by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
One of the best-kept secrets in town may be that Ceree Harden is no longer president of Harden & Associates. While Harden is still very active in the day-to-day activities of the insurance and risk management provider, he recently named long-time executive vice president Paul Lunetta the company’s new president and chief operating officer.
Harden, who joined the family-owned and operated business in the 1970s, is now the chairman and CEO and focuses his efforts on business development. The rest, is Lunetta’s, who joined the firm 16 years ago as its chief financial officer.
“That evolved quickly into overseeing our operations,” said Harden. “He assumed more and more of the responsibilities. The biggest project has been the new building, which has taken on a life of its own.”
In October the firm will move about a half mile up Riverside Avenue to the new EverBank building, where Harden & Associates will occupy two of the 13 floors. In addition to Harden’s company, the building also houses Rock Creek Capital, Axcess Sports & Entertainment, three law firms — Volpe Bajalia Wickes Rogerson Galloway & Wachs; Fisher Tousey Leas & Ball and Peek Cobb & Edwards – Oracle, five levels of parking and ground floor retail.
Lunetta said Harden & Associates will retain ownership of the building it’s currently in and lease the space when they relocate.
Until then, and after, Lunetta will oversee all company operations outside of business development. The company has 115 employees in its three offices – one in Tampa with 8-9 associates and one in Fernandina Beach, a sister company called John T. Ferreira Ins. Company that also has 8-9 associates.
Lunetta said he and Harden had discussed the change a few times over the years, but only recently made it official.
“We have been working together very closely for the past 15 years,” said Lunetta, a graduate of the University of Florida who attended school on a tennis scholarship. “The title change came as a surprise. We had talked some, but it was not in the plans over the years.”
Harden & Associates was founded in 1953 by Harden’s father, M.C. Harden Jr. as personal insurance company. Today, it’s the largest risk management, insurance and employee benefits firm in Jacksonville and one of the largest in the Southeast.
Over his 16-year career with Harden & Associates, Lunetta has plenty of growth. In addition to evolving as a company, Lunetta has helped the company grow from 30 employees to 115 and one that’s capable of carrying upwards of 130.
“When dad passed away in 1980, we were between 9th and 10th (streets) on Main Street in Springfield and had three employees,” said Harden. “We did mostly auto and homeowners insurance. Today, that’s about 4 percent of our business.
“Today, we do predominantly commercial property and casualty insurance, which is about 60 percent of our business. The other 40 percent is employee benefits.”
Both Harden and Lunetta agree that the company’s success is based on having knowledgeable, well-trained employees that are capable of passing that knowledge on the company’s clients.
“One of my initiatives is to broaden that platform,” said Lunetta, who is also tasked with the company’s employee recruitment, hiring and training — an aspect of entrepreneurship Harden gladly passes off.
“Paul and I are a good team,” said Harden, who is a former chair of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and who is still active with Baptist Health Systems, The River Club and other civic organizations. “All the patience God didn’t give to me, he gave to Paul. It’s a rigorous process.”
The company recruits at college campuses all over Florida and Georgia and the application and interviewing process can take two months or more. The starting point is usually on-campus career fairs with 3-5 steps between actually getting hired. Harden said the company may start with 100 resumes before ultimately bringing in two new associates.
Both Harden and Lunetta also agree the company will grow over the next several years, but they want smart growth. There will be a concerted effort to increase business in Tampa and Fernandina Beach as well as the Jacksonville area.
“Client demand will drive growth,” said Harden. “We don’t want growth for the sake of growth.”