MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Waukesha, WI (9/9/22) - We are pleased to announce the appointment of David Zeller, CPCU, as RVP of our Waukesha Office, and his election as president and CEO of Partners Mutual Insurance, effective Sept. 19. Rich Keith, who has served as Waukesha RVP and as Partners' president and CEO since 2016, is transferring to our Pittsburgh office as RVP.

Dave joined our company in 1992 as an underwriting assistant, and advanced through several underwriting positions. Most recently he has been serving as underwriting manager in Waukesha.

To his RVP role, Dave brings the depth and breadth of 30 years of experience with us, and in the region, in both personal lines and commercial lines. His experience and strong relationships with our staff and agents will create a seamless transition and a continuation of our profitable growth.

As we begin to write business in Minnesota later this year, Dave's insurance acumen and leadership skills will guide this important growth opportunity for our company.

Dave said: "I look forward to working with our agents to build on the strong growth and profitability trends in our Wisconsin, Iowa and soon-to-be Minnesota books of business. We do business with people, and it’s a personal connection that makes the difference. I’m honored to serve our agents and policyholders in this new role."

ENCOVA INSURANCE UPGRADED BY AM BEST TO A (EXCELLENT) RATING

Columbus, OH (9/19/22) - Encova Mutual Insurance Group has been upgraded to an A (excellent) rating with a stable outlook by AM Best, a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. put in place five years ago to centralize all affiliate operations in Columbus, commit to a disciplined and coordinated underwriting strategy, materially reduce expenses, invest in new workers’ compensation capabilities through the affiliation with the BrickStreet family of companies, and reorganize as a mutual holding company under the Encova Insurance brand,” Encova President and CEO TJ Obrokta Jr. said. “We are equally convinced that our commitment to the independent agency distribution channel with our shared commitment to ‘profitable growth’ led to this upgrade.”

According to AM Best’s release, the rating reflects the strength of Encova’s finances as a key contributor to this upgrade. Over the last four years, the company has seen significant improvement in underwriting and operating performance. AM Best also stated that “favorable net earnings and returns on policyholder surplus with disciplined underwriting practices and a conservative investment strategy” were factors in the decision.

“What started with an affiliation more than five years ago has really grown into something exceptional,” Encova Board of Directors Chairman John J. Bishop said. “I’m proud of TJ, the entire leadership team, and all associates and agents who have been part of Encova’s success.”

“We have an incredible story to share, and I’m honored to lead this company on this journey,” Obrokta said. “We continue to strive to be the carrier of choice for our agents and policyholders.”

ABOUT ENCOVA INSURANCE: Encova Mutual Insurance Group provides commercial, auto, home and life insurance.

A super-regional carrier ranked in the top 20 mutual insurance companies in the United States, Encova is rated A (excellent) by AM Best, the leading provider of insurer ratings. Encova includes more than 1,100 associates writing in 28 states and the District of Columbia, premiums in excess of $1 billion, a surplus in excess of $1.96 billion and assets in excess of $4.8 billion. The group markets insurance solutions through more than 2,000 independent agencies in the Midwest, Northeast and South.

Neenah, WI (10/3/22) - SECURA Insurance promoted Kevin Klestinski to Chief Underwriting Officer effective Oct. 3, 2022.

"Kevin has shown his innovative mindset both with products and with processes by consistently broadening SECURA’s specialty appetite, implementing systems and functionality to help our underwriters more efficiently serve our customers, and profitably growing our specialty book of business over the last seven years,” said Garth Wicinsky, SECURA’s President & CEO.

“An internal promotion to this role speaks to the bench strength of our associates, and I’m excited for the leadership, enthusiasm, and strategic thinking Kevin will bring as he serves our independent agent partners and leads our underwriting units.”

Klestinski joined SECURA in 2015 as Vice President – Specialty Lines Underwriting where he was responsible for the profitability of the carrier’s Specialty Lines property and casualty insurance products.

Prior to this, Klestinski worked as Vice President of Property and Casualty Underwriting at CapSpecialty Insurance where he led both their Admitted and E&S divisions, and he also held various commercial underwriting roles at Acuity Insurance. Klestinski holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., and has the CPCU, CIC, CPIA, ASLI, AU, and AIS designations.

“I am extremely humbled by the opportunity to lead the Underwriting unit at SECURA,” said Klestinski. “I’m excited to work even closer with our great agency partners, along with our underwriting teams, to help meet the needs of our policyholders.”

SECURA Insurance, headquartered in Neenah, Wis., is a regional group of property-casualty insurance companies operating in 13 states. Approximately 550 independent insurance agents represent the group, which provides a broad range of competitive commercial, personal, farm, nonprofit, and special events products. SECURA Insurance 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. It 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. Visit www.secura.net to learn more.

Fond du Lac, WI (10/4/22) - Rob Owen recently received the Society Insurance Customer Experience Award in a brief ceremony at Society’s corporate headquarters in Fond du Lac. This award is presented quarterly to an employee nominated by his or her colleagues for exceptional efforts in serving Society Insurance policyholders.

In recognition, Society donated $250 to Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County in Owen’s name.

In his role as an application solutions analyst III on Society’s information technology team, Owen works to optimize technology resources to improve the performance of systems and applications. As the employee who nominated him for this award observed, “Rob willingly shares his technical knowledge in a way that helps get everyone on the team working towards the same goal. Earlier this year, Owen worked day and night to solve an issue regarding a complex policy quote involving an insured with 44 business locations. He led his team through the process of pinpointing the root cause, designing a repair and delivering a completed quote. Owen then followed up with his co-workers to provide the key details to implement a permanent solution for the issue.

Owen’s unique combination of expertise and dedication to serving policyholders and agents makes him a trusted technical resource inside Society’s walls as well as an integral advocate for customers throughout the country.

ABOUT SOCIETY INSURANCE: Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Society Insurance has been a leading niche insurance carrier since 1915. Society focuses on the small details that make a big difference to its policyholders while offering top-notch insurance coverage, service and competitive pricing to businesses in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia and Texas.

West Bend, WI (10/11/22) - West Bend Mutual Insurance Company announced the promotion of Rob Jacques to president. Jacques has been with the company for 22 years and is a senior officer leading West Bend’s Commercial Enterprise. As president, he will continue to support the company’s corporate strategies and operating principles.

Kevin Steiner, current president and CEO, will remain as CEO and looks forward to working with Rob Jacques in his new role as president.

“Rob has the support of an excellent group of officers and leaders at West Bend. He’s a strong advocate of our company’s culture. He recognizes that the outstanding success our company has enjoyed for the past decade is due to the relationships we’ve built with our associates and agents working for and representing our company,” stated Kevin Steiner.

Rob Jacques also serves as a director on the boards of the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, and the Kettle Moraine YMCA.

For more than 125 years, West Bend has been providing valuable insurance coverages and services to business owners, as well home and auto owners. West Bend has earned a reputation in the industry for building and nurturing strong relationships with agents through personal contact, responsible actions, and a genuine concern for its valued partners. Today, more than 1,500 independent insurance agencies across 15 states represent West Bend.