Our Story: From One Desk to a Growing Team

Gould Agency delivers professional‑grade insurance with local support—trusted by businesses and families for honest advice, fast help, and real relationships. What started as one local agent has grown into a full‑service independent agency trusted by main‑street businesses, warehouses, manufacturers, trucking operations, construction companies, and families across the Four‑State Area. We've weathered storms, economic swings, and more than a few tornado seasons alongside our clients. As Don steps back from the day‑to‑day, the Gould name now represents a wider team committed to the same honesty, transparency, and personal service that built the agency in the first place.

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What “The Gould Standard” Really Means

“The Gould Standard” isn't a slogan someone cooked up in a meeting—it's how our team actually operates when the storm hits. When a crane falls, a truck rolls over, or hail shreds a roof, you're talking to a real person who knows your name and your policy, not an automated system or a chatbot.

In practice, The Gould Standard looks like:

Availability

You can reach an actual agent, not a phone tree.

Straight talk

Clear explanations of coverage, deductibles, and exclusions without jargon or pressure.

Loyalty both ways

We advocate for you with carriers, and we stick with our clients for the long haul, not just at renewal time.

Local insight

We live where you live, track the weather you're watching, and understand the risks facing businesses and families.

Over time, “Gould” becomes less about a single person's name and more about a shared standard of service, safety, and transparency.

Meet The Team

Insurance is personal. You might never meet your carrier in person, but you should absolutely know who your agent is. Here are the people who pick up the phones, answer the emails, and show up when things go wrong.

Don Gould

Founder and Owner

41+ years, since 1984

Specialty: Building a trusted, family-owned firm known for straightforward guidance, personal service, and long‑term client relationships.
Clients Thank Them For: Helping grow a family-owned agency that offers a full range of personal, commercial, and employee benefits solutions across Missouri and surrounding states.
Family: Married, with children and grandchildren.

“I founded Gould Agency and still stay hands‑on, helping guide the agency's direction and strong connections to our community.”

Bob Gould

Owner, Personal Lines Coverage

29+ years, since 1996

Specialty: Helping individuals and families find coverage that fits their needs and supports long‑term protection and peace of mind.
Clients Thank Them For: Taking the time to listen, explain their options clearly, and treating them like part of the family, not just a policy number.
Hobbies: Gardening and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Weekends: Spending time with family.

“A Kansas City Chiefs fan, Go Chiefs!”

Aaron Mitchell

Owner, Commercial Coverage

14+ years, since 2012

Specialty: Providing tailored insurance solutions for individuals and businesses, especially around commercial coverage.
Before Insurance: Business owner and worked in sales and customer service, developing a strong foundation in client relations and problem‑solving.
Clients Thank Them For: Supporting them as part of the agency's ownership team and helping uphold the agency's service standards.
Family: Married with two sons and two golden doodles.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and following sports.

“I'm an avid sports fan.”

Aaron Teeter

Partner

Specialty: Brings a strong work ethic, business acumen, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service—approaching challenges with both strategic insight and a practical perspective.
Before Insurance: Built valuable experience in the fire protection industry, gaining a practical understanding of operations, client relationships, and problem‑solving.
Education: Undergraduate degree from Missouri Southern State University (MSSU); Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Pittsburg State University (PSU).
Hobbies: Pickleball, golf, and other athletic activities—he values an active lifestyle and spending time outdoors.
Weekends: Spending weekends at the lake and staying active.

“My dog, Murphy, is always up for the next adventure.”

Beth Bass

Commercial Lines Agent, CIC

38+ years, joined 2011

Specialty: Helping business clients better understand their coverage and make informed decisions about their insurance needs.
Before Insurance: Worked as an underwriter.
Clients Thank Them For: Providing guidance, support, and tailored coverage solutions for their businesses.
Family: I've been married to my husband for over 40 years.
Hobbies: Spending time with family, gardening, running, biking, and traveling—especially bicycle trips.

“I love spending time with my grandchildren.”

John Gould

Personal Lines, Classic Cars & Motorcycles

8+ years, since 2018

Specialty: Helping people save money and get more value out of their coverage.
Before Insurance: 20 years as Operations Manager at CFI trucking.
Clients Thank Them For: His time to help them review their coverages and save money.

“Enjoys spending time with grandchildren, cruise vacations with my wife, and cooking—especially on the smoker!”

Kelly Dannels

Life & Health, REBC®

5+ years, since June 2020

Specialty: Having Crohn's disease since I was 14 has given me a different perspective as a patient who NEEDS their insurance, not someone who has it just in case. I enjoy helping clients understand how their benefits work and find affordable options for care and prescription coverage.
Before Insurance: Telecommunications sales, customer service, and management for AT&T for over 17 years.
Clients Thank Them For: The time I spend helping them review options, truly understand what they're getting, and plan for the future.
Family: I've been married for 12 years to my husband, TJ, and we have 2 dogs.
Hobbies: Working out, going on motorcycle rides, or off‑roading in the Polaris RZR.
Weekends: Spending time with friends or family and being outside as much as possible.

“I have my own motorcycle and love to ride as much as possible.”

Ryan Herndon

Health & Life, Medicare & Individual

2+ years, since 2024

Specialty: I enjoy helping clients understand how insurance works and what it can do for them, and navigating the many options and coverages available.
Before Insurance: Telecommunications sales and customer service for AT&T for 15 years.
Family: Married to wife Morgan, with a daughter, Willow, and 4 corgis.
Hobbies: Golf.
Weekends: Spending time at home with the family.
Misconception to Correct: The biggest misconception about insurance is that it's just paying for something you may not need. In truth, insurance protects you from the unknown and the what‑ifs in life. The cost of having it in place is far less than having nothing to protect you.

Why Businesses and Families Choose Gould

Gould Agency is built for people who want a local relationship and professional‑grade protection. Business owners rely on us to help them satisfy contracts, navigate certificates, and protect employees and equipment, while families count on us to safeguard homes, cars, and futures. No gimmicks—just a reliable team that answers the phone, knows your world, and shows up when you need us.

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Where We Serve

Gould Agency serves individuals, families, and businesses across southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas, with dedicated support for these counties:

Jasper County, MO

Missouri

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Newton County, MO

Missouri

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Crawford County, KS

Kansas

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Cherokee County, KS

Kansas

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Benton County, AR

Arkansas

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Craig County, OK

Oklahoma

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Ottawa County, OK

Oklahoma

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…and more neighboring counties in the Four‑State region. Don't see your town listed? We work with many additional areas—reach out and we'll confirm coverage.

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