Federated Insurance® Highlights the Value of Competitive Separation at the 2026 Advisory Council

Back row left to right: Chad Kramer, Sebastien DesMarais, Jeremy Carlson, Brad Strong, Stephen Farrens, Michael Topolewski, and Don Aragon.
Middle top row left to right: Chris West, Khadija Head, Trevor Williams, and Rob Elolf Jr.
Middle bottom row left to right: Adria Bagshaw, Terry Lahoski, Kristine Cox, and Ivan Dorhout.
Front row left to right: Tim Capps, John Gehan, Becky Rauen, Nicholas Lower, Blaine Bingham, and Dave Szymanski.

For 37 years, the Federated Insurance^® Advisory Council has brought together business owner policyholders and Federated executives to foster collaboration, share expertise, and address the challenges businesses face in an ever-evolving landscape. This annual two-day event, held in Scottsdale, Arizona, serves as a platform for open dialogue and meaningful exchange of ideas, with the goal of shaping tailored insurance and risk management solutions that meet the unique needs of businesses across industries nationwide.

This year’s overarching focus was on Competitive Separation. Through engaging panel discussions and collaborative conversations, business leaders shared their experiences, strategies, and insights on how to differentiate their organizations. These discussions not only sparked innovative ideas but also reinforced the importance of staying ahead of industry trends to maintain a competitive edge.

Key Discussion Topics

In addition, the Council addressed several key topics, including:

• Prioritizing Risk Management: Evolving industry hazards while emphasizing education on preventable versus non-preventable risks were addressed. Federated® aims to enhance its value-added risk management offerings by helping business owners understand the importance of proactive loss prevention, encouraging peer adoption of these tools, and identifying potential gaps to refine and adapt its solutions for even greater impact.
• Business Succession and Employee Retention: Succession planning and retaining key employees were highlighted as essential for long-term success. Discussions focused on identifying future leaders, preparing for unexpected events, and fostering workplace cultures that encourage loyalty and engagement to ensure stability and multi-generational growth.
• Leveraging Associations Partnerships: Strengthening relationships with industry associations was identified as a key way to leverage collective expertise, access educational opportunities, enhance relationships with fellow business owners, and stay informed about industry trends. 

These collaborative discussions play a key role in ensuring Federated’s solutions remain practical, actionable, and aligned with the evolving needs of businesses, providing continued value to both policyholders and their communities.

The Benefits of the Advisory Council

The insights and recommendations generated by the Advisory Council influence Federated’s risk management strategies and innovative insurance solutions. By embracing feedback from a variety of business leaders, Federated is able to adapt to changing landscapes, develop better tools for risk management, and support organizational resilience.

This collaborative approach not only benefits policyholders, but also contributes to safer, more competitive, and well-prepared business environments for everyone.
Federated Insurance thanks the following policyholders who attended and contributed to this year’s Advisory Council:    

• Don Aragon - VA Electric, Inc.
• Adria Bagshaw – W.H. Bagshaw Company, Inc.
• Blaine Bingham - Bingham Equipment Company
• Tim Capps - PAR 4 Plastics, Inc.
• Jeremy Carlson - Carlson Duluth Co.
• Kristine Cox - Rowland Woodworking, Inc.
• Sebastien DesMarais - Hollywood Woodwork, Inc.
• Ivan Dorhout - Town & Country Implement, Inc.
• Rob Elolf Jr. - Environmental Air Systems, Inc.
• Stephen Farrens - Vermeer of the Heartlands (Vermeer Heartland, Inc.)
• Khadija Head - Head's Plumbing Sales & Service, Inc.
• Chad Kramer - Kramer Oil Co., Inc.
• Terry Lahoski - Terry Lumber & Supply Co.
• Brad Strong - Strong Volkswagen, Inc.
• Michael Topolewski - Perigee Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Chris West - Chris West Plumbing, Inc.
• Trevor Williams - Leitzel's Jewelry, Inc.

About Federated Insurance

Founded in 1904, Federated Mutual Insurance Company is a national insurance and risk management organization that supports the property, casualty, and life insurance needs of clients in select industries. The organization has more than 500 recommendations from local, state, regional, and national associations and buying groups and is rated A+ (Superior) by industry analyst A.M. Best®. 

At Federated Insurance, It’s Our Business to Protect Yours.®