One of Us: Jonathan Gibbs

Posted

Jonathan Gibbs is the agent/owner of the State Farm Insurance office in Nocatee that opened in December 2016. He is also a Ponte Vedra native who attended Nease High School.

 

Can you please tell us about your background?

I grew up in Ponte Vedra Beach and attended all the local schools, including PVPV-Rawlings Elementary and Landrum Middle, and finished high school as a Nease Panther. I always played sports with my older brother Robert, starting out with little league baseball and pop warner football as a Ponte Vedra Panther. Then I played football for Nease High School. Growing up, I can remember watching my dad leave the house day in and day out headed to work with one objective: helping people as only a good neighbor would. I vividly remember thinking, “My dad had a great job.” I knew then, that I too, would be a State Farm agent. Taking steps to follow my dad’s lead, I attended Bethune-Cookman University after high school. There, I majored in business administration and learned the epitome of hard work. I returned home after college to begin my journey towards agency. I worked with my dad at Bob Gibbs State Farm for seven years. While there, both my mom Shirley and dad were my biggest supporters, and they’ve helped me tremendously and endlessly. Without them, my dream of agency would have never come to fruition.

 

How has everything been going over the past 8-9 months at the office?

Things in my office have been awesome! The community has really embraced us and is supporting what we’re doing on Town Plaza Avenue. Like any new business, it’s a grind. Community involvement is key to our success. Luckily for us, the farmers market has been a great avenue to promote what we’re doing and let the community know we are the “good neighbor” in Ponte Vedra (not to mention, the exposure you all have provided us in the Recorder, in addition to the Chamber and The Kindness Revolution and other local exposure). As far as growth, we’re on target to hit all of our first-year goals, and I couldn’t be more excited about that.

 

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day in my office begins with the office doors opening at 8:30 a.m. for a full team meeting. I hold the meeting each morning to prepare my team for opening at 9 a.m., before customers arrive. I lead the meeting based on our weekly objectives, we go over the numbers and I give a pep talk to get the day started. My goal each day is to try to keep a fun, uplifted atmosphere for both my team and customers walking in the door, setting a positive precedent for the entire day.

 

What are your goals for the office moving forward?

Our mission, now as well as moving forward, is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. Our goal here in the Nocatee community is to be the first and best option for insurance and financial services in the products that we provide. My team and I are here to provide a comfortable setting for our clients to discuss their insurance needs. It is our priority to make sure you are totally covered in the event of a total loss.

 

What do you enjoy most about living in Ponte Vedra?

I enjoy the sense of community here in Ponte Vedra, the great schools and restaurants. I also love the small-town feel, but that it’s close to everything. I grew up here. I know a lot of the families, they know my parents, we went to school together, we played sports together and it’s my home. I have lifelong friends and associates here. I love the beach aspect of this city and the leisure of it all. It’s a great place to live.

 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, going to the gym and relaxing from the daily routine of the work week. I make a point to spend time with my girlfriend Christin and the rest of my family and indulging in all that Ponte Vedra and the surrounding area has to offer.

 

What’s one thing about you most people wouldn’t know or expect?

Something people wouldn’t expect or realize about me is that I’m pretty down-to-earth. I’m incredibly focused in the office with so many tasks to accomplish and goals to reach, so sometimes I can seem very serious. But I do have a lighter side. Those who know me best may even say I’m a kid at heart. I’m always looking for a way to laugh and ease the mood when dealing with tense situations, to make everyone feel at ease. I really enjoy what I do, and I really enjoy laughing. It’s cliché to say, but laughter really is the greatest way to endure the stress of everyday life. “A smile is the curve that sets everything straight.”