09/28/26

EPB&B Named One of Oregon’s Top Workplaces for 2026

Recognition

We’re proud to share some exciting news from Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker! EPB&B has once again been named one of Oregon’s Top Workplaces by The Oregonian for the 11th time.

Being recognized as a Top Workplace is an honor we never take for granted. What makes this award particularly meaningful is that it is based on feedback from our own employees, the people who contribute to EPB&B’s culture, client relationships, and success every day.

Unlike many business awards, Top Workplaces recognition isn’t something a company can simply apply for and receive. The results are based on confidential employee feedback about their actual workplace experience. For us, that makes being included among Oregon and Southwest Washington’s Top Workplaces something worth celebrating.

How the Top Workplaces Award Works

Employees are asked to provide feedback through a neutral third party on several aspects of their workplace experience, including leadership, company direction, communication, appreciation, compensation and benefits, and whether they feel their work has meaning. Organizations that receive strong employee feedback can earn recognition as a Top Workplace.

For EPB&B, the award provides something particularly valuable: an opportunity to hear directly from our team and better understand what we’re doing well and where we can continue to improve.

What Being a Top Workplace Means to EPB&B

EPB&B has been serving businesses and families throughout the Pacific Northwest for more than 70 years. While our business has grown and the insurance industry has changed considerably during that time, one thing has remained constant: our people are at the center of what we do.

We believe creating a positive workplace ultimately benefits everyone. Employees who feel supported, respected, and connected to their work are better positioned to build lasting relationships with clients, insurance carriers, and our community.

That means encouraging collaboration, supporting professional development, recognizing hard work, and understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between work and life.

“A truly great team is defined not only by what they accomplish, but by how they accomplish it. The account management team at EPB&B combine exceptional knowledge, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to their work. Their expertise inspires confidence, their integrity earns trust, and their commitment drives our successes every day.”
— Kim Hawkins, Human Resources Manager/Commercial Lines Manager

A Message From EPB&B President Marc Baker

“We are incredibly grateful for the fantastic team we have at EPB&B. Our employees are the heart of this company, and this recognition belongs to them. I’ve always believed that when employees are happy, supported, and enjoy where they work, that carries over into the way they take care of our clients. I’m proud of the culture we’ve built together and even more proud of the people who make EPB&B such a special place to work.”— Marc Baker, President, Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker

A Recognition We Share

Being named a 2026 Oregon Top Workplace belongs to the entire EPB&B team.

It reflects the people who support our clients every day, help their coworkers when things get busy, share their knowledge, welcome new team members, and contribute to the culture that has developed at EPB&B over the years.

We are grateful to everyone on our team who took the time to share their feedback and to The Oregonian for recognizing workplaces throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Most importantly, thank you to the entire EPB&B team for making this a place where people can build careers, relationships, and a future together.

Here’s to another year of working together and continuing to make EPB&B a workplace we’re proud to call our own.

09/21/26

EPB&B Industry Open House Brings Our Community Together and Raises over $40,000 For Two Local Non Profits

Community Involvement

Beautiful weather, great company, and an opportunity to give back made this year’s EPB&B Industry Open House at OMSI another afternoon to remember.

Each year, our Industry Open House gives us a chance to step away from the day-to-day and spend time with clients, carrier partners, colleagues, and friends from throughout the insurance and business community. This year brought plenty of games, food, drinks, conversation, and friendly competition, but most importantly, it gave us an opportunity to come together and raise over $40,000 in support of two deserving local nonprofits: Boxes of Love and ReFIT Portland.

Having Fun for a Great Cause

There was plenty happening throughout the afternoon. A returning fan favorite, Huber’s Spanish Coffee, kept the drinks flowing with both hot and iced versions of its famous Spanish Coffee.

Our auction was another highlight of the event, featuring something for just about everyone. Guests had the opportunity to bid on autographed Portland sports memorabilia, concert tickets, coastal getaways, curated gift baskets, and more, all while helping raise funds for our nonprofit beneficiaries.

It was a fun afternoon, but the purpose behind it is what makes this event particularly meaningful to the EPB&B team.

Supporting Boxes of Love

Boxes of Love is a grassroots Oregon nonprofit dedicated to supporting babies and children entering foster care. The organization partners with local hospitals to provide children being discharged into foster care with a Box of Love filled with new clothing, pajamas, shoes, and other comfort items they can call their own.

For children entering foster care during an already uncertain and difficult time, these boxes provide more than basic necessities. They are intended to offer a sense of comfort, security, and reassurance that someone in their community cares about them.

Helping ReFIT Portland Build Safer Homes

ReFIT Portland, short for Remodeling for Independence Together, helps Greater Portland residents facing physical and financial barriers remain safely and independently in their homes. The nonprofit provides qualifying homeowners with accessibility modifications at no cost.

Projects can include wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, bathroom grab bars, accessible sinks and toilets, and roll-in showers. These practical modifications can make an enormous difference for people experiencing mobility limitations related to illness, injury, disability, or aging.

