A True American Entrepreneur

A. R. “Rick” Custard, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc. passed away peacefully in Atlanta, Georgia on September 19, 2011, with family by his side.

Rick was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1929, and, seemingly, Rick was an entrepreneur and leader from the day he was born. As a young man he was always working and creating opportunities to provide for and to enhance the financial quality of life for those close to him. Upon leaving school and working hard to make a living, he saw an opportunity to get into a field where his financial stability would be dependent on his production, and he entered the field of insurance claim adjusting.

Rick went to work as an adjuster trainee for Burton and Chism, a local adjusting company in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In that job he seized the opportunity to learn all that he could through hands on training, by reading extensively about business and claims adjusting and by studying late nights to complete his CPCU. In a few short years, Rick, the born leader and entrepreneur left his job as an adjuster and opened his first office in Ft. Wayne in 1962. As all who knew Rick would have expected, he did not stop at one office but opened 11 more in the next 9 years and in 1971 Rick opened the company’s first regional office in Des Moines, Iowa.

CIA continued its steady growth and in 1992 he relocated the Corporate Offices from Ft. Wayne to Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, CIA became the largest privately held insurance adjusting firm in the country, a designation that remains to this date. Becoming the leader did not slow entrepreneur Rick down at all. The next two decades became a period of growth through acquisitions, and CIA expanded its presence in the U.S. as well as internationally in Canada and Latin America by buying or partnering with many smaller companies. Rick recognized that great companies only survive when they grow.

Currently, CIA has over 250 locations and more than 600 employees in the U.S. and Latin America. When this entrepreneur and leader opened his first office in Ft. Wayne, this was the picture Rick had in his head. He had the vision, formulated the strategy, and implemented the actions necessary for CIA to become the industry leader it is today. This self made man knew the value of strong management, and he acquired the best talent in the industry to help lead the company.

All who knew Rick recognize the loss of his passing, knowing that the world has lost one of its truly remarkable American entrepreneurs. He was a leader and protector of his employees, and those who worked with him responded to that leadership by helping grow CIA into the company it is today. Rick’s spirit is still working, however, as he has left the company in the very capable hands of the excellent CIA management group. CIA will continue to prosper and grow in the future because of the strength of the organization Rick built over the years.

Family, friends, employees, and acquaintances will all miss Rick Custard. He was the leader, the entrepreneur, the protector, and the giver all of his life, and his legacy is bright.

1963 - A young Rick Custard calls on
Wetzel Insurance Agency.

Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc. current
headquarters in Atlanta, GA .