Ashley Mahan with the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce sat down with Kim Breeden and her team at Shelter Insurance for this Girl Power feature, highlighting what it looks like to be a woman in business and how that journey evolves over time.
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Kim’s story starts far from Lebanon. She grew up in southeast Arkansas, where her dad spent more than three decades as a Shelter Insurance agent. That early exposure gave her a front-row seat to the business, though she admits it wasn’t something she originally planned to pursue. After working in the industry through high school and college, she realized the difference wasn’t the work itself, it was the environment you create. That realization led her to open her own agency, which eventually brought her to Lebanon.
Since moving here in 2005, Kim has not only built a successful business but also put down deep roots in the community. What started as a move for opportunity quickly turned into home, with her entire family eventually relocating to the area. That connection to people and community has become a central part of how she runs her business.
Inside the office, that mindset is clear. Kim has built a team that feels more like a family than a workplace. From hiring her son Cole to bringing on team members like Crystal and Stephanie, each addition has been intentional. The result is a tight-knit group of women who support each other, encourage growth, and genuinely enjoy working together.
Crystal, a Lebanon native, shared that she never expected to return to the insurance world after past experiences, but finding the right environment changed everything. Stephanie echoed that, saying this is her first time working in an all-women office and the difference has been noticeable. Instead of competition or tension, the focus is on collaboration, encouragement, and lifting each other up.
That culture has translated into real growth. Over the past few years, the agency has more than doubled in size, something Kim points to as one of her proudest accomplishments. She credits much of that success to building the right team and creating a positive environment where people want to show up and do their best work.
When asked what advice she would give to other women in business, Kim emphasized the importance of getting involved in the community. From chamber events to local organizations, she believes those connections are key to building both a business and a reputation. It’s also part of why many people assume she’s always been a Lebanon local, her presence in the community has made her feel like one.
Now settled into a new office on West Elm, the team continues to grow with that same focus on relationships, both inside the office and out in the community.
At its core, this story is about more than insurance. It’s about building something meaningful, surrounding yourself with the right people, and creating a space where success is shared. This is what Girl Power looks like in Lebanon.
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