The Preston Agency was originally formed in 1949 as a general agency of the Rhode Island Mutual Insurance Company. At that time it was known as Weston and Watson Insurance Agency. William J. Preston was brought in from the insurance company to manage the agency and in 1968 assumed ownership and control. Mr. Preston expanded the agency through a series of small acquisitions during the early 1970’s.

William G. Preston joined the agency full time in 1975 after receiving a degree in insurance from the University of Rhode Island. Robert Preston followed four years later after serving in the U. S. Navy. At that point the agency was a typical small, family run agency, producing less than a million dollars in premium, mainly in personal lines.

Bill Preston (Jr.) became president of the agency in 1985. Since then, he and Bob Preston and later, Bob Quigley, transformed The Preston Agency into one of the fastest growing and most respected agencies in the state. The agency now writes approximately $45 million in premium, 80% of which is in commercial lines. The agency serves over 6,000 clients throughout the US. According to a recent issue of the Providence Business News, the agency is now the fourth largest agency in Rhode Island.

This growth has been the result of the principals' early recognition of the opportunities in "niche" markets and their commitment to that marketing philosophy. The agency has specialists in fuel oil distribution, trucking, manufacturing, franchised auto dealers and contracting businesses. Also, its belief in and commitment to niche marketing culminated in the recent acquisition of an emergency services insurance program that writes over 560 fire and emergency apparatus accounts throughout New England, on both a direct and brokerage basis.

The agency’s principals currently sit on several companies' advisory groups, as well as several association boards. They are also active participants in many civic and insurance industry activities and have received numerous designations and awards throughout their careers.