Adam Brown

After 26 years Sharon Fitzpatrick passed the torch for you to become the new co-owner and President of Fitzpatrick Insurance. What experiences have helped prepare you?

Over the past seven years, I’ve gained experience in personal and commercial line underwriting, as well as underwriting management. That well-rounded background gives me confidence for expertise in this industry. Also, I’ve worked on past ventures with my partner, Patrick Lavis. Our previous success helped light the entrepreneurial spark in myself for us to buy Fitzpatrick Insurance. Lastly, this wouldn’t be possible without the 35 years of experience my mother, Michelle Brown, brings to our team. She took a transition in her career to join us. There are no words to explain the impact she has had.

What drives you every day?

On a personal level, my faith and desire to improve myself each day. On a professional level, it’s building relationships with our clients, new and existing. I enjoy connecting with and learning more about people and their families and/or businesses. In this line of work, you almost feel like you’re with them on their life’s journeyfolks opening their first business, buying an engagement ring, starting a family, buying commercial real estate etc. It’s really rewarding.

Are there any words of wisdom you live by?

There are two: “Nothing worth having in this life comes easy,” to remember why we’ve made and continue to make the sacrifices that we do.

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

There’s no reason why we can’t share kindness and grace whenever we’re given the opportunity to do so.

You co-own the company with Patrick Lavis; how do you work together as the perfect team?

Patrick is very much so the sail, and I am very much so the ballast. While we both have complementary experience, personalities, and skill sets, we’re still aligned in our philosophies and faith, which keeps us both balanced and propelling forward. I’m lucky to have a partner in life and business that can be both my push and my comfort when needed.

What is one thing you have achieved and are proud of?

To continue our family legacy of being the third generation to own an independent insurance agency. My grandparents started an agency in mid-Michigan in the ‘70s where my mother got her start. My parents moved to Kingsley when I was four, where my mother became a partner at a local independent insurance agency for nearly 17 years.

What would the mini Adam from 10 years old think about the grown Adam of today?

I think he would be proud of the courage that I’ve acquired over the years. I tended to have a more avoidant personality through most of my life, bobbing and weaving away from confrontation. I think any other business owner would agree that that is simply no longer an option once you make that leap. I think the 2004 version of me would be disappointed that my handwriting never improved though.