Acuity Insurance

{{Short description|Mutual insurance company}} {{Infobox company | name = Acuity Insurance | logo = Acuity Insurance logo.svg | logo_size = 250px | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = AcuityInsuranceBuilding.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_alt = | image_caption = | former_names = Heritage Mutual Insurance | type = | traded_as = | industry = Insurance | founded = 1925 | founder =  | defunct =  | hq_location = 2800 South Taylor Drive Sheboygan, Wisconsin | area_served = United States (29 states) | key_people = Melissa Winter (President), Ben Salzmann (CEO) | services = | revenue = | revenue_year =  | operating_income = | income_year =  | net_income = $241.9 million | net_income_year = 2020 | assets = $5.8 billion | assets_year = 2020 | owner =  | num_employees = 1,500 | num_employees_year = 2021 | website = {{URL|www.acuity.com}} }}

'''Acuity Insurance''' is a mutual insurance company headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. [[Image:AcuityInsuranceFlag.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Acuity flagpole, 2006–2008 on the south side of Acuity's corporate campus. The current flagpole is placed on the north side of the campus near an artificial lake.]] thumb|right|200px|Current Acuity flagpole from Taylor Park in Sheboygan, {{convert|1.7|mi|km}} north-northeast of the Acuity campus.

== Overview == Acuity Insurance is the 55th-largest property and casualty insurer in the United States.<ref name="ReNewsRanks2022">{{cite web|title=The largest P&C insurers in the United States|url=https://www.reinsurancene.ws/top-100-u-s-property-casualty-insurance-companies/|website=Reinsurance News|publisher=Steve Evans LTD|accessdate=30 January 2024}}</ref>

The company operates in 32 states, generates over $2 billion in revenue, manages over $5.5 billion in assets, and employs nearly 2,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Acuity Set Growth Records, Surpassed $2B Annual Revenue in 2022 |url=https://www.acuity.com/about/media-center/in-the-news/2023/acuity-set-growth-records-surpassed-usd2b-annual-revenue-in-2022|website=Acuity Insurance |access-date=January 30, 2024}}</ref> Acuity Insurance is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and also receives an A+ rating from Standard and Poor's.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2006/11/03/news/01banks.txt|title=Purchase acquisition involves three area banks|last=|first=|date=November 3, 2006|work=Tomah Journal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214142604/http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2006/11/03/news/01banks.txt |archive-date=2006-12-14 |accessdate=2007-05-03}}</ref> In 2021, Acuity was named on Forbes America's Best Midsize Employers list,<ref>{{cite news |title=America's Best Midsized Employers 2021 |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-midsize-employers/#589a9130210f |access-date=1 May 2021 |work=Forbes |date=February 9, 2021}}</ref> as well as being ranked by Forbes as the best employer in Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=America's Best Employers By State 2020|url=https://www.forbes.com/best-employers-by-state/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Early years === In 1925, a group of farmers and small town business men from Sheboygan County came together to form the Mutual Auto Insurance Company of the Town of Herman.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sheboygan Press from Sheboygan, Wisconsin on June 28, 1957 · Page 2|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/240246258/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Newspapers.com|date=28 June 1957 |language=en}}</ref> The formation of the company came at a time when direct writers, mutual companies that sold insurance to farmers and others in specific agricultural businesses, as well as ownership of personal automobiles, were on the rise.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Background on: Buying Insurance {{!}} III|url=https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-buying-insurance|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.iii.org}}</ref> The next year, in 1926, William J. Prietzel became the first president and CEO of Mutual Auto Insurance, and would remain in this position for 33 years.

The 1950s would end up being a decade of many changes for the company. First, the company changed its name to Mutual Auto of Wisconsin in 1953.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} This name would only last for 4 years, as the company was renamed to Heritage Mutual Insurance Company in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |title=The History of Insurance |url=https://www.acuity.com/the-focus/general/the-history-of-insurance |website=Acuity Insurance |access-date=1 May 2021}}</ref>

=== The Marvin Hessler era === In 1959, Marvin C. Hessler was named the president and CEO of Heritage Mutual, after the sudden death of Prietzel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=5 May 1961, Page 18 - The Sheboygan Press at Newspapers.com|url=http://sheboyganpress.newspapers.com/image/240178591/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Sheboygan Press|language=en}}</ref> Hessler was the treasurer of Heritage at the time, as well as another longtime member of the company with over 25 years of involvement at the time he took up the mantle of leadership.

Hessler most notably played an important role in the company's negotiations with the Citizens Bank of Sheboygan to purchase their new corporate office.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1957-06-29|title=Sheboygan Press Newspaper Archives, Jun 29, 1957, p. 1|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sheboygan-press-jun-29-1957-p-1/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=NewspaperArchive.com|language=en}}</ref> In 1960, the company finished its move to Sheboygan.

=== The John Holden era === In 1969, Wisconsin attorney John R. Holden became the president and CEO of Heritage Mutual. Holden was instrumental in moving Heritage's headquarters to Sheboygan's southwest side along Interstate 43, where it sits today. At the time of the company's initial move in 1979, he was quoted in The Sheboygan Press saying, "Ninety-nine percent of the people passing Sheboygan will never see the downtown, but will view it from I-43. We think what they should see is our company building and grounds … and I think it will be a favorable recollection." Heritage Mutual completed its move to its current location in 1984.

Holden served as president and CEO from 1969 to 1999. During this time, the company's written premium grew from just over $7 million to $249 million. Under his leadership, much of the groundwork for the company's later growth and expansion were set.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lallensack|first=Rachael|title=Former Acuity CEO John Holden dies at 94|url=https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2015/06/26/former-acuity-ceo-john-holden-dies/29370255/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Sheboygan Press|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== The Ben Salzmann era === In August 1999, Holden stepped down from the presidency. Ben Salzmann, the Vice President of Technology at the time, became the new president and CEO. The company would change its name to Acuity Insurance in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muckian |first1=Michael |title=Acuity cops new attitude, outpaces competitors |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/03/17/focus1.html |website=www.bizjournals.com |accessdate=March 28, 2020}}</ref>

The company opened a $39 million addition to its headquarters in 2004. The addition added 262,000 square feet (24,300 m2) to the facility and renovated about 20,000 square feet (2,000 m2) of space.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In 2022, Acuity was named to Forbes’s Best Midsize Employers list.<ref>{{cite news |title=Acuity Insurance named a Best Employer by Forbes |url=https://wkts.org/2022/04/14/acuity-insurance-named-a-best-employer-by-forbes/ |access-date=17 April 2022 |publisher=WKTS |date=April 14, 2022}}</ref> The company was ranked at #26 out of 500 companies on the list,<ref>{{cite news |title=2022 America's Best Midsize Employers |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-midsize-employers/?sh=3cfe158210f7 |access-date=17 April 2022 |work=Forbes |date=February 10, 2022}}</ref> a more than