For Smith & Eddy’s Joe Knowles, community involvement is part of living life.

Joe and Andrea with their children, Karson and GracyLynn.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SCOTTVILLE — Joe Knowles loves working with people, whether it’s at his workplace, Smith & Eddy Insurance, or being involved in the community. Joe is a graduate of Mason County Central High School and West Shore Community College and has been with Smith & Eddy since 2009, where he is now vice president, a partner and an insurance advisor at Smith & Eddy. He has worked in insurance since 1998. 

“I love working with people to solve their insurance needs,” Joe says. “Everyone is different and has different things that they find important to them. My job is to gather that information and present the customers with the best insurance protection package that fits their needs. I really do like being an adviser. I have spent a great deal of time in my career helping people protect their life insurance needs. I am also an agricultural expert and find that part of the business to be my absolute favorite.”

Joe dedicates much of his non-work time to his family and volunteering in a variety of community projects including serving on boards for Scottville Downtown Development Authority, Scottville Optimist Club and Home Builders Association of West Michigan.

“I think it is our responsibility to be involved,” he says.

He is equally involved in local athletics, serving as an officiate for school sports including football, basketball and baseball.

“I have been lucky enough to work a Michigan High School Athletic Association state final in baseball in 2015.

“I enjoy the social interaction I get out of being around the kids, coaches and parents. I also enjoy the camaraderie of working with other officials. Through it all some of the officials I work with regularly have become some of my best friends in other parts of my life.”

Most importantly, Joe says he is dedicated to his family. He and his wife, Andrea, have been married since 2004. They have a son and a daughter and live in Ludington.

“ To live a full life, one must give himself to the community he or she lives in,” Joe says. “It truly is fulfilling and allows me to connect and be a part of something bigger than myself. It is important to create and preserve that structure in our society.”

For more information on Smith & Eddy: www.smith-eddy.com; Scottville (231-757-4743); Ludington (231-845-1481); Manistee (231-723-3500).