Berkshire Hathaway continues massive growth

STEVENS POINT – Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection leaders said Wednesday that the company already has hired 150 full- and part-time employees this year and intends to grow to about 2,000 workers over the next five years, most of them in central Wisconsin.

The company formerly known as the Noel Group now employs about 230 people in Wisconsin and Florida offices. John Noel, president of the company and the founder, chairman and CEO of Noel Group, said the jobs will range from entry-level to "six-figure" positions.

He said the majority of the 2,000 jobs would be in the Stevens Point area if enough office space, parking and apartments for employees are available.

On Wednesday, Gov. Scott Walker was in Stevens Point to tour its growing operations and praise the company's growth. In January, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, a division of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, bought the assets of the Noel Group's two key companies, MyAssist and Insure America. In May, the Noel Group became Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection; since then, the company has ramped up its hiring.

"Joining Berkshire Hathaway has completely changed our perspective. We are focused on the United States, but really we are now a global company," Noel said. "You have companies coming to us who have respect for the Berkshire Hathaway name and the services they provide, and we're thrilled to be a part of that."

Currently, the company's headquarters at 1145 Clark St. is at capacity with about 145 employees, and the company will rent space in the county's building at 1039 Ellis St. for additional workers. The company also is looking at other possibilities to expand operations in Stevens Point as more employees come on board.

One of those employees is Natalino Xuereb, who is originally from Malta and had been looking for a job since moving to the United States last year. He said he heard nothing but positive comments about Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection and was hired June 7 as a supervisor in the Stevens Point call center.

Xuereb said the company has lived up to its reputation, and he's thrilled to be a part of what is shaping up to be a huge hiring push over the next five years.

Xuereb, 44, moved to the United States in April 2013 with his wife, Amy Kaehn, who grew up in the area. The couple wanted to raise their two children — a son Quinlan, 7, and daughter Nevin, 3 — in the community. Xuereb began looking for a job at the end of 2013 and said he struggled to find much in his previous field of banking.

Xuereb found out about Berkshire Hathaway from friends and family members and through an open house held by the company in June. While originally planning to just apply for an entry-level call center job, Xuereb said he was asked about his interest in being a supervisor. He currently is training for the job.

"It's a little out of my comfort zone, but I'm thrilled to be working, and I'm receiving a lot of help to get me ready for the job," Xuereb said.

Walker commended Noel and employees who gathered for a news conference for their commitment to growing the company in Wisconsin.

"You don't have to go to New York or Chicago; you can build a company right here in these communities and take advantage of the local amenities and quality of life," Walker said.

Nathan Vine can be reached at 715-345-2252. Find him on Twitter as @SPJNathanVine.