News Archive

News Archive

2024 Top Workplace (09/24/2024)
“Grinnell Mutual is honored to be recognized as one of Iowa’s Top Workplaces for the 14th consecutive year,” said Jeff Menary, Grinnell Mutual CEO. “At Grinnell Mutual we recognize that the reason for our long-term success is the outstanding work by our staff, which is why their happiness and job satisfaction are top priorities at Grinnell Mutual.

Under the AI hammer (09/13/2024)
Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every business. The insurance industry is no different.

Highbarger named VP (07/30/2024)
Grinnell Mutual has named Joe Highbarger as its new vice president of Actuarial Services, a new division at the company, effective July 29, 2024.

2024 Annual Meeting (07/01/2024)
Grinnell Mutual’s 116th annual business meeting convened on June 26, 2024, in Grinnell, Iowa, at the Grinnell Mutual Bartelt Conference and Education Center. Three board members were re-elected and one new director was elected.

Greenfield tornado (05/24/2024)
On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Greenfield, Iowa, was hit by a destructive tornado.The company has historic ties to Greenfield, where Grinnell Mutual was founded in 1909 as the Iowa Farmers Mutual Insurance Association.

Road to Success winners 2024 (05/20/2024)
Grinnell Mutual is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Road to Success Scholarships. This year, a $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to 80 high school seniors across our writing territory.

ESGR award (05/14/2024)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented Grinnell Mutual with its highest honor, the Pro Patria Award at its April 26 Iowa Committee Employer Recognition Dinner.

Grinnell Mutual employees honored (04/24/2024)
At the second annual Grinnell Mutual Way Awards Gala, two departments and several individuals were honored.

Grinnell Mutual wins Iowa wellness award (04/24/2024)
Grinnell Mutual was announced as the winner of the 2024 Iowa Healthiest State Initiative in the large company category on April 17, 2024, at the group’s awards luncheon.

Kies new VP of claims (04/02/2024)
Kevin Kies was promoted to the position. He had been serving as the assistant vice president of Reinsurance Claims, a position he took in 2018.

Top Workplace USA 2024 (03/22/2024)
Based on employee feedback, Grinnell Mutual has been recognized as the 56th-best employer in the 2024 Top Workplaces USA awards for employers with 500–999 employees.

Mutual mergers (03/20/2024)
To survive in a rapidly evolving insurance landscape, many farm mutuals are merging.

Succession plan (01/16/2024)
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Dave Wingert assumes the role of president of Grinnell Mutual. Roby Shay, formerly vice president of Enterprise Solutions and chief information officer since 2015, joins the executive leadership team as COO while retaining his CIO title.

Grinnell Mutual CFO honored (12/11/2023)
Chris Hansen, Grinnell Mutual’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance has been named one of Iowa’s top 25 CFOs in 2023 by TOP CFOs (formerly Finance & Investing), a research and information source for news related to banking, finance, markets, and other topics relevant to CFOs.

2023 United Way (10/24/2023)
Grinnell Mutual employees and matching funds from the Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation raised almost $152,000 in pledges and matching contributions during the company’s 2023 United Way fundraising campaign.

2023 RISE Internship award (09/18/2023)
For the fourth year in a row, Grinnell Mutual has been named by Rising Insurance Star Executives (RISE) to its “Elite 50” list of the top places to intern in the insurance industry.

2023 Top Workplace (09/18/2023)
Grinnell Mutual named Top Workplace for the 13th consecutive year

115th Annual Meeting and Elections (07/05/2023)
Grinnell Mutual’s 115th annual business meeting convened on June 28, 2023, in Grinnell, Iowa, at the Grinnell Mutual Bartelt Conference and Education Center.

Patriot Award (05/12/2023)
Nicole Chesmore, assistant vice president, IT, was presented with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Patriot Award on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

2023 Road to Success scholarship winners (05/10/2023)
Grinnell Mutual, in partnership with its independent agency force, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Road to Success Scholarships.

Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2023 (03/29/2023)
Grinnell Mutual has received the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for the third year running. The award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures globally.

Presidents Club 2023 (02/28/2023)
Grinnell Mutual recognized a group of 50 independent agents and 10 mutual insurance companies for outstanding achievement in the insurance profession and superior performance for Grinnell Mutual in 2022 by naming them to its 2023 President’s Club.

AM Best rating (02/15/2023)
AM Best issued Grinnell Mutual a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (excellent) with a stable outlook.

Top Workplace USA 2023 (02/01/2023)
Based on employee feedback, Grinnell Mutual has been recognized as the 75th-best employer in the 2023 Top Workplaces USA awards for employers with 500–999 employees.

Larry Jansen one of a kind (12/29/2022)
When used in connection with Jansen, “one of a kind” works as a multi-purpose descriptor and is expressed in many tones of voice — from admiring and respectful to rueful and mildly exasperated

United Way (10/24/2022)
Grinnell Mutual employees and matching funds from the Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation raised a record amount — over $150,000 — in pledges and contributions to local United Way, United Fund, and Community Chest organizations where Grinnell Mutual employees live.

