About Us
HISTORY
Samuel Dewey Jowers, Jr. started his insurance career in November 1959 with The Hartford Insurance Company. After 10 years with The Hartford and another eight with an independent agency in Rome, Ga, he opened up his own agency in 1977. He started out with no clients and three children at home.
THE BEGINNING
Starting with only one full-time secretary and his wife handling the books, Mr. Jowers built his agency from the ground up on relationships and long work days. His hard work quickly paid off, and in a few short years his business was flourishing.
In 1999, Mr. Jowers purchased Barba, Hall and Hogg (formerly McGee, Hall and Hogg) to help to continue to grow the agency and bring in important staff. Interestingly enough, this company founded in the 1800s was the same company that had bought his own father’s agency earlier in the century, and Mr. Jowers had a sense of completeness about bringing his father’s work back to the family.
Marc Sklar joined the agency in 1998 and purchased the agency in 2003. Marc brings a commercial banking background to the company and has grown the company in 17 years from two full-time employees to a staff of 14. Jowers-Sklar Insurance still practices out of its original location at 706 East Second Avenue in Rome. In 2022, Jowers-Sklar was acquired by Alera Group.
Meet Our Team
A track record of smart advice since 1977.
People say that you should never forget where you came from, and at Jowers-Sklar Insurance we live by that philosophy every day. We strive to offer the same caring, friendly service today, as we did on the very first day.
Marc Sklar
Senior Partner
Marc has been with Jowers-Sklar since 1998 and purchased the agency from the late Dewey Jowers in December of 2003. Marc serves businesses of all sizes across the Southeast and Midwest United States with a focus on franchises, especially franchised child care and restaurants. On the weekends you can find Marc hanging out with his two beautiful daughters, playing golf or cheering on his beloved Clemson Tigers.
Emmett Long
Partner and Risk Advisor
Marc has been with Jowers-Sklar since 1998 and purchased the agency from the late Dewey Jowers in December of 2003. Marc serves businesses of all sizes across the Southeast and Midwest United States with a focus on franchises, especially franchised child care and restaurants. On the weekends you can find Marc hanging out with his two beautiful daughters, playing golf or cheering on his beloved Clemson Tigers.
Resources
Auto Service & Auto Body Shop Insurance // Request a Quote
As an auto body shop, the services you provide are critical for your customers. Their business relies on yours. Protecting your shop with specialized auto shop insurance can mean the difference between surviving and thriving or shutting down in the face of the unexpected.
Apartment Owner Insurance // Request a Quote
We'll help you protect your investment as the source of income it is. Standard homeowners or business insurance won’t do. You need specialized apartment owner insurance to cover all your bases.
Business Owners Policy Insurance // Request a Quote
A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) combines business property and business liability insurance into one convenient policy. We’ll work with you to design coverage that protects your business from a variety of risks, unique to you.
Concrete Contractor Insurance // Request a Quote
From start to finish, concrete contractors often have heavy involvement in construction projects. With all they do, concrete contractors also carry heavy risks. But because of these unique risks, specialized concrete contractor insurance that’s tailored to your business can offer protection against the unexpected.
Cyber Liability Insurance // Request a Quote
Cyber liability insurance protects your business against the expenses associated with a data breach. We’ll help you evaluate the data liability risks your business faces and find you a policy that meets your specific needs.
Electrical Contractor Insurance // Request a Quote
Electricity. It’s an essential part of nearly every aspect of modern life. Electricians and electrical contractors keep the lights on, the machines running, and so much more. Specialized electrical contractor insurance protects electricians based on unique, industry-related risks.
HVAC Mechanical Contractor Insurance // Request a Quote
Whether you’re turning up the heat or keeping the cool air flowing, your customers rely on you to make their home or work environment a comfortable place to be.
Landscaping Services Insurance // Request a Quote
A broad landscaping services insurance program needs to take everything into consideration. That includes your equipment, your employees, and your specialized risk.
Pest Control Insurance // Request a Quote
Running a pest control business can come with a lot of risks. You’re in people’s homes and businesses, providing a service that could potentially impact the health and safety of the people you’re helping. That’s why it’s important that you have the proper pest control insurance policy in place to protect you and your business.
Rental Property Insurance // Request a Quote
Don’t be fooled, just because your tenant has rental insurance doesn’t mean that you—the owner—are protected. Rental property insurance is specially designed to cover the risks faced when you rent your property to others.
Retail Business Insurance // Request a Quote
As a small business owner, you have a lot to think about. Customized retailer insurance coverage can help to take some of those worries off of your plate.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Property and Casualty
Unlocking Our 2026 P&C Market Outlook: High Level & Field Level Insights for Clients
Join EVP and Property and Casualty Practice Leader Justin Foa for an informative conversation on key findings and takeaways from Alera Group's annual flagship 2026 Property and Casualty Market Outlook Report.
January 20, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Foundations – Understanding the Multigenerational Workforce
In our three-part webinar series, Designing Benefits That Work – A Data-Driven, Multigenerational Focus, we’ll explore multigenerational workforce insights, debunk generational myths, share early- and late-career planning strategies, review legal and compliance trends and provide actionable tools and resources.
January 21, 2026 at 10:00 am CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Designing Benefits for Early - and Mid-Career Employees
In our three-part webinar series, Designing Benefits That Work – A Data-Driven, Multigenerational Focus, we’ll explore multigenerational workforce insights, debunk generational myths, share early- and late-career benefit strategies, review legal and compliance trends, and provide actionable tools and resources.
February 4, 2026 at 10:00 am CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Are you prepared for 2026? Property and Casualty Trends Uncovered
The sixth annual Property and Casualty Market Outlook from Alera Group sets the stage for how organizations can recalibrate their risk strategies in 2026. Built on thousands of data points — including a nationwide survey of insurance company partners and wholesale intermediaries — this report delivers actionable insights for insurance buyers, risk managers and business leaders.
December 17, 2025
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Property and Casualty
Top 5 Insurance Surprises Businesses Face in Q4 — and How to Prevent Them
As year-end approaches, many organizations focus on closing out financials and planning for the year ahead. It’s also the time when insurance programs often reveal unexpected challenges, some avoidable, others the result of shifting market conditions or overlooked details.
October 30, 2025
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Alera Group’s 2025 Property and Casualty Market Update
Alera Group’s 2025 Property and Casualty Market Update, designed as a bridge between Alera Group’s annual Market Outlooks — provides insight into pricing, coverage availability, market capacity and underwriting trends for the balance of 2025.
August 1, 2025
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Severe Weather Is Getting Worse. Is Your Business Interruption Insurance Keeping Up?
The increasing frequency and severity of weather- and climate-related events such as catastrophic storms, floods and wildfires make business continuity planning more important than ever. Part of your plan should include reviewing your organization's Business Interruption Insurance coverage.
May 5, 2025
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