Oswald Companies, one of the nation’s largest independent insurance brokerage and risk management firms, has an edge over its competition. “We have a different level of agility to move quickly as the environment changes,” says Christina Schmitz, marketing and communications director for Oswald Companies.

That’s important in today’s fast-changing business environment. “Whether it’s health care reform, different legislation or regulations, using the leading edge technology solutions we can get things to market very quickly,” says Schmitz.

The employee-owned Oswald Companies helps individuals and businesses identify, reduce and manage their risks through several business divisions, including property and casualty, employee benefits and health management services, personal client management and retirement plan services, and life insurance, she says.

Oswald Companies, was founded in Cleveland in 1893. Today the company has a total of six offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Toledo, Detroit and a new Cincinnati office in the Carew Tower, 441 Vine St.

“Through our Midwest presence we have a very close-to-home feel for the clients that we serve in those markets,” says Schmitz. “That is one of the reasons that we put a flag down in Cincinnati—to better serve that regional market with our team presence that’s really close to home.”

Moira Gettens is the market leader in the Cincinnati office. “She is quite connected in the market,” says Schmitz. “She has really driven our growth and our presence there.”

But the Midwest is not the only region for which Oswald Companies provides services. That’s because Oswald Companies is also a member of Assurex Global, the world’s largest organization of private insurance brokers, says Schmitz.

Being a member of Assurex Global allows the company to support the needs of its clients worldwide, she says. Assurex Global has more than 600 offices across the globe, says Schmitz. “We can service clients on a global scale through that partnership,” she says.

Oswald Companies also does a wonderful job of servicing its local communities through its Commitment to Community program, says Schmitz. Through the program Oswald Companies employees work for charitable causes, including serving on nonprofit boards, participating in fundraising events and giving back through volunteer work, she says.

That spirit of giving back to the community seems to be ingrained in all the employees of Oswald Companies. “It’s really built into the DNA of all of our employees that work here,” says Schmitz.

Oswald Companies can give back to their community through corporatewide initiatives or choose one on their own, she says. “We have a new program where individuals, in addition to those corporate-sponsored events can choose a day of their own on paid company time to pursue their own volunteer day of caring for something that’s very unique and special to them,” Schmitz says.

Oswald Companies also offers its services to nonprofit organizations, she says. “I think we have over 400 nonprofit-based clients in health and human services primarily,” she says. “So in addition to helping them through their charitable endeavors we also work to protect and help them thrive as a nonprofit,” says Schmitz.