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Members in the News
A.M. BEST ISSUES ANOTHER “A” RATING FOR GRINNELL MUTUAL
Grinnell, Iowa — A.M. Best has affirmed an “A” (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating for Grinnell Mutual. The “A” rating and stable outlook for the future apply to both Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and Grinnell Select Insurance Company (GSI). Grinnell Mutual has received a “A” rating since 1991.
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“We are pleased to have A.M. Best affirm our “A” rating,” said Jeff Menary, Grinnell Mutual’s president and CEO. “This rating, which we have held for 29 years, demonstrates our financial strength and stability, allowing Grinnell Mutual to provide unsurpassed service to our mutual members, agents, and policyholders.”
A.M. Best is a leading rating agency for assessing propertycasualty companies’ financial stability.
About Grinnell Mutual Grinnell Mutual, in business since 1909, is the 110th-largest property casualty insurance company in the United States and the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America. Its products are available in 19 states.
WEST BEND MUTUAL CEO STEINER NAMED WISCONSIN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
Kevin A. Steiner, president and chief executive officer of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, will receive the 2020 Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year award, the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin announced.
The annual award goes to a business executive who contributes to their company with enlightened leadership that produces business results and has influence beyond the local area.
Steiner will receive the honor at a dinner April 6 at the Pfister Hotel sponsored by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
president since 2008 and CEO since 2009. He’s been in the insurance industry for 31 years.
He also serves on the boards of the MACC Fund, Boys and Girls Club of Washington County and Kettle Moraine YMCA, among other organizations.
Proceeds from the dinner go to scholarships for the “Strategic Partnerships in Nonprofit Management” program, which allows executives from Milwaukee nonprofits to learn for a week at the Harvard Business School.
John E. Schlifske, the president, CEO and chairman of Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual, was last year’s honoree. Information about the event and scholarship application can be found at www.hbs-wi.com.
John E Crawley, Jr. has recently joined Compass Insurance Services. John will concentrate on Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, Farm Lines and Life Insurance.
John has been a life-long resident of the Mosinee area and is looking forward to continue working in the insurance industry. John comes to Compass Insurance Services from American Family Insurance where he operated and serviced his customers for over 25 years.
John has a love of the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his family.
Compass Insurance Services is a full service independent agency with offices in Kronenwetter, Wausau and Stevens Point. Compass Insurance Services provides Business Insurance, Personal Insurance, Employee Benefits, Life and Health for families and businesses in the Central Wisconsin area.
INTEGRITY PROMOTES LISA MESSERSCHMIDT TO COMMERCIAL LINES UNDERWRITING MANAGER
APPLETON, WI (Feb. 12, 2020) — Integrity Insurance, a property & casualty carrier headquartered in Appleton, WI, is pleased to announce Lisa Messerschmidt has been promoted to Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager.
Messerschmidt will be responsible for leading a group of commercial lines underwriters and commercial field underwriters to ensure sustained growth,
profit and execution of Integrity’s business objectives through quality underwriting, proactive portfolio management and strong customer service.
“We’re excited to promote Lisa to our management team, as she brings an incredible amount of commercial insurance experience and relationship building skills that will be vital in achieving the profitable growth goals for Integrity and our agency partners,” said Integrity’s VP, Commercial Lines Dan Trochil. “Lisa has already made significant contributions to our team, and I know that in her new position, she will play an even larger role.”
Messerschmidt has 15 years of commercial insurance experience. She joined Integrity in 2018 as a Sr. Commercial Lines Underwriter. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and holds CPCU, AINS, AIS and AU-M insurance designations.
About Integrity Insurance Integrity Insurance was established in 1933 and headquartered in Appleton, WI. Integrity offers auto, home, business and life insurance protection through a network of independent agents throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. With partner Grange Insurance based in Columbus, Ohio — the 13-state Grange Enterprise has nearly $3 billion in assets and $1.2 billion in annual revenue and holds an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent). For more information, visit integrityinsurance.com.
Coverra offers business and personal insurance from offices in Sparta and Holmen, Wis.
ABOUT SECURA INSURANCE SECURA Insurance is headquartered in Neenah, Wis. Approximately 550 independent insurance agencies in 12 states represent the company, which provides a broad range of competitive commercial, personal, farm, nonprofit, and special events products. It is known for providing exceptional service to its agents and policyholders since 1900, and is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for its excellent ability to meet policyholder obligations. The carrier is a Ward’s Top 50 company for outstanding results in financial performance and consistency over a five-year period, and it is a certified Great Place to Work. Visitwww.secura.net to learn more.
A NEW ADDITION FOR THE NEW YEAR Ansay & Associates welcomes seven new employees with latest acquisition
DURAND, WI –Ansay & Associates is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Jerry Thompson Agency, effective immediately. The Durand, WI-based agency has seven employees, all who will make the transition to serving under the Ansay & Associates umbrella in its Eau Claire region.
There will be no interruption of services for current customers of the Jerry Thompson Agency. The Durand team will continue to be led by previous owner, Dave Christopherson, who will report to Ansay & Associates Executive Vice President Toby Dutter, who manages the Eau Claire region.
“For Ansay & Associates to continue to take the next step, we are looking for leaders to add to our team,” said Dutter. “That’s what we found with Dave and his entire team at the Jerry Thompson Agency. Dave sets forth a clear vision and is an impressive communicator. Everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, which allows them to work at a maximum efficiency. The transition with our group will be seamless.”
