March 24, 2020: Shirley Crandall
President, Crandall & Associates, Inc.
Shirley Crandall was first introduced to the insurance industry in high school when she worked part-time for The Travelers Insurance Company. She continued her employment with Travelers throughout college, commuting from San Antonio to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos.
Following graduation from Southwest Texas State with a BBA in Marketing, Shirley accepted a position in commercial sales for a telecommunications company. After only 18 months, she resigned to return to her passion in insurance where she still resides today.
Upon her return to the industry, Shirley accepted a position selling partially self-funded medical and dental insurance plans to employers with over 100 employees at Transport Life Insurance Company. Due to economic conditions during the mid-1980’s, Shirley’s clientele began downsizing and/or experiencing firm consolidation. So after four years in this position, Shirley decided to open her own insurance agency, in January 1987, to provide an opportunity to acquire a larger share of the market. The agency was originally named SHIRLEY CRANDALL and strictly specialized in employee benefits with Shirley being the sole employee.
Year over year, the agency experienced continued growth due to Shirley’s insurance knowledge, marketing, and service skills. For several years Shirley received numerous client requests to expand the agency’s portfolio to include Commercial and Personal Lines. So, in 1995, Crandall & Associates, Inc. became a full service, multi-line insurance agency to provide comprehensive insurance solutions for their clients, and the company currently employs 11 insurance experts.
Shirley holds a General Lines Agent license (Life, Accident, Health and HMO, and Property and Casualty) received her designation of Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) in 1992, and has served as President of the San Antonio Association of Health Underwriter’s. Shirley is also the past president of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) 2018-2019 in San Antonio and has served as Chair of NAWBO’s previously called Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA)—now known as Women Business Owner Awards Celebration (WBOA)—an event to celebrate successful women business owners.
Shirley currently serves on the boards of Deborah’s House, a non-profit organization, National Association of Women Business Owners (where she is also Chair of Corporate Partners), and Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio. She enjoys serving and taking an active role in these and other non-profit organizations as they allow her to give back to the community.
Shirley is a consummate traveler with a passion for living life to its fullest. Born and raised in San Antonio, she is blessed to have three wonderful children, all in San Antonio, of whom two are actively involved in the business.