Our history
ERMA’s roots started all the way back in 1991, when the founder of ERMA, Jim Urseth, accepted the assignment of teaching economics at a Central Florida High School. Trying to overcome a lack of current supplies, Jim accepted aid from Junior Achievement, which provided materials and activities to engage the minds of 17 to 18-year-old students. After preaching the attributes of being an entrepreneur for years, Jim started his own company which was centered on helping small businesses purchase wisely.
As his consulting business grew, Jim became licensed in all lines of insurance in order to provide the best way for his clients to be able to afford services he thought vital for their success. Developing relationships with payroll companies and working on the employer/employee role in avoiding economic losses, Jim enlisted a growing and changing assortment of products and services which eventually became the Business/Consumer Alliance. BCA was later changed to ERMA and was an association only available for Jim’s clients. ERMA’s track record of success for our members and our insurance partners has led Jim to break ERMA away from his agency and open it up for other agents and their clients.
Since selling his agency, Jim has expanded ERMA to include a network of independent agents from around the country that meet or exceed ERMA’s standards of excellence, knowledge and customer service. Jim spends a large portion of his time negotiating deals with vendors and insurers that will provide the best value for ERMA members.
Jim also owns Reliable Premium Management, Inc., which provides stellar service in the calculation, collection and remittance of insurance premiums for businesses that wish to pay their various insurance premiums sequenced with their payroll frequency.