From left: Shane Roh, SECURA Regional Vice President – Sales; Gary Ascher, Coverra Insurance Services, Inc. CEO; Dave Gross, SECURA President & CEO
Neenah, Wis. (Feb. 12, 2020) – Coverra Insurance Services, headquartered in Sparta, Wis., was honored as SECURA Insurance’s 2019 top-performing agency out of approximately 550 agencies in 12 states. SECURA is a property and casualty insurance company based in Neenah, Wis.
This is the agency’s sixth time earning a top-performer award from the company. Coverra, an independent agency, has represented SECURA since 1994.
SECURA recognized Coverra, as its 2019 top performers at its annual Premier Agent Professional Development Conference in January. To earn this prestigious recognition, the agencies met specific criteria based on their premium volume, profitability, growth, retention, and loss history.
Dutter has firsthand experience of how to lead a successful transition. He owned Indianhead Insurance Agency, one of the largest independent agencies in Northwestern Wisconsin, and managed its eight locations before Ansay & Associates acquired it in February 2018. The agency still operates under its original name and under his leadership, has strengthened Ansay & Associates personal and commercial lines.
“Toby is an excellent motivator, mentor, and excels at building a great working environment, where everyone feels empowered,” said Ansay & Associates Chairman & CEO Mike Ansay. “We know he’ll continue to help everyone reach their professional goals.”
Established in 1976, the Jerry Thompson Agency became an independent in 1996, and is widely known and respected for its service to the community. It offers a variety of quality companies and products in the Commercial and Personal Lines space.
“In our business, change is inevitable,” Dutter said. “This is one of those changes that is going to benefit clients, customers, as well as our agency. The Jerry Thompson team is renowned for their hard work, customer care, and tenacity. We’re exhilarated to be fully integrated with their team and greet the new decade
About Ansay and Associates Ansay & Associates serves over 5,000 Wisconsin businesses and 20,000 individual customers, ranking #49 on the Insurance Journal’s 2019 Top 100 P/C Agencies list. It was also named one of 2018’s “Best and Brightest Workplaces” by the National Association for Business Resources, earning a “Best of the Best” designation for medium-sized companies.
SECURA INSURANCE NAMES TOPPERFORMING AGENCIES FOR 2019 Coverra Insurance Services, Inc. takes home top award
farm, nonprofit, and special events products. It is known for providing exceptional service to its agents and policyholders since 1900, and is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for its excellent ability to meet policyholder obligations. The carrier is a Ward’s Top 50 company for outstanding results in financial performance and consistency over a fiveyear period, and it is a certified Great Place to Work. Visit www.secura. net to learn more.
Editors’ Note: The photo above shows agency representatives at the awards event. From left to right, they are Craig Armbrust of AssuredPartners of Minnesota, Terry Hyland of AHA Insurance Network, Pete Harrington of Shepherd Insurance, LLC, Dave Gross of SECURA Insurance, Gary Ascher of Coverra Insurance Services, Inc., Chris Meidt of North Risk Partners, LLC, Barry Quernemoen, North Risk Partners, LLC, Bruce Smith, Dawson Insurance/Marsh-McLennan, Tom Dawson, Dawson Insurance/Marsh-McLennan.
Neenah, Wis. (Feb. 13, 2020) –SECURA Insurance announced its leading agencies for 2019, naming Coverra Insurance Services, Inc. as the Top-Performing Agency.
Agency CEO, Gary Ascher, accepted the top award at a ceremony in January during the company’s annual Premier Agent Professional Development Conference. The independent agency is headquartered in Sparta, Wis., with an additional location in Holmen, Wis.
To earn this prestigious recognition, independent agencies met specific criteria based on their premium volume, profitability, growth, retention, and loss history with the insurance carrier.
“We look forward to recognizing our top independent agents’ outstanding performance at our Premier Conference each year,” said Dave Gross, President & CEO, SECURA Insurance. “Our agents allow us to serve their customers, our policyholders, and this recognition is a celebration of our shared success.”
Five additional agencies received top-performing agency awards: • Shepherd Insurance, LLC of Carmel, Ind. • North Risk Partners, LLC of St. Cloud, Minn. • Dawson Insurance/Marsh-McLennan of Fargo, N.D. • AHA Insurance Network of Louisville, Ky. • AssuredPartners of Minnesota of St. Paul, Minn., the 2019 Rookie of the Year
ABOUT SECURA INSURANCE SECURA Insurance is headquartered in Neenah, Wis. Approximately 550 independent insurance agencies in 12 states represent the company, which provides a broad range of competitive commercial, personal,
RYAN JIRAK ANNOUNCED AS LEADER OF SFM’S LARGE ACCOUNTS TEAM
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — SFM Mutual Insurance Co. has promoted Ryan Jirak to lead its Large Accounts Team. He replaces Craig Stroinski, who is scheduled to retire in April.
Jirak has been with SFM since 2011, having originally joined the organization as a Mid-Market Marketing Underwriter. He became a Small Business Marketing Representative in 2012 and moved to the Large Accounts team in 2017 as Large Accounts Business Development Representative.
Jirak graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2009 with a degree in finance. He holds an Associate of Underwriting (AU) designation and is currently pursuing his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation.
He serves as Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers (MIIAB) Emerging Leaders Executive Chair and is a guest lecturer for the University of St. Thomas and Carlson School of Management Insurance and Risk Management classes.
“We are very excited for Ryan to lead the team he’s been a part of over the last couple of years,” said Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations Steve Sandilla. “With the great connections he’s built through the years, there is a great deal of excitement amongst our agency partners to work with him in this new capacity.”
ABOUT SFM SFM, headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, is a customer-owned mutual insurance company providing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota employers with workers’ compensation coverage. SFM offers workers’ compensation insurance solutions for employers of all sizes, including claims and disability management, cost containment, legal assistance and third-party administration. For more information, visit sfmic.com.
