A Good Neighbor and a Great Milestone: Ellen Aders Marks 15 Years in Front Royal

Community members, business leaders, and friends gathered recently to celebrate a special milestone for one of Front Royal’s most active business owners. Ellen Aders, a local State Farm agent, marked 15 years in business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at her newly renovated office space, hosted by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce.

Ellen Aders cuts the ribbon alongside Chamber Executive Director Niki Foster, Mayor Lori Cockrell, Supervisor Cheryl Cullers, team members, and community supporters to celebrate the grand opening of her new State Farm office and 15 years of service in Front Royal.

Chamber Executive Director Niki Foster opened the celebration with enthusiasm, saying, “How wonderful is this space? Wonderful. Wonderful.”

Mayor Lori Cockrell spoke next, praising both the building’s transformation and Ellen’s contributions to the town.

“I am thrilled that this building is being used,” said Mayor Cockrell. “It obviously doesn’t look like the bread store that it used to be 50 years ago. But just what this team has done with this is amazing.”

She continued, “I also want to say there’s not just the fact that Ellen is excellent at what she does, I happen to be a client, but also, she’s such a community partner. She’s involved in so many things. She doesn’t just believe in having a business here; she believes in it. She believes in being a part of the community and helping the community.”

Board of Supervisors member Cheryl Cullers echoed those words. “This building is beautiful,” she said. “You’re not just a businesswoman here. You are so much a part of this community. You give so much back… and I love you for it.”

Aders, who has worked with State Farm for 26 years, reflected on her journey and the meaning of the celebration.

Ellen Aders shares stories and reflections from her 15 years as a State Farm agent during an interview inside her newly renovated downtown Front Royal office.

“Tonight for me is about my customers,” she said. “Each one of them picked me to protect their most precious assets, their biggest and most valuable assets. And that’s not lost on me.”

She shared a few powerful memories from her time in service. “I’ve stood next to a customer while their house burned down. I’ve stayed with a new driver who crashed on the side of the road and waited until her parents got there. And I’ve delivered life insurance checks to heartbroken families. And that’s the good neighbor service I believe in.”

Aders also expressed deep gratitude to her mentors, team, and supporters. “I’m so sad tonight that Ron Santmyers could not be here… I’m grateful that they have trusted me with their legacy and extended me grace during those first few years when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.”

She added, “My team, all of you, they’re like the gasoline in the engine. They make it go here.”

Several longtime team members were recognized by name, including Rachel Jackson, who just celebrated eight years with the company. “For those of you who are my customers, you are as lucky to have them as I am.”

She also thanked Kahle Magalis for always supporting her ideas: “You never say no to anything that I want to do. You’ve spent countless hours listening and hammering. Thank you.”

As for the new office space, a former home of the Blue Wing Frog restaurant, Aders said, “I certainly did not need 3,500 square feet when I moved. I had 1,000 on Church Street, and I realized last fall that the phone was having to go to voicemail more than I felt comfortable with, and I had no room to grow.”

She didn’t want to leave the downtown area, and fate stepped in. “I dropped Toys for Tots off down here, and the building owner didn’t have a tenant when they moved out, and we did the thing.”

The new location has already become a community hub. “We’ve had board meetings here… my Rotary board meets here, my Downtown Front Royal board meets here. Catherine Dawson is the president of one of the B&I chapters; she’s had a visitors’ evening here. So, you know, it’s as much for the community and our customers as it is for us.”

She even has a new idea in mind: “All these years, I’ve been a chamber member for 15 years, and I’ve never done a Chamber After Hours in my space, because it was so tiny. So I haven’t asked Niki yet, but I’m hopeful that we’ll get to do that here.”

Of course, no State Farm celebration would be complete without a visit from Jake, kind of. “Jake’s in the window with all the toilet paper,” she said with a laugh. “Last year, we collected peanut butter and jelly. This year it’s toilet paper.”

Reflecting on her time in Front Royal, Aders smiled. “I still feel like the new kid on the block for sure… I hope I’m here in 20.”