Updates on glass repair business, board chair, publishing company

I felt it was worthwhile to bring more jobs to Amador County, and it’s easier than commuting to Sacramento,” Borchin said of his decision.By relocating the call center, he is adding two employees, bringing his roster to 14 people.

ABC offers mobile and in-shop auto glass repair and replacement and handles repairs for hot rods, vintage and classic cars, RVs, heavy equipment and big rigs. He provides free estimates on these as well as his latest addition of home and business glass repair.

The call center is the lifeline around which his business revolves: Employees answer incoming calls, book repair work, order glass and dispatch technicians. “The auto glass industry is very mobile, and we offer the convenience of giving customers a ride back to work in their area.” Borchin said. “We still have our local mobile technicians serving Sacramento, San Joaquin and outlying areas from the Jackson location.” The business is next to Burger King at 11940 Highway 88.

Borchin started his business in Carmichael, focusing on rock-chip repairs. He later moved to his grandparents’ ranch in Mokelumne Hill where his corporate office is now located. In 1999, when he opened his business in Jackson, Borchin also introduced his Community Benefit Program, where he donates a certain amount to a customer’s chosen charity. “It’s excellent, because about 40 percent of my business is on a repeat and referral basis. Customers like knowing they are contributing to the community through ABC.”

ABC Auto Glass is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more details, call 223-3101.

Insurance association appoints new board chair

The Grange Insurance Group announces the election of Darelld G. Larrigan of Ione as chairman of the board of directors of Grange Insurance Association, Rocky Mountain Fire & Casualty Company and the Mayflower Corporation. The insurance group writes personal lines and farm insurance in six Western states.

Larrigan grew up in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School before entering the Air Force. After leaving the military, he worked for Allstate Insurance from 1964 to 1977, several years of which he spent in Alaska. He was a marketing representative for Grange Insurance in Sacramento for nine years before being promoted to California marketing manager, a position he held for six years before retiring. Larrigan then joined the company’s 13-member board of directors and served in that capacity for eight years prior to his position as board chairman.

“I felt great hearing about this,” he said. “This is one time that I went from the bottom, starting as a marketing rep, then to the board of directors. I worked a lot of years for that and thought I was ready for it.” He will serve a two-year term.

Larrigan’s wife, Dolores, was an agent for Grange Insurance for more than 20 years in Ione: She retired about a year ago. The couple’s daughter-in-law, Kristi Roots, is a Grange agent in Ione, and Kathy Jauch offers Grange insurance at Gianandrea Insurance Agency in Plymouth.

Bank earnings report

Larry Standing, president of the Bank of Amador, reports that net income for the first quarter this year was $472,000, or 30 cents basic earnings per share, as compared to $525,000, or 35 cents basic earnings per share last year. Standing said in the first quarter of 2003, net loans were up 35 percent and income was up over 45 percent. “It was a record quarter,” he said.

Total assets for the first quarter of this year increased 17 percent to $125 million, while net loans increased 12 percent to $76 million from $68 million the previous year.

Bank of Amador has branches in Jackson, Ione and Pioneer.

Chamber mixer

If you haven’t taken a look at the major expansion at the Jackson Rancheria, you might want to join members and guests of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce at their mixer on Wednesday, April 21, at the rancheria’s hotel and convention center. New buildings feature new dining sites, a soon-to-open art gallery, expanded gambling opportunities, acres of carpeting, tile, marble, intriguing wall treatments and much more. The mixer will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and entry donation is $6.