At WalkerHughes, relationships matter more than any policy we sell. Values Week is how we keep that at the center and challenge ourselves to live WalkerHughes values better every year.

We'll be honest: it's easy for values to become background noise. You write them down, you mean them, and then the pace of daily work takes over.

Values Week exists because we never want that to happen.

Every year since 2022, our entire team has set aside one week to refocus on the beliefs that guide how we show up for our clients, for each other, and for the communities we're part of. It's not a retreat from the day-to-day; it's a reminder of why the day-to-day matters. It's our yearly reminder that great work starts with great values, and that there's always room to bring both to a higher level.

What Is Values Week?

Values Week is an annual, agency-wide event where we dedicate one full week to the five core values that guide everything we do at WalkerHughes Insurance. Each day spotlights one value:

• Support Team Success
• Seek to Understand
• Show You Care
• Pursue a Solution
• Put Others First

Every day includes team activities, peer recognition, and a community or team-focused initiative. Friday always closes with a charitable giving component because "Put Others First" isn't just something we say, it's something we practice.

Why We Do It

When we launched the first Values Week in 2022, we said it simply in our team announcement: "While we hope to live and exemplify our Values on a daily basis, this will be a week we set aside every year to refocus and reinvigorate these core beliefs in a fun way with our team."

That intention hasn't changed. We do this because we want to keep getting better.

Values Week was implemented by Stephanie Marsh, WalkerHughes Director of Engagement, who organizes it every year and, by her own admission, loves it only slightly less than Christmas. That kind of genuine enthusiasm is contagious, and it's a big part of why the week keeps getting better.

Over the years, Values Week has grown into something we're proud of. Our VTO (Volunteer Time Off) program, 8 paid hours per full-time employee to volunteer during the workday, started here in 2022. Our community giving has grown each year: meal kits for local food pantries, children's book drives, birthday bags for kids in foster care, and most recently a digital donation drive benefiting Riley Children's Health in Indianapolis and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Relationships Over Transactions

Insurance can feel like a commodity. But the reason people stay with WalkerHughes, the reason they call us first when something goes wrong, isn't the product. It's the relationship. It's whether they trust that someone on the other end of the phone cares what happens to them.

Values Week is one way we remind ourselves what we're really here for. Five years in, we still think we have plenty of room to grow.

WalkerHughes Insurance is an independent insurance agency proudly serving individuals, families, and businesses in Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio. We want to meet you. Learn more about our team, our culture, and working with us.