Risky business: major commercial insurance agencies around the state.

• Author: Lewers, Christine
• Position: Insurance - Directory

While Indiana businesses have weathered several years of rising insurance premiums and shrinking coverage, theres some good news on the horizon, says Nick Rutigliano, president of Tobias Insurance Group Inc.

"Carriers are again recognizing the preferred nature of Midwest based property risks versus major metropolitan areas and coastal areas, and they're adjusting pricing and capacity to reflect that," he says. "We're beginning to see improvements in the number of companies willing to quote and negotiate more competitive pricing."

His is one of a host of agencies across the state that do a large volume of commercial insurance business. Following are some of the state's major players in business insurance (some firms that did not respond to our survey are not included below):

NORTHWEST INDIANA

The Braman Agency LLC--8001 Broadway Suite 300, Merrillville, 46410; 800/707-2526; contact: Don Biesen, dbiesen@bramaninsurance.com. Offering property/ casualty, corporate insurance, group benefits and life insurance. Industries of specialization include hospitality, construction, manufacturing and transportation. The agency, in business 77 years, employs 35 and is licensed in more than 30 states, serving clients with international exposures.

Fleming, Bates & Barber Insurance Inc.--216 E. Joliet Street, Crown Point, 46307: 219/663-2483, 800/783-2483: www.fbbinsurance.com; contact Mark A. Bates, managing partner. Marketing area includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. Agency offers property, liability, inland marine, electronic data processing, boiler/machinery, workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, professional liability, directors/officers, employment practices liability, fiduciary, self-insured programs, farms, bonds and other specialty line coverages. Clients include contractors, schools, banks. non-for-profit organizations, Main Street businesses and agricultural/ farm operations. Thirteen employees work at the firm, which has been in business 57 years.

Haywood & Fleming Associates Inc.--650 S. Lake St., Gary, 46403; 219/938-5025; Roosevelt Haywood III is president. Serving businesses in northwest Indiana, Chicago and its suburbs for 20 years with automobile, builders risk, liability, property and workers-compensations insurance. The six-person staff represents 12 companies and specializes in municipalities, school systems, airports, casinos and not-for-profit organizations.

HIA Insurance--222 Indianapolis Blvd. Suite 203, Schererville, 46375; 219/865-1777, 888-233-3880; www.hiainsurance.com. Lawrence D. Meyers is president, and commercial contacts also include Beverly Messer. Serves Lake and Porter counties as well as Chicago and its suburbs. The eight-person agency writes all types of commercial insurance but specializes in contractors and helping retail, manufacturing and construction clients develop loss control programs. Founded in 1931.

NORTHERN INDIANA

Beauchamp & McSpadden--231 W. Canal St., Wabash, 46992; 260/563-8821; with additional offices in Warsaw and North Manchester as well as the affiliated Morrison Galliher office in Muncie; www.brains.com. The agencies that merged in 1968 to become Beauchamp & McSpadden were each established in 1927. Independent agency delivers policies from more than 150 carriers, with products including personal insurance, commercial risk management, life and health insurance and employee benefits. Its 40 employees include those at Morrison Galliher.

Brewton Insurance--21797 Omega Court, Elkhart/Goshen, 46528; 574/875-8506; www.brewtoninsurance.com; contact: Jerry Brewton. This family-owned company has been serving businesses in Elkhart and surrounding counties in Indiana and Michigan since 1974.

Cassady Nesser Brasseur--340 Columbia Place, South Bend, 46601; 574/233-9443; www.cassady.net; Tom Cassady is managing partner, commercial contact is Alicia Webber. Primarily serving northern Indiana and southwestern-lower Michigan, the agency focuses on medium to large commercial firms and specializes in hospitals, manufacturing, contracting, oil and gas distribution and workers compensation. The 40-employee company has been in business since 1917.

Gibson Insurance Group--300 S. St. Louis Blvd. Suite 200...