About MAX – Page 12 – Welcome to MAX

MAX Featured Agent: Tom Petti at InsureitOhio in Madison County, OH

We value our MAX Agency Partners and this month we would like to introduce you to one of them – Tom Petti at InsureitOhio in Madison County, Ohio. Phil Blount, our Regional Sales Manager, asked Tom some questions about his agency and why they choose MAX for many of their clients. Check it out:

Q: What do you like about MAX?

A: MAX is a great insurance company to place business with. There are enough coverage options and products available to suit most risk profiles, and do it at a competitive price. However, once you get passed the nuts and bolts of product and price, the people of MAX are what really make the company a joy to write for. Over the years I have had one good experience after another whether it be billing, claims, underwriting, or simply a customer service call.

Q: In what ways does your agency support your community?

A: Our agency believes that being involved in the local community is important. It really sets the local agent apart from the large direct writers. We participate in local Chambers of Commerce, COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises), and the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. I also attend many community events in a more unofficial capacity. Sometimes it’s nice to just be out and seen in the community without always having to be there for business attracting purposes. My wife and I go to local fairs, school sporting events, and are members of some local clubs.

Q: Why do you believe someone should use an Independent Agent?

A: Placing business through an independent agent is not for everyone. There is certainly a place for the large, impersonal direct writers and the customers they serve. However, if an individual sees value in having a local person to person relationship with an insurance professional that is actually motivated to provide a proper insurance package for them, the independent agent is the way to go.

Q: What are some coverage issues that you are seeing right now that you want your customers to be aware of?

A: One of our main jobs is to educate the customers we serve. Water back up is many times one of those optional coverages that people don’t know they need until something bad happens. Many times, after explaining what this coverage is for and why they really should have at least a modest amount, the customers are happy to add it to their policy. Auto liability limits are also an issue. For many agents, we’ve been writing 100/300 for a long time. This may have been adequate ten or fifteen years ago, but with the ever increasing costs of medical care, it does not go as far as it used to. We like to offer 250/500 along with an optional umbrella, at least for conversation and customer education.

Help Change the World by Supporting Socially Responsible Companies

MAX EARNS COVETED B CORPORATION CERTIFICATION

Do you prefer doing business with socially responsible companies who respect their employees and customers, protect the environment and give back in their communities? If so, we’d like to tell you about B (Benefit) Corporation, an independent, non-profit organization that validates the claims of companies who say they are socially responsible; companies like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Warby Parker and MAX Insurance.

Today, nearly 2,000 companies world-wide have been certified B Corporations and we are proud to say that MAX Insurance is one of them. In fact, MAX ranks in the top 10% of B-Corps, and we are the only insurance company of our kind to earn this coveted designation.

MAX earned B Corporation certification because:

We help others in need through our Mutual Aid Ministries program,
We’re a cooperative that reports to our members not Wall Street, and,
We follow other fair, faithful and socially responsible business practices.

MEET OTHER B CORPORATIONS

Now, as an added value of your MAX membership, we’ll introduce you to other B-Corps. If you’re interested in their products or services, we invite you to contact them and let them know MAX told you about them. We receive no compensation or fees of any kind from these companies. It’s just our way of letting others know about this socially responsible business movement.

This month we’d like you to know about Home Free Baked Treats. Homefree ®, LLC seeks to make it easier for people with food allergies and most other special dietary needs to enjoy baked treats along with everyone else. Homefree bakes its “treats you can trust” in its own dedicated facility free of gluten and free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs wheat and dairy, using allergen sourced and tested baking ingredients. Homefree is committed to making inclusive treats that are both delicious and healthful. All are 100% whole grain, non-GMO, and all natural or organic. Homefree is a certified Woman Owned Business with a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Learn more at www.HomeFreeTreats.com

B-CORPS IN YOUR AREA

Click here for a directory of all the B-Corps across the U.S. and the world.

Thanks again for your support of MAX. We hope you’ll continue doing business with us and the many other socially responsible businesses who are trying to change the world by doing the right thing for our environment, our communities and our fellow man.

You can find more about MAX as a B-Corp at www.bcorporation.net.

MAX Insurance in Top 10% of Socially Responsible Companies Worldwide Evaluated by Comprehensive B Impact Assessment

–CONTACT: MAX Insurance (877) 971-6300

Megan Brock, B the Change Media – (785) 832-1222 ext. 208 or megan@bthechange.com

MAX Insurance in Top 10% of Socially Responsible Companies Worldwide

Evaluated by Comprehensive B Impact Assessment

October 11, 2016, Overland Park, KS

An Overland Park, KS, headquartered property/casualty insurance enterprise has been recognized among the top 10% of 1,800 socially responsible companies in the world, according to an independent assessment organization.

MutualAid eXchange (MAX) Insurance was recognized by the independent nonprofit B Lab and B the Change Media for creating positive overall impact in the communities it serves and for its strong relationships with its workers. The recognition of MAX and the other B Lab honorees was announced at the first-annual Best for the World Celebration & Awards Ceremony at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas Business School.

“The companies we are honoring as the best for the world represent the cutting edge of a global movement using business as a force for good. We are inspired by them, and feel deeply honored to join them in this historic and ground-breaking celebration,” said Bryan Welch, CEO of B the Change Media, the multi-platform media company that publishes the quarterly B Magazine and host of the Best for the World event at the University of California, Berkeley.

MAX was recognized for the positive way it relates to its workers. “We know we can’t pay the most but we work hard to recruit, train, support, promote, encourage and retain employees and independent agents who share our values,” said Dave Wine, MAX President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our team members choose to work for MAX because of who we are. We try to honor that by creating a caring and supportive work environment.”

MAX’s commitment to helping individuals and communities in need was also noted by B-Lab. “We try to use business as a source for good with the people and communities we serve,” Wine said. “MAX is fair, faithful and socially responsible based on our traditional Mennonite background and our ongoing commitment to creating and sustaining wholeness for all our stakeholders. We believe that’s the way insurance should be.”

To live out these values, MAX created and funds a program called Mutual Aid Ministries which provides grants to people and communities facing unexpected financial crises or in need of support for socially beneficial causes. The company funds the program through top-line revenue contributions. Over the years MAX, in partnership with its network of independent agents, has donated thousands of dollars to families suffering from illness, loss or tragedy, and to communities working to improve the lives of youth, seniors, the disadvantaged or the community at large.

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MutualAid eXchange (MAX) is a property/casualty insurance company that believes in a set of core values that derive from its founding Mennonite, Brethren and other Anabaptist faith communities. MAX employees, representatives, and members subscribe to and practice these values as conditions of their association with the enterprise:

MAX is FAIR. We believe in treating others as we would like to be treated.

MAX is FAITHFUL. We affirm and seek Higher Guidance from God, whose blessing extends to all people, no matter their particular spiritual pathway.

MAX is SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. We believe business has a responsibility to do good in the world.

Overland Park, Kansas Office

4400 College Boulevard, Suite 250

Overland Park, KS 66211

877-971-6300

877-785-0085

www.MAXInsurance.com

B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the best for the world and society will enjoy prosperity for all for the long term.

B Lab drives this systemic change by: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and good marketing; 2) passing benefit corporation legislation to give business leaders the freedom to create value for society as well as shareholders; 3) helping businesses measure, compare and improve their social and environmental performance with the free B Impact Assessment; 4) driving capital to impact investments through use of its B Analytics and GIIRS Ratings platform.

For more information, visit www.bcorporation.net.

B the Change Media was formed as a partnership between B Lab, the community of B Corporations, and Bryan Welch, former CEO of Ogden Publications (B Corp since 2010). B the Change Media is a multi platform media company whose mission is to build the world’s largest engaged audience of people with a passion for using business as a force for good. B the Change Media has editorial and operating independence and covers compelling stories about business as a force for good, not just stories about B Corporations. B the Change Media has independent investors and is a subsidiary of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that administers the Impact Assessment and aggregates the B Corporation community. B the Change Media is a Pending B Corporation.

For more information, visit http://www.bthechange.com.

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Volunteering at Nursing Homes…My Story

by Brad Shrum, CPCU

My maternal grandmother lived until almost 103 years and played a major role in my life. She lost her husband early in a farming accident during the height of the Great Depression, and before this lost 3 of 7 children to a diphtheria outbreak in the late 1920’s. My mother and 3 sisters survived this outbreak, as well as both grandparents. A different time to be sure. I would often go visit her in her last years in a nursing home facility in Southeast Kansas. I would leave the facility thinking of the loneliness and in some cases the hopelessness I would experience in the residents, and the hard work and dedication of the staff.

In 1992, with the support of Emmanuel Baptist Church, we started a nursing home ministry that branches out today to more than a dozen facilities around the metro area. Two of these, Leisure Care/Manor Care, and St.Joseph Villa have been directly in my care since 1992. Sometimes family members will call in need of a chaplain type, so this becomes an area of service as well. There have been residents under this church ministry for upwards of 12 years. It is bittersweet at times as you get to know both staff, family, and residents over time, then they are gone.

I am grateful that first The St.Paul Companies of the 1990’s and now MAX has allowed this to continue under our service time that is generously provided.

About Brad Shrum
Goose Hunter, Father of two sons, and Insurance Agent!
Direct Phone – 913-754-3823
bshrum@maxinsurance.com
LinkedIn Facebook

Brad has worked at MAX for the past 14 years and has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry doing underwriting, field management work, and sales. Outside of the office, Brad is an ordained Southern Baptist Deacon and a Sunday School teacher of 30 years. In addition, Brad is a long-time Vacation Bible School teacher and has an ongoing 19 year Nursing Home Ministry. Since he was a young teenager, Brad has been an avid goose hunter, traveling across North America while pursuing this noble bird and enjoying the outdoor world.