Since the Messer-Bowers agency started out selling insurance in 1924, it has diversified into risk management and financial services, opened two satellite offices and expanded to around 60 employees statewide. But Jay and his brother Don, the fifth generation of the Bowers family to run the company, still prefer Enid to the Oklahoma City metro or the college town of Stillwater as the best place to maintain company headquarters.

“Enid is a great place to hire people, because it has a very stable workforce,” Jay explains. “We are proud to offer our clients the help of a staff who are all exceptional professionals. Customer service is very important to our success.”

As the sixth generation of his family to live, work and raise a family in the area, Jay is also gratified that the company has been able to help so many other individuals start and grow their own businesses. “We try to do business locally every chance we get,” he says. “We’re grateful to all the people who put their trust in us when starting out.”

In addition, he applauds the work of the Enid Regional Development Alliance to attract new businesses and stimulate regional economic activity, while cultivating opportunities for local businesses to encourage and support each other.

“Enid is small enough to have a real family-oriented culture, but big enough to allow for continued growth. The diversity of the local industry benefits our company, our employees and their families.”        — Jay Bowers