Stastka celebrating 20 years with Chamber Business After Hours Open House

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Stastka Insurance Agency Inc. will celebrate 20 years of service on Tuesday, June 9, hosting a Business After Hours with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

The event will be held from 5 to 6:15 p.m. and will include food, networking and door prizes. The event will be held outdoors under a tent with limited indoor access to ensure proper social distancing.

Dennis Stastka and his wife Joan opened Stastka Insurance Agency Inc. on Alabama 59 in Robertsdale across from Robertsdale High School in June 1, 2000. They moved to their current location at 22687 Alabama 59 in Robertsdale in 2004.

“My sweet wife encouraged me to step out in faith and start our own agency after having worked for others,” he said. “We have been life partners in marriage for over 47 years and now we’ve been business partners for 20 years this June.”

Stastka also credits his parents, Jerry and Dorothy Stastka for instilling in him family and Christian values.

“Because of the Godly influence of my parents in my life, Joan and I chose as our business motto, ‘God is Faithful.’ And he has been so faithful in our life’s journey.”

Stastka started his insurance career 48 years ago, Aug. 1, 1971, going to work for Jimmy Gilbert, one of the founding members of the Central Baldwin Chamber.

“There at Robertsdale Insurance Agency, I learned to insure and service the transportation industry,” Stastka said. At one time, he had over 500 tractor-trailers insured in Alabama.

Because of Gilbert’s influence, Stastka says, he joined the Chamber when they opened their business in 2000.

“Almost 49 years ago, Mr. Gilbert said, ‘The price we pay to live in our community is to serve our community through civic organizations and the Chamber,’” Stastka said. “I’ve had the privilege of having served on the board in years past and was honored to serve as chairman of the Board during my tenure on the board.”

Stastka has also served as chairman for the Chamber’s Annual Prayer Breakfast for the last 14 years, taking over as chairman the next year after Hoss Mack started the Prayer Breakfast 15 years ago.

“It has been my privilege to serve,” Stastka said. “The highlight of my year is the Chamber Prayer Breakfast.”

Having provided insurance from the trucking industry since his career began in 1971, Stastka developed an interest in wreckers. So, 20 years ago, he began providing insurance services for the towing industry, now insuring over 400 tow trucks in three states Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. He is also licensed in Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia.

“Approximately 98 percent of our commercial insurance services are for tow truck operators,” he said. “We found this niche and have been specializing in this arena ever since.”

Stastka Insurance Agency Inc. now insures tow truck drivers in three states, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

Stastka credits his family for providing “motivation to get up and go to work every day.”

He and his wife Joan celebrated their 47th anniversary Feb. 10. They have three daughters, Lisa Hardy, Jaime Neuschwander and Denise Mann, and 11 grandchildren.

“We have a sign in our home above their picture that reads, ‘Our greatest Blessings call us Meme and Papa,’” he said. “We are truly blessed.”

For more information contact Joan or Dennis at Stastka Insurance, 251-947-6230.

For more information on this event or how to join the Chamber, call 251-947-2626.