On Oct. 23, 2024, VCM Insurance Group held its grand opening, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement as happy attendees gathered to celebrate. The event featured a barbecue, complete with giveaways and a raffle. “We made so many taquitos — it was unbelievable,” said Aaron Villarreal, Principal Executive of VCM Insurance. “We had massive ice chests full of drinks, and everyone was hanging out and connecting, it was such a blessing having a great turnout.”
This celebration marked the unveiling of VCM’s newly remodeled headquarters, which resulted from the merger of several family operations. The event allowed clients, friends, and family to experience the sleek, modern office space that has been part of Aaron’s family legacy for generations. With this fresh start, Aaron and his family are ready to elevate the business to new heights.
The insurance business runs in their blood for Aaron and his cousin Roland Villarreal, Founder and Principal of VCM Insurance Group. Their grandfather was born and raised in the Edcouch area but moved to Houston in the 1960s, where he eventually became an agent for Farmers Insurance.
Before long, his reputation for speedy and dedicated customer service caught the attention of district leaders, and he was considered one of the top agents in Houston. Farmers headquarters in Austin made him an offer to move back to the Rio Grande Valley and become the District Manager of Farmers Group of District 42 in 1973, covering the areas of the Rio Grande Valley from Brownsville to Laredo. Over the next few decades, he cultivated a diverse team of agents under the Farmers District. He focused on exceptional customer service, establishing agencies clients knew they could rely on. Soon, his sons Ray Jr. and Eddie and his daughter Norma joined the family business, followed by his grandsons.
Roland and Aaron have backgrounds in the construction and contracting industry, where they flipped properties and did commercial construction throughout the Rio Grande Valley. When Roland’s father, Eddie Villarreal, the Principal Owner of VCM Insurance Group, invited them to become partners in a new Insurance venture, as he was retiring from being a Farmers insurance agent for over 40 years, to start anew by becoming an Independent Insurance Agent/broker. Even though this drastic change would have his agency starting again with no customers, he knew it would be different with his valuable assets — his son and nephew joining him this time.
Eddie sent Aaron and Roland to Houston for a two-week course to become Certified Commercial Lines Specialists. This training aimed to help them transition their business from a Farmers agency that focused primarily on personal lines to a newly independent insurance agency that focused on commercial business and property insurance. As a result, each year, they have successfully secured more commercial contracts and collaborated with local businesses, contractors, warehouses, apartment complexes, and other organizations that need to safeguard their valuable assets.
Their program has succeeded, and VCM has become synonymous with reliability and service. “We answer the phone,” Roland said. “Things are not always perfect, but we are transparent with our clients.”
VCM Insurance also has a location in Houston, where Principal Partner Jonathan Palacios resides. His background is in apartment and property management. This second location has helped VCM spread its market across Texas even further.
It’s not just the cousins who ensure the family business maintains its reputation. Some VCM employees have been working with Eddie since the very beginning. Viola Allen, the head of the commercial division, has been with the family since 1977. The cousins view her not only as a partner but also as a mentor. The team and staff my uncle built throughout the years is the backbone of the agency,” Aaron said. “They are the sole reason for the longevity of this business.”
VCM Insurance Group offers business and property insurance focusing on customer service. The company, managed by the Villarreal family, emphasizes its connections to the community and aims to provide clients with the necessary coverage while maintaining a professional approach.
