News & Events

The Leavitt Group, the nation’s 2nd largest privately-held insurance brokerage, is pleased to welcome David Bridges, CIC, as the President of the Leavitt Group’s Atlanta office. He will also serve as an Executive Vice President of the Leavitt Group’s affinity programs division.

Most recently with Wells Fargo Insurance Services as a Senior Vice President, Bridges has been in the insurance industry for over twenty years as a property and casualty specialist for large to mid-market accounts with an emphasis on commercial real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional associations.

"This is a great opportunity to be a part of a privately-held organization," said Bridges. "As such, the Leavitt Group has the unique ability to be more connected to the needs of customers."

Prior to working in insurance, Bridges had ten years of business experience as the Chief Operating Officer of a major floor covering distributor and installation contractor. Bridges graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Finance.

Leavitt Group of Atlanta has been in business since 1987 and has been affiliated with the Leavitt Group since 2003. The agency represents the top insurance companies in the country and are committed to building lasting relationships with clients and the insurance companies they represent.

$10,000 Helps Replace Wildland Gear Destroyed by Tornado

JOPLIN, Mo. (Dec. 12, 2011) – The tornado that hit Joplin in May caused unimaginable devastation throughout the community. Not only were homes, schools and a major hospital damaged and destroyed, the fire department also suffered significant loss. Two fire stations including most of the equipment were destroyed and four fire trucks were lost.

The Leavitt Group is partnering with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company to donate $10,000 to the Joplin Fire Department to purchase equipment for fighting wildland fires, including two heavy-duty electric winches, two backpack blowers, emergency scene lighting, and four sets of coats, pants and helmets. The owner of the local IHOP restaurant that was destroyed in the tornado was instrumental in letting Leavitt know about the needs of the department.

“This grant has helped us restore our wildland firefighting capabilities,” said Fire Chief Mitch Randles. “We’re so thankful for the support. It helps us achieve our main mission­ -- serving and protecting the Joplin community.”

On December 14th at noon fire department officials, firefighters, executives from the Leavitt Group and Fireman’s Fund, and the local IHOP will come together at the Joplin Fire Department for a special public event where the grant package will be presented.

The grant is part of a nationwide philanthropic program funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The program is designed to provide needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire department and burn prevention organizations. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued grants to nearly 1,800 different organizations totaling more than $28 million. Independent insurance agencies and brokers that sell Fireman’s Fund products, like the Leavitt Group, are able to direct these grants to support the fire service.

The Leavitt Group has directed more than $160,000 nationwide in grants supporting firefighters.

“We can’t think of a better way to support the firefighters in Joplin,” said Andy Pettise of the Leavitt Group. “The sooner the department can replace equipment lost in the tornado, the sooner they will be back to providing the high level of service to the community they did prior to the disaster.”

To visit Fireman’s Fund’s “Supporting Firefighters” Facebook page, go to http://www.facebook.com/SupportingFirefighters.

About Leavitt Group
The Leavitt Group, founded in 1952, is one of the largest insurance brokerages in the United States. It is an organization of affiliated independent insurance agencies with over 115 locations across the country and approximately $2 billion in annualized premiums. Leavitt Group affiliates are able to provide effective, sophisticated and creative risk management and risk transfer solutions to all types of businesses. For more information, visit http://www.leavitt.com/.

About Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
Founded in 1863, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products backed by industry-leading claims and risk management solutions. Fireman’s Fund is a leader in high-net-worth, entertainment, and green insurance. Fireman’s Fund is a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world’s largest providers of property and casualty insurance, ranked 27th on Fortune’s Global 500 list of the world’s largest corporations. For additional information, visit http://www.firemansfund.com/.

Santa Ana, CA (October 24, 2011) – The Leavitt Group, the nation’s 2nd largest privately-held insurance brokerage, is pleased to welcome Brett Borisoff to their executive team. Borisoff is a known insurance leader in the Southern California region who most recently served as senior vice president for SullivanCurtisMonroe.

In Borisoff’s new role with the Leavitt Group as an executive vice president, he will help guide the sales management of the Leavitt Group’s Southern California offices, including Leavitt affiliates PrideMark-Everest (Angelo Maroutsos, managing principal), Valley Insurance Services (Dennis Monahan, managing principal), Leavitt Benefits Insurance Services (Kevin Garrett, managing principal), Leavitt Insurance Services of Los Angeles (Doug Fyfe, managing principal), and Leavitt Insurance Agency of San Diego (Tom James, managing principal).

Borisoff brings with him 30 years of insurance knowledge and innovation to the Leavitt Group’s Southern California offices. His breadth of experience ranges from account manager, to marketing manager, to president, to agency owner. His entire career has been in California working with middle and upper-middle market clients. He has also created and managed numerous national programs in property and casualty and workers compensation for the construction, paper, and metal finishing industries. Borisoff graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Biology, and attended Loyola Law School.

Borisoff will office in the Leavitt Group’s PrideMark-Everest agency, which is located in the heart of Orange County.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Brett's caliber join the firm. With the ever-changing market place, Brett’s strong insurance carrier relationships and his ability to recruit and mentor producers will prove valuable to our group and our clients. I’m looking forward to working with Brett,” said Maroutsos.

“The way the Leavitt Group has positioned itself in California to become the predominant middle market brokerage is very exciting,” said Borisoff. “It was an easy decision to join in and become part of the action.”

The Leavitt Group is an organization of independent insurance agencies with 115 offices across the United States. Ranked as the 12th largest brokerage in the nation, and the 2nd largest privately-held brokerage, Leavitt Group agencies provide their clients with greater insurance market access, specialty products, and insurance programs ranging from property and casualty risks to employee benefits solutions. Clients also benefit from the consultative approach to risk management found within the culture of each office and the unique flexibility that comes with local, on-the-ground agency principals.

The Insurance Associates of Billings recently elected two Taylor-Leavitt employees as officers for the July 2011-2012 year. Janet Zaccagnini, CISR, AINS, as president-elect and Pam Oberweiser, CISR, as treasurer.

The Insurance Associates of Billings is a local nonprofit organization made up of insurance professionals, providing education and professional development to members and employers as well as providing various opportunities and donations to the general public.

This past summer Dan and Debbie Bowers of CIA-Leavitt Insurance Agency sponsored a white water adventure down the Arkansas River for the children of PALS, which stands for Positive Activities Lead to Success. Dan and Debbie, along with their staff, enjoyed a day of rafting with the children.

PALS is a licensed after-school and summer children’s program. The program provides a positive structure, offers an explorative learning environment, and builds trusting relationships for children who come from difficult or traumatic backgrounds.

Jenkins Insurance Group was recently named a Healthiest Employer of the Bay Area by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal in partnership with the San Francisco Business Times. Nominations were accepted for over 100 companies, and the agency was ranked seventh out of the 26 companies recognized in their category for inspiring healthy employee lifestyles.

Shana Lynch of the Business Journal writes, “Smart companies that want to keep their hard-working employees happy and healthy are making a serious investment in wellness programs.”

The employee benefits packages and corresponding wellness programs played a clear role in the selection process of nominees. Jenkins was therefore pleased to see that two of their clients were also recognized as Healthy Employers receiving first place and thirteenth place respectively.

Mike Taylor, managing co-owner of Taylor-Leavitt Insurance Agency, was inducted into the University of Montana Western (UMW) Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 1st during the 29th Annual UMW Hall of Fame brunch.

Taylor earned a degree in business from Montana Western in 1998 while playing football for the Bulldogs. He was a three-year team captain, a three-time All-Conference athlete, a two-time All-American, an academic All-American, and a recipient of the National Football Foundation Montana Chapter Scholar Athlete Award. Taylor is a member of the 1994 and 1995 Frontier Conference championship. He is also in the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1994 football team.

After graduating from Montana Western, Taylor played three seasons in the Indoor Football League for the Billings Thunderbolts with former members of the University of Montana Grizzlies, the Montana State University Bobcats, and NFL players.
Taylor has worked in the insurance industry as a commercial lines producer for Western States Insurance since 2003. In February 2010 he purchased his own agency, Taylor-Leavitt Insurance Agency, which is part of the 12th largest brokerage in the nation. He has excelled in this role where he manages the Billings, Bozeman, and Livingston, Montana, locations.

Kellogg-Ewing-Leavitt Insurance Agency is pleased to announce that Becky Workman, personal lines manager, recently earned the Certified Risk Managers (CRM) designation. The CRM designation demonstrates knowledge in all areas of managing risks, hazards, and exposures.

“Becky has demonstrated professional competence by receiving this designation through a series of classes and examinations focusing on risk management,” said Douglas Stumpf, Kellogg-Ewing-Leavitt co-owner. “Becky is a wonderful asset to the Kellogg-Ewing-Leavitt team and her valuable experience in the insurance industry represents her commitment to servicing the agency clientele and to continuing education.”

Pat Greany, CIC, of Northern Montana Insurance Services (NMIS), a Leavitt Group affiliate, has been named president elect for the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of Montana. Greany will assume the head leadership role at the annual PIA producer seminar this October in Bozeman, Montana.

Greany has 35 years of experience in the insurance business. He is the co-owner of NMIS, which was named agency of the year in 2009 by the Leavitt Group. He currently manages the agency of 21 employees.

Travis Clark, CIC, a commercial producer in the Shelby office of NMIS, will join the PIA of Montana board of directors at the upcoming meeting. “With five years in the business he will be a welcome addition to the PIA Board,” said Greany.

Mike Taylor, CRIS, managing co-owner of Taylor-Leavitt in Billings, Montana, will also join the board of directors. He brings ten years of insurance experience specializing in construction, workers compensation, and farm/ranch insurance. “Mike is a charismatic big time producer here in Montana and will be a great addition as well,” said Greany.