A few words About Our Story
Let us introduce ourselves
Let us introduce ourselves
In 1968, Jay and Claudia Burraston moved to Vernal, Utah where Jay began working as a direct life insurance agent with MetLife Insurance. Jay began to create client relationships across the Uintah Basin.
In 1973, Jay and Claudia start Eastern Utah Insurance at our original location on 100 West in downtown Vernal. With only a handful of clients and one company appointment with Aetna Insurance, this is the beginning of the Eastern/Direct Agency Group. Our first client of the Agency remains a policyholder today.
After Jay’s passing in 1982, Claudia assumed full responsibility as President of the Agency, and is still active in this position. Under Claudia’s leadership, the Agency later grows to four locations with thousands of clients in 15 states.
In 1991, The Agency partners with Allied Insurance under their AIDCO Concept program. Claudia is later honored as the AIDCO agent of the year among all Allied agents countrywide.
In 1994, The Agency expands into Roosevelt, UT which later merges back in the Vernal, UT location.
In 1997, Jason Burraston joins the agency as Vice President and Agency Manager of all locations.
In 2010, Direct Insurance Services is formed to expand the Agency beyond the geographical areas of Eastern Utah. The Agency opens the first Wasatch Front agency location in Salt Lake City. The Agency is later joined by Arla Huck and Crystina Scott as licensed agents.
In 2012, Josh Harbison joins the Agency as Personal Lines Manager. Josh later takes role of Sales Manager for the Agency. Josh came to the Agency with a background in banking as a branch manager for a Utah based credit union.
In 2016, the Agency expands to Southern Utah by opening its Bluff Street location in St. George, UT.
Dana Muranaka joins the team as Commercial Agent and Placement Specialist. Dana has over 40 years of insurance experience, previously as an underwriter for USF&G Insurance and on the agency side as a Commercial Specialist. The St. George agency specializes in Commercial Insurance and Contractor Insurance Programs.
In 2020, the Agency expands to Utah County by opening its location in Springville, UT. The agency will be staffed by Megan Sperry as producer.
The Agency Group continues to grow, in part to our customer service and the strategic partnerships with the companies we represent. We remain steadfast our mission: We will continue to provide quality insurance products to our clients with a dedication to ethics and personal service.
Years of experience
Customers Served
Insurance Carriers Represented
New Households Insured Last Month