects the essence of the rebranding initiative and the company’s vision of providing an extraordinary customer service experience.

“We have a well-respected name and are a recognized leader in the industry,” states CEO, Warren Barhorst. “With the new branding, we’ll be able to better communicate the individual focus we give each and every one of our clients.”

BIG was founded in 1993 as a Nationwide Insurance agency and today is a captive hybrid agency representing more than 50 insurance carriers. In 18 years, the firm has grown to more than 100 employees and over 30 locations in Texas. The largest Nationwide Insurance agency in the U.S., BIG has been ranked among the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies by Inc. magazine from 2008-2011. Texas Monthly magazine has listed the firm as one of the best places to work in Texas since 2006. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program recognized BIG as the National Flood Agency of the Year in 2005 and 2007, with a Special Recognition Award for Flood Education and Marketing in 2008. The company has been listed three times since 2005 among the “Aggie 100,” the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. For his team's unique approach to insurance and financial services, Owner Warren Barhorst was honored as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.

The new rebranding comes during an exciting time for the company. Earlier in the year, the company opened the first of its new “Distribution Sales Centers” (DSC) in Bedford, Texas. A major milestone in the overall growth strategy of the company, the center currently employs 20 team members that serve the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

“It’s the perfect time to rebrand the company,” said Barhorst. “It publicly demonstrates our commitment to our customers. We’re ‘taking the name off the door’, if you will, and centering it around the reason we’re in business: our customer.”


Welcome to Iscential!