After two years in the insurance business and more than 20 years in Madison, Farmer’s Insurance agent Keith Graham is still going strong.

A Florence native and well-known staple in the community, Graham is an insurance agent for Farmer’s Insurance. He provides full-service insurance for home, automobile, business, life and any off road vehicles including boats and ATVs.

“The most rewarding aspect of this job is being able to deliver a check to those in need within a short period of time,” Graham said. “I got into this business because I liked with the public and solving problems.”

He is a self-described people’s person.

“Everyone is required to have insurance, it makes it better if you’re buying from someone who everyone knows and trusts.

Most recently, he helped residents get on track after the March 2 storms that struck the area.

“Nothing means more to me than helping people get back on their feet,” he said. “Most people don’t know what they really need to know about insurance. I enjoy sitting down face-to-face explaining what they’re paying for. Certain things are not always covered unless you address them.”

Graham lives by the mantra that everyone needs insurance. That is why, he said, his business hasn’t suffered during the economic downturn.

“Business actually increased almost 40 percent,” he said. “Due to the tornadoes last April, many insurance companies didn’t renew thousands of customers’ policies or raised the rates. We didn’t do that.”

The most challenging aspect of his job he said is getting over the stigma of being a former car salesman. He previously was the face of Driving 2000, a car dealership located on Hughes Road. He was in the car business for 20 years.

“I sold over 1,000 cars in this area and have developed a good relationship with its citizens,” he said. “Now that I’m a business owner, I have other responsibilities.”

He briefly moved to Memphis, Tenn. before coming back to Madison to settle down.

His wife Renee teachers second grade at Columbia Elementary School. His daughter Leah Igo teaches second grade at Mill Creek Elementary, while his other daughter Abby works on Redstone Arsenal.