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.