Our Legacy

Leo Karkowsky established Pasadena Insurance Agency, Inc.

in 1936 as a tenant in the back office of a dry goods store in Pasadena, TX.

Jay Karkowsky took over Pasadena Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1980.

In 1963, PIA moved into Pasadena's newly completed and only skyscraper the First Pasadena State Bank building.

In 1964, after returning from military service, Leo's only son Jay Karkowsky joined his father in property & casualty sales.

In 1980, Pasadena Insurance became incorporated and Jay Karkowsky took control as president.

In 1986, Frank Karkowsky joined his father in property & casualty sales as well as in the administrative side of the business.

In 1992, Frank started the Agency's life & health insurance division to better provide its clients' growing insurance needs.

In 1993, Ronnie Karkowsky joined his father Jay and his brother Frank at the Agency and eventually took leadership of the life & health division.

In the fall of 1993, PIAI moved its offices from Pasadena, TX to its current location just outside downtown Houston, TX. The needed move better served its clients in a timely fashion and accommodated its growing client base and number of employees.

In 1998, Frank started the Agency's risk management division to better compete in a changing insurance industry.

In 2003, PIAI again saw a need for change and formed a strategic partnership with another local group-health insurance agency to strengthen its local and national positions with insurance carriers in the quickly changing group-health insurance business.

Jay Karkowsky took his family-owned business through its second generation, and he is recognized for high client retention rates with successful clients doing continual business with PIAI for multiple decades. Jay’s strength is relating with each customer by understanding, communicating and allocating the appropriate coverage per business need.

Jay received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Law from The University of Texas at Austin. He has active licenses in General Lines - Property and Casualty and Life and Health. Jay enjoys spending time with his seven grandchildren and playing golf and bridge.

Jay spent 46 years in the insurance business and proudly passed the business to his sons.

Today, Jay's two sons Frank and Ronnie lead the agency as president and vice-president respectively into its third generation and continue Jay's and Leo's legacies of their family-owned independent insurance agency.

Our Legacy Page

Jay Karkowsky

Past President, Commercial P&C Producer

Jay Karkowsky is past president of Pasadena Insurance Agency Inc., a member of the management team, and a highly seasoned expert in the business, sales and service of property and casualty insurance to his clients. With 46 years in the insurance business, Jay took his family-owned business through its second generation, and he is recognized for high client retention rates with successful clients doing continual business with PIAI for multiple decades. Jay’s strength is relating with each customer by understanding, communicating and allocating the appropriate coverage per business need. Jay has a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Law from The University of Texas at Austin. He has active licenses in General Lines - Property and Casualty and Life and Health. Jay enjoys spending time with his seven grand children and playing golf and bridge.