In southern Oklahoma, Heather Yang is betting on something old-fashioned: personal connection.

Yang, a veteran of the insurance industry for more than 20 years, launched the Heather Yang Agency in January 2024 in Ardmore, Oklahoma — a city of nearly 25,000 residents in Carter County. Her goal? To offer clients more than just policies.

“I’ve always aspired to be an agent so I can help others like my first agent was able to help me,” Yang said. “So, I look out for single moms or young people that are wanting to be business owners and just help shape them, grow their wings so they can move on and have their own agencies eventually.”

That mentorship mindset stems from her earliest days in the business. Yang got her start at a broker agency in the early 2000s, inspired by a boss who made a lasting impact. She later spent 22 years with a national insurance agency, where she built deep expertise — but also grew disillusioned.

“They’ve just become too commercialized — not as much of the local neighborhood agent,” she said.

Launching her own agency gave Yang the autonomy she craved — and the flexibility to move to Ardmore from Georgia to be closer to her aging mother and sister.

“I just wanted to be closer to my family,” she said.

Starting fresh in a tight-knit community like Ardmore wasn’t easy.

“Being new to the community — not having that community base that the other agents have here,” she said. “You know, it’s a small community, so everyone’s like, ‘Well, I’ve been with my agent for 25 years.’ That was a challenge.”

Instead of trying to win business through gimmicks, Yang focused on educating potential clients.

“I just feel like when you talk to people and ask them, ‘Has your agent done annual renewals?” she said. “Have they actually gone over your policy and seen if you’ve done updates to your home? Do you have life coverage? Life insurance is very important to me. I just want to make sure people are covered adequately and not just make a sale.”

Yang’s approach seems to be working. Within 10 months of operation, she was invited to the industry’s Conference of Champions. Only the top 10% of agents received an invitation to this event.

To keep up with growth, Yang needed support. Through an employee, Parker Tucker — who also runs Elite Commercial Cleaning in Ardmore supported by Communities Unlimited (CU) — she learned about CU’s Lending Team.

Yang worked with CU’s Economic Development Loan Officer Candence Brooks to secure a loan in April 2025, with the funding coming from partner Wells Fargo. The funds helped her hire a part-time employee to handle customer service tasks, freeing her and her other staff member to focus on sales and community outreach.

“I’ve been able to purchase more leads too,” she said. “And I’m looking at getting a billboard right now.”

Additionally, Yang was able to join the local Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, and launched a nonprofit called Unity in Action. Last year, she organized a back-to-school shopping trip for 22 local children and coordinated free haircuts in collaboration with school counselors and teachers.

The loan has already paid off.

Yang has doubled her policy sales — going from about 30–40 policies a month to more than 60. She also hopes to use the CU funds to purchase additional furniture for the business. Her experience with CU was seamless.

Yang sees CU as a lifeline for entrepreneurs in Oklahoma.

“It’s huge, because so many businesses are struggling with this economy right now — especially our small business owners, with the large chains coming in.”

Yang is already looking ahead. Her goal is to have a second office within the next two years.

Yang said having CU’s support has made a tremendous difference.

“I’m just very appreciative,” she said.