Church Mutual Insurance Company has been named to the prestigious Wisconsin 75 list of top private companies for 2016 by Deloitte US.
The annual Wisconsin 75 ranking and recognition program showcases the economic contributions of the state’s largest privately and closely held companies, which provide “a stable foundation during challenging times” and “an engine for growth and innovation,” according to Deloitte.
Nominees for each year’s Wisconsin 75 awards must be headquartered in Wisconsin, be privately or closely held and produce at least $50 million in annual sales. Winners were recognized by Deloitte in a celebration event held at Discovery World in Milwaukee and attended by some of the state’s most prominent business leaders.
“Being named a Wisconsin 75 company highlights everything we are doing right,” said Church Mutual’s President and CEO Rich Poirier. “We are pleased and proud to be recognized as a company that is growing our business through product innovation and excellent customer service — and for having a positive effect on communities in Central Wisconsin and elsewhere. This is what it means to be committed to the greater good in every aspect of our business.”
“The focus on revenue highlights the financial impact that private business has on the state,” said Kevin Root, Church Mutual’s senior vice president of operations, “but annual sales is only part of the story. Creating jobs, putting people to work and purchasing goods and services from other local businesses all increase a company’s net impact. Our deep involvement in Merrill strengthens the entire area as well as the state, in multiple direct and indirect ways.”
Church Mutual has been based in Merrill since it was founded in 1897. The company employs more than 800 in Wisconsin. Another 250 employees, primarily sales representatives and risk control professionals, are located elsewhere throughout the country.
Angela Bailey, vice president of human resources for Church Mutual, said, “All of our employees can be proud of this acknowledgement. We would not have achieved this honor without their hard work and commitment to our customers. Our company’s ability to attract and hire the best talent is due in large part to the exceptional working environment we have created here and the many amenities provided by the surrounding community. We are an integral part of Merrill, as well as the entire state of Wisconsin. We also play an important role in the many communities across the United States where our employees live and work.”