Company Briefs continued

follows recent recognition as the sixth-place winner for Top Workplace in the USA. Also, West Bend's Madison location received Dane County's Top Workplace award for the third consecutive year.

At the same ceremony, Kevin Steiner, CEO of West Bend, was honored with a special Leadership Award as the result of the top workplace survey. Leadership award recipients were chosen based on scores from employee responses to a survey statement: "I have confidence in the leader of this company." According to one statement, Steiner "leads the organization by example and places high value on relationships, excellence, integrity, and responsibility."

"Our vision remains to be the company of choice for our associates, agency partners, and policyholders," stated President Rob Jacques. "This award is evidence that we are succeeding at creating a positive and motivating environment."

"The recognition we receive as a top workplace is significant," says Kevin Steiner. "It helps us attract and retain talented individuals who want to be part of our company. Congratulations to our more than 1,500 associates who work daily to make West Bend a special place."

CIA Founder Johnny Thompson Retires

After a distinguished career spanning 45 years, Johnny Thompson, a co-founder of Commercial Insurance Associates (CIA) has retired. Thompson was a former University of Tennessee football player and graduate of the university. After obtaining his CPA designation, Thompson accepted the position of chief financial officer at the old Corroon & Black of Nashville. Upon joining the firm, he was reunited with Don Denbo who was his old teammate from the University of Tennessee. Don would also become a co-founder of CIA. While at Corroon & Black, Thompson reported to Frank White who would ultimately be Thompson's associate at CIA when it was founded in 2002. Corroon & Black was subsequently purchased by the company known today as Willis Towers Watson.

During Johnny Thompson's endeavors at CIA, the firm grew to be one of the largest and most successful professional independent agencies in Tennessee and one of the top 100 agencies in the United States of America. Although he is retired now, Johnny Thompson has agreed to stay on the board at CIA for the time being as his institutional knowledge and experience will continue to inform his associates as they continue to reach for greater achievements as a firm.