A trio of State Farm agents from Arlington and Marysville have been recognized by the insurance and financial services company for “excellence in business and quality service to their of customers.”

Marysville’s Mark Shapiro earned a place in the State Farm 2008 Legion of Honor for “exemplary service in helping customers protect what they value most,” while Arlington’s Steve Fulton and Jim Minifie earned Silver Scroll Awards, for attaining Legion of Honor status for at least 10 of the past 12 years.

“These agents embody the ‘Being There’ philosophy State Farm is known for,” said Patty Jackson, agency vice president for State Farm’s Pacific Northwest Zone. “Their accomplishments in business are a reflection of their commitment to their customers and community.”

Shapiro has entered his seventh year as a member of the Marysville business community. A native of Cape Town, South Africa, he’s lived in Washington since 1984, and graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in psychology in 1998. Shapiro worked for another State Farm agent in Everett, before opening his own agency in Marysville in 2002. He’s a member of the Marysville Rotary, and is also active with Roses and Rosemary, an organization raising funds for the treatment and care of African orphans with HIV and AIDS. He is newly married to his wife, Susan.

Fulton, a native Washingtonian, earned his business degree from Western Washington University, and worked as an office manager for Pacific NW Bell before opening his State Farm Agency in Arlington in 1980. He’s an active Rotarian who is “extremely passionate” about the international volunteer work he has done through Marysville Rotary, particularly in the areas of literacy and scholarship. Fulton is also the Rotary Board member in charge of vocational service, which allows him to be active in the Marysville School District. Steve has three grown children and is married to Teresa.

Minifie has been a resident of Washington state for 37 years, and has owned his State Farm Insurance agency in Arlington for 20 years. Prior to becoming a member of the Arlington business community, he learned the insurance business as an employee of another State Farm agent in Seattle for three years. Minifie is a graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in business, and is active in both the Arlington Rotary and Chamber, having also served as past president of both. He and his wife, Kim, have five children.