Mehler

about our agency

Our history

Located in Sharpsville since 1925, the Mehler Insurance Agency represents three generations of commitment to high professional standards and personal service to the families and businesses of the Penn-Ohio area.

While today’s technology allows for expanded services and prompter service, we still value face-to-face interaction with our customers to assess their particular needs.  As independent insurance agents we have access to several markets to find the best coverage and value for our policyholders.

When the insurance industry and life in general were much simpler, Ralph C. Mehler decided to become a licensed agent, in addition to working with his father in their barber shop.  Soon he had no time for cutting hair and was selling insurance full time.  In 1927, he became friends with the founder of a new company, Erie Insurance Exchange, and agreed to represent them.  Today we place the majority of our over 7,500 policies in what is now a respected four billion-dollar company.  
 
 In 1961, after graduating from Youngstown State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ralph W. Mehler joined his father in the agency.  Living in a household where policyholders phoned and dropped by after hours on a daily basis made Ralph W. feel that personal service was nothing extraordinary.

Ralph is also dedicated to professionalism.  After a five-year course of study and rigorous exams, he attained the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriting (CPCU) designation.

He says, “It has been particularly satisfying to see policyholders, many of whom still remember my Dad, sending their children and grandchildren in for insurance.  I have also been fortunate to insure small, new businesses years ago which have become million dollar successes.  Seeing and helping people do well is what it’s all about.”  

In 1985, Ralph C., the third generation, joined the agency.  A graduate of Sharpsville High, like his father, Ralph C. then graduated from Yale University, summa cum laude.  He also holds the CPCU designation, and was honored for attaining one of the top five scores on the national exam.

“While I had no definite plans to joining the agency, I came to help after the tornado of 1985 and decided to stay on.  I’ve enjoyed the challenge of analyzing complex risk exposures of a growing business, says Ralph C.  “Equally satisfying is working with individuals to help them spend their insurance dollars wisely.”

The policyholder’s interest is the primary concern of the salaried staff.  All of our staff members are life-long residents of the area and feel a particular concern for the well being of local families and businesses.  All are licensed and with decades of experience they are well equipped to respond to customers’ needs.

Meet our staff

 

ralph C. mehler, CPCU

 

Starting full-time, following the 1985 tornado, Ralph is the third generation to serve as President of the agency.  A graduate of Sharpsville High School and Yale University, Ralph earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1993.  Working with all lines the agency sells—property/casualty as well as life and heath—Ralph has the expertise to find cost-effective ways for families, new business start-ups, and large established firms to manage the risks they face.

Ralph lives in Sharpsville with his wife and children.
 

thomas J. Abate

 

Tom has been an agent at Mehler's since 2003.  A graduate of Kennedy Catholic High School and Youngstown State University, Tom practiced as a Certified Public Accountant for 17 years before entering the insurance business.

 

Tom's financial background is particularly helpful in assessing the insurance and bonding needs of businesses as well as options for your life insurance.  Look to Tom for straightforward advice on all your insurance concerns, both personal and commercial, property/casualty as well as life and health.

 

Tom lives in Hermitage with his wife and children.

 

 

JASON DEJULIA

 

New to our staff in 2011, Jason is a familiar face to many in the Valley, having retired from the Hermitage police force after 13 years service, most recently as the Resource Officer at Hermitage Schools.  A graduate of Hickory High School and Gannon University, Jason is licensed in property and casualty lines.  He currently works primarily with personal lines and small commercial clients.

 

Jason lives in Hermitage with his wife and children.

 

TRACY ELLISON

vicki goda

 

Vicki joined the Mehler Agency in 1999 with previous insurance experience as well as a background in banking.  She is licensed for life as well as property casualty lines and is eager to work with both new and existing clients on their complete insurance program.  A Sharon High graduate, Vicki resides in Brookfield.

 

paula harenchar

 

With 16 years experience at our agency, Paula is ready to assist you with prompt, conscientious service.  Like all our staff, she is licensed in Property and Casualty lines in both Pennsylvania and Ohio.  A graduate of Sharpsville High School, Paula resides in her hometown with her husband. 

 

ralph w. mehler, CPCU

 

Although graduating from college with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ralph has spent over 50 years working at the Agency his father founded.  Attaining the highly respected Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, Ralph's professionalism is matched with providing old-fashioned personal service to generations of families and large and small commercial accounts.  Ralph lives in Sharpsville with his wife Carol.

  

carol mehler

 

A native of Erie, Carol worked at the home office of Erie Insurance as private secretary to its founder H.O. Hirt in the early 1960s.  Since her marriage to Ralph W. Mehler, she has worked full or part-time over the decades with time in between to attend college, earning a Ph.D.  Carol values her relationship with the Agency's long-time policyholders and is always gratified to greet new customers.

 

Carol lives in Sharpsville with her husband.  

 

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