Austin Gaines

Agency Principal, Starke Agency

Austin develops and implements risk management programs for businesses and high-net-worth individuals. Austin is always willing to go the extra mile and has served with Emerge Montgomery, the Montgomery Mayoral Young Professional Council, Clefworks and more.

When did you start your current job?

I was hired at Starke in June 2022 after spending the previous approximately nine years at Jackson Thornton.

What is your main role at your company?

I am responsible for the development and implementation of risk management programs for businesses and high-net-worth individuals. I, along with our team, work to develop an in-depth understanding of and a solution for our client\’s risk exposures and insurance requirements.

What is your number one career accomplishment or highlight?

This past year I was presented with the opportunity to join the team at Starke as an owner—becoming a business owner, with both the benefits and challenges it presents, has been my favorite accomplishment to date. Waking up every day with so much opportunity, but also a plethora of risk has been a lot of fun—and I could not have picked a better team of people with which to take on the challenge.

How are you involved in your community?

Montgomery is my home, I love this city and the people here. I have worked in several organizations since moving back home. I started right when I moved back with Emerge Montgomery, which was a young professional group and served as treasurer and president. I then served in the same roles for Jackson Thornton Young Professionals. I served on the Montgomery Mayoral Young Professional Council from 2017 to 2020, I concurrently served on the Junior Board of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. I currently serve with the YMCA as a part of their Boys Work Committee, as well as the Hitchcock Committee. I am also the treasurer for the River Region United Way, I serve on the board of Clefworks and am a member of Montgomery’s Kiwanis Club.

What is your key to success?

As cliché as this sounds, living by the golden rule is always going to be #1 for me—whether it’s in my personal life with my wife and son—or at work, treating others like Christ is paramount. After that, being willing to go farther than your competition sounds easy, but it just seems like whoever is willing to go that extra step seems to come out on top.

Check out the other members of CentrAL INC’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023!