Supporting organizations like Boxes of Love and ReFIT is an important part of EPB&B’s longstanding commitment to the Portland community.

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Guests

An event like this takes a community of its own.

We want to extend a huge thank you to all of our sponsors whose generous contributions helped make this year’s Industry Open House possible. Your continued partnership and willingness to support organizations doing important work in our community mean so much to us.

PRESENTING SPONSORS: National Partners Premium Finance, Portland Business Journal

DIAMOND SPONSORS: ISU Steadfast, Ryan Turner Specialties.

GOLD SPONSORS: Rothert Insurance, Columbia Bank, C&F, Insurance, First Insurance Funding, Western National Insurance

SILVER SPONSORS: Arrowhead Insurance, CRC Group, EMC Insurance, Imperial PFS, ISG Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance

BRONZE SPONSORS: Chubb Insurance, Cincinnati Insurance, The Hanover Insurance Group The Hartford Insurance, Inter Networks, Matrix Networks, Mutual of Enumclaw, NW preferred Credit Union, Paul Davis Restoration, Red Shield Insurance , Travelers Insurance, UFG Insurance, Washington Trust Bank

We also want to thank everyone who joined us at OMSI, participated in the auction, played some games, enjoyed a Spanish Coffee, and helped us support two incredible local organizations.

At EPB&B, we believe strong relationships extend beyond insurance. They’re about showing up for our clients, our industry partners, and the community we all share.

Thank you for another memorable Industry Open House. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

09/14/26

5 Life Changes That Should Trigger an Insurance Review

Insurance for Individuals

Most people don’t think about their insurance until they need it.

You purchase a homeowners or auto policy, pay the premium, and renew it each year. But while your policy may stay relatively similar, your life probably doesn’t.

A new home, renovation, teenage driver, expensive purchase, or other major change can affect your insurance needs. If your coverage doesn’t change along with your life, you may discover a gap when it’s time to file a claim.

At Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker Insurance, we’ve helped Pacific Northwest families navigate changing insurance needs for more than 70 years. Here are five times when it’s worth calling your independent insurance agent for a coverage review.

1. You Buy or Renovate a Home

Buying a home is an obvious time to review insurance, but renovations are easy to overlook.

A kitchen remodel, home addition, finished basement, new deck, or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can change the cost of rebuilding your home.

Remember, homeowners insurance is generally based on the estimated cost to rebuild the home, not its real estate market value. As construction materials and labor costs change, your dwelling coverage should be reviewed periodically as well.

Tell your EPB&B insurance agent about significant improvements so your home’s current features can be considered when evaluating your coverage.

2. You Add a New Driver

Adding a newly licensed teenager, or another household member who regularly drives your vehicles, is an important insurance conversation.

Your EPB&B insurance agent can help you understand how adding a driver may affect your premium, available discounts, vehicle coverage, and liability limits.

This is also a good opportunity to review whether your current auto liability limits still provide the level of financial protection you want.

3. You Make a Major Purchase

Jewelry, artwork, collectibles, sporting equipment, and other valuable possessions may have coverage limitations under a standard homeowners or renters policy.

If you’ve recently purchased or inherited something valuable, don’t automatically assume it’s fully covered.

Ask one of our team members if the item falls within your existing personal property coverage or whether scheduled coverage or another endorsement should be considered.

4. Your Assets or Income Increase

As you build savings, investments, property, or other assets, your liability exposure deserves another look.

The liability limits you selected several years ago may no longer reflect your current financial situation.

This is also a good time to discuss umbrella insurance. A personal umbrella policy can provide additional liability protection above the limits of certain underlying policies, such as homeowners and auto insurance, subject to the policy’s terms and requirements.

5. Your Household Changes

Marriage, divorce, children moving away to college, adult children returning home, retirement, or purchasing a second property can all create insurance questions.

For example, a college student living in a dorm may have some personal property coverage through a parent’s homeowners policy, while a student renting an off-campus apartment may have different insurance needs.

Rather than assuming existing coverage extends automatically, talk with your EPB&B advisor whenever there’s a significant change in your household.

Why an Annual Insurance Review Matters

You don’t need to wait for a major life event to review your insurance.

An annual conversation with your EPB&B agent can help identify changes in your property, vehicles, household, assets, and insurance needs.

It can also uncover something that’s easy to miss: your insurance company and policy may have changed, too.

Coverage options, deductibles, endorsements, underwriting requirements, and premiums can evolve over time. Because an independent insurance agency can work with multiple insurance carriers, we can help evaluate your current coverage and explore alternatives when appropriate.

Your Insurance Should Change When Your Life Does

Insurance works best when it reflects what you’re actually protecting today, not what your life looked like five or ten years ago.

For more than 70 years, Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker Insurance has helped individuals and families throughout the Pacific Northwest understand their coverage and navigate changes in their insurance needs.

If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your policies, you don’t necessarily need to change anything. Start by asking a simple question:

Does the insurance I have today still fit the life I have today?

EPB&B can help you find the answer.

Month: September 2026