James O. Schaftel began his insurance career in 1979, and is recognized today as one of the leading independent commercial agents in the greater Baltimore area. Integrity, responsiveness and a commitment to providing a level of service excellence that exceeds expectations are the cornerstones of his practice. He has built a reputation for crafting personalized, value-added programs that effectively protect the assets and meet the unique insurance and risk management needs of every client he serves. By building trusted long-term relationships and working closely with his clients over time to help them achieve their changing goals, he continues to build their loyalty, ensure their satisfaction and remain their trusted advisor year after year. He specializes in providing personalized and competitively priced Personal and Commercial Property/Casualty coverage, including management liability (Directors & Officers), employment practices and fiduciary liability. While he serves a wide variety of commercial and personal clients, he primarily focuses on serving the comprehensive insurance needs of mid-sized allied healthcare companies, transportation companies, microbreweries, wholesale distributors, real estate developers, manufacturers, community associations, trade contractors, not-for-profit organizations and Information Technology firms, among others.After earning a B.S. degree in Finance from Georgetown University's School of Business Administration, he began his professional career at CNA Insurance in Orlando. He then worked for several years at the respected Baltimore firm J.B. Schaftel Company, and after the business was sold, found the best place to serve his clients’ needs was Relation Insurance Services in Owings Mills, MD, where he remains affiliated today.