Larry Jansen dies at 75 (10/12/2022)
Larry Jansen, 75, died at home on Oct. 3, 2022. Jansen was Grinnell Mutual’s president from 2012 to 2017. Jansen joined Grinnell Mutual in 1979 as a personal lines underwriting manager.

Top Workplace for the 12th consecutive year  (09/23/2022)
Grinnell Mutual was named the fourth-best large Iowa employer in the 2022 Des Moines Register/Energage Top Workplaces survey.   

A Mutual on the Move (09/22/2022)
Jim Sanor, president of Sandy & Beaver Insurance Company in Lisbon, Ohio, is running practically from the moment he opens his eyes every morning .

The Family Business (09/21/2022)
Sic Parvis Magna, roughly translated from the Latin, is “great things arise from small beginnings.” It was the personal motto of English explorer and sea captain Sir Francis Drake, but it serves equally well as the motto for Koch Insurance, a five-office agency headquartered in Tyndall, S.D., started in 1953 by Royal Koch.

A New Beginning at Grinnell Mutual (09/12/2022)
Ola Aina moved to the United States in 2008 as a winner of the green-card lottery program. He chose Iowa because, based on his research, it seemed like the best place to settle as an immigrant.

Road to Success Scholarship recipients 2022 (07/14/2022)
Grinnell Mutual announces the recipients of the 2022 Road to Success scholarships. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors with Grinnell Mutual auto coverage who have excellent academic records and have been accident- and violation-free for their high school years.

2022 Gallup Winner (03/31/2022)
Grinnell Mutual has received the 2022 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA). The award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures globally.

Food Insecurity 2022 (03/24/2022)
The pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity all over the country. Grinnell Mutual, its employees, and its customers are all pitching in to help. And there are ways you can help, too.

Presidents Club 2022 (03/03/2022)
Grinnell Mutual recognized a group of 50 independent agents and 11 mutual insurance companies for outstanding achievement in the insurance profession and superior performance.

Top Workplace 2022 (02/08/2022)
Based on employee feedback, Grinnell Mutual has been recognized as the 29th-best employer in the 2022 Top Workplaces USA awards for employers with 500–999 employees.

Surplus lines (12/14/2021)
Surplus lines carriers help fill the void by writing policies declined by standard property-casualty insurance carriers. Grinnell Specialty Agency helps agents find coverage for hard-to-place risks.

Workplace Health Achievement Index (12/09/2021)
Scientific, evidenced-based instrument rates and recognizes workplace health programs and workforce heart health

Grinnell Re staff changes (11/29/2021)
Grinnell Re added two new staff members and promoted another.

Druvenga Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame (10/15/2021)
The Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame will induct Grinnell Mutual Board Director Randy Druvenga in a ceremony on Oct. 19, 2021.

Women in farming (09/24/2021)
In 2019, more than a third of U.S. farms were owned or co-owned by a woman. Women play a large part in a farm’s success, but their role can be hard to quantify since much of the work is unpaid.

Top causes of fire loss (09/17/2021)
Electrical fires were the leading cause of fire loss in 2020. Read how electrical fires start, how you can prevent an electrical fire, and what to do if you have an electrical fire.

Top Workplace (09/14/2021)
Grinnell Mutual was named a Top Workplace large employer in Iowa for a 11th consecutive year in the 2021 Des Moines Register/Engergage Top Workplaces survey.

Fairground Facelift winners (09/09/2021)
Six local fairgrounds will receive a total of $7,500 in grants through Grinnell Mutual’s Fairground Facelift contest.

Derecho 2020 (07/29/2021)
A derecho ripped through the Midwest August 10, 2020, leaving $7.5 billion in its wake.

Ward's Top 50 (07/20/2021)
Grinnell Mutual has been recognized by Ward Group as one of its 2019 Top 50 Property and Casualty Performers for the sixth year in a row.

Hard and Soft Market (07/19/2021)
All industries go through natural cycles of supply and demand. The property and casualty insurance industry cycles between “soft markets” and “hard markets.” The state of the market affects premium prices and how risk is underwritten.

113th Annual Meeting (06/30/2021)
Grinnell Mutual’s 113th annual business meeting convened on June 23, 2021. Randy Druvenga, Kendall Lunsford, Mark Schmidt, and Jim Wellman were re-elected for three-year terms ending in June 2024.

2021 Road to Success Scholarship recipients (05/13/2021)
Grinnell Mutual announces the recipients of Road to Success scholarships. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors with Grinnell Mutual auto coverage who have excellent academic records and have been accident- and violation-free for their high school years.

2021 Gallup Winner (04/07/2021)
Grinnell Mutual has received the 2021 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA). The award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures globally.

Reinsurance Adjusting Program (03/12/2021)
Grinnell Mutual offers its members the Reinsurance Adjusting Program, a cost-effective, professional claims-handling solution.

Norris Insurance (03/11/2021)
Norris Insurance is an independent insurance agency headquartered in Amboy, Ind. Running is at the core of their business philosophy.

Mark Schmidt (12/31/2020)
Mark Schmidt, president/treasurer of American Mutual Insurance Association was elected to Grinnell Mutual's board of directors.

Vault best internship (11/04/2020)
Grinnell Mutual has been named one of Vault’s 2021 Best 100 Internship Programs in the United States, ranking 11th overall.

Co-op Program (09/23/2020)
Grinnell Mutual started their co-op program in 2012 to help young individuals take their classroom learning to their professional careers.

Pandemic Impact on Insurance Industry (09/15/2020)
The world has changed forever since the pandemic hit. How will it continue to change the insurance industry?

Michelle Hutchinson Vice President (07/14/2020)
Michelle Hutchinson has been named vice president and chief audit executive of the Assurance, Advisory, and Accounting at Grinnell Mutual.

Road to Success scholarship 2020 (07/05/2020)
Grinnell Mutual's Road to Success Scholarship program offers $1,000 scholarships to college-bound high school seniors with good driving records.

112th Annual Meeting (06/29/2020)
Grinnell Mutual members elected Mary Jo Robison to its board of directors. Members re-elected Larry Cook, Mark Knouse, Bill Lampe, and Steve Underwood.

Minnesota moratorium emergency order (06/23/2020)
Minnesota issued Administrative Bulletin 2020-3 on June 22, 2020, titled Insurance Business Practices Following the Issuance of Executive Order 20-64, requesting insurance companies implement the following protective measures in response to the Peacetime Emergency occurring as the result of the killing of George Floyd.

State bulletins regarding coronavirus (05/13/2020)
A listing of bulletins regarding coronavirus from state departments of insurance.

Trust in Tomorrow Premium Payback (05/05/2020)
Personal auto policyholders will be receiving a check for $30 per personal auto policy that covers a qualifying vehicle. As a percentage of direct written premium, this $5 million investment is comparable to what other carriers have announced.

Moratorium Request On Non-Pay Cancellations: Oklahoma (03/20/2020)
The Oklahoma Department of Insurance has released Bulletin 2020-01 on March 15, 2020, requesting that insurers provide a 45 day grace period for the non-payment of premium.

Illinois Moratorium - Vandalism (03/20/2020)
The Illinois Department of Insurance has released Bulletin 2020-15 on June 8, 2020, titled Coverage Related to Business and Property Damage Losses, Including but not Limited to Those Arising Out of Vandalism and Looting, requesting insurance companies allow coverage to remain in effect for an Illinois insured residing in a county where a disaster has been declared due to vandalism and looting

Belonging and Inclusion (12/04/2019)
Embracing diversity is not enough for companies. Instead, fostering a genuine sense of belonging for employees no matter their background will be the key to thriving workplace environments

Doing well by doing good (12/04/2019)
Consumers increasingly expect companies to focus on the people they serve. But for mutual companies, this has always been our way.

Michelle Hutchinson Chief Audit Executive (10/24/2019)
Chief Audit Executive Michelle Hutchinson will oversee Grinnell Mutual's the internal audit team and the annual statement preparation and tax advisory services for Grinnell Mutual members.

A climate of change (09/19/2019)
As the effects of climate change become more immediate and significant, insurers are recalculating the way they do business and assess risk

Marshalltown tornado (06/26/2019)
July 2018 tornadoes damaged a car in Marshalltown. When Grinnell Mutual policyholders Greg and Mindy Van Dyke submitted their auto claim, they got excellent claims customer service

Brian sullivan insurance trends (05/14/2019)
The future is in collaboration. An insurer’s competitive edge is in the use of third-party data, tools, and services. Sullivan recommends talking to vendors and suppliers to find out what you can do to be a better user of your service. And consider talking to your policyholders and agents to find out how you can better serve them.

Launching personal lines in Pennsylvania (04/03/2019)
Grinnell Mutual’s new Guidewire platform in Pennsylvania supports quoting, rating, underwriting, policy generation, claims processing, and billing, offering end-to-end policy management and issuance

Blockchain 101 (03/15/2019)
What is a blockchain and how will it impact insurance?

Grinnell Mutual launches SUCCESSion planning tool for agents (03/04/2019)
Grinnell Mutual partners with FindBob to create web-based platform for business succession planning

Co-op and internship program (12/10/2018)
The Grinnell Mutual co-op and internship program keeps the insurance career talent pipeline full. Grinnell Mutual invests in the next generation of insurance talent.

Succession planning (12/10/2018)
Grinnell Mutual invested in FindBob, which provides agency succession planning resources to agency owners.