Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/68118
Acuity's annual reports are an example of the company's style – one report was an award- winning pop-up storybook. technology, redefining workplace communication or figuring out new ways to ensure employees and agents feel valued, Acuity does what it can to set itself apart from the competition. And that competition is fierce. Not only does it compete against traditional national firms such as State Farm Insurance and Liberty Mutual Insurance, it also competes against Internet upstarts such as Geico and Progressive. Then there are smaller, regional firms like West Bend Insurance or Secura Insurance. Salzmann says Acuity has an advantage over firms Whether it's developing new products, embracing like Progressive, which only focus on one product – auto insurance – while the Sheboygan firm can provide a full line of products for both individuals and businesses from auto, home and life coverage to workers' compensation and liability insurance for businesses. Besides competing for customers, there's also intense Insurance cluster Look around the New North and you'll find it's home to several insurance organizations, including Acuity, Secura Insurance and Integrity Insurance in Appleton, Jewelers Mutual Insurance in Neenah and Society Insurance in Fond du Lac. There are also several insurance companies in the region with hundreds of employees including Guardian in Appleton and Humana in Green Bay, not to mention financial organizations like Thrivent Financial for Lutherans who employ workers with some of the same skills, like actuaries. To help area companies better train current and future competition for agents to sell their product. In insurance, some agents work exclusively for a nationwide company, such as American Family Insurance, which is based in Madison, while others are independent agents and can offer customers products from a wide portfolio of insurers. Acuity falls into this second category. Communication – especially with its 5,000 www. insightonbusiness.com employees, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh launched an insurance major inside its College of Business where coursework centers on insurance and risk management, networking with professionals, and preparation for various certifications, including the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). With Acuity looking to hire at least 50 people at its Sheboygan headquarters within the next year, programs like that at UW-Oshkosh and other area colleges to help train employees are crucial, says President and CEO Ben Salzmann. [continued] » June 2012 • INSIGHT | 21