BLOOMINGTON - When State Farm Insurance Cos. approached Vincent J. Trosino Sr. for a job interview more than four decades ago, the 21-year-old Pennsylvania resident thought he was applying at a prison.
"In Pennsylvania, the low-security prisons are called 'state farms,' " said Trosino, who at the time was fresh out of college with a degree in psychology from Villanova University.
Knowing little of State Farm or the insurance industry in 1962, Trosino nabbed a $5,150-a-year job as a unit supervisor overlooking mail delivery and employee training. At that point, he was another face in a crowd of State Farm employees.
Today, he's second in command of No. 22 on the Fortune 500 list. Trosino, 66, retires this week as State Farm's president and chief operating officer.
"My wife and I are not going to travel down the Nile for seven days," Trosino joked of post-retirement plans. "I'm tired of packing a suitcase and sleeping in hotels."
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Instead, he plans to relax with family.
But Trosino's climb to the top is full of tales and travels.
His wife, Pat, was pregnant when he started at State Farm. Trosino really needed a job, and like a good neighbor, State Farm was there.
Trosino never thought he'd spend his entire career with his first employer. But he did, traveling from state to state for a company he was proud to work for.
Each move brought new challenges, new responsibilities and a fresh look at State Farm.
Trosino first came to Bloomington-Normal in 1967. It was a culture shock for a young couple who'd lived in metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania.
"To us, Bloomington-Normal was a very quiet community without a lot of shopping opportunities or entertainment opportunities," he said.
By the time he and Pat settled in, they packed their bags and transferred to California in 1974. That stint lasted seven years.
The Trosinos packed up again and headed to New Jersey in 1981, leaving their oldest daughter behind to finish her senior year of high school.
In 1985, State Farm Chief Executive Officer Edward Rust Sr. died. His son, Edward Rust Jr., would take over that year.
In 1986, at Rust Jr.'s request, Trosino returned to Bloomington.
"Ed had asked me to come back to help, and I did," Trosino said.
Today, Rust, chairman and chief executive officer, credits Trosino with much of the company's growth during the last 44 years. The two men share a unique partnership, Rust said at a recent retirement reception at State Farm. They often know what each other is thinking without saying a word.
"It's difficult to overstate how important Vince's strategic thinking and operational leadership have been to State Farm," Rust said. "He has been a tremendous business partner. But on a more personal basis I'll miss the daily contact, because we've had a long business relationship that turned into a great friendship."
In anticipation of Trosino's retirement and leadership transition, Rust named three other vice chairmen in 2004. They will continue in their roles following Trosino's retirement. They include Michael Tipsord, vice chairman, treasurer and chief financial officer; Jim Rutrough, vice chairman and chief administrative officer; and Mike Davidson, vice chairman and chief agency/marketing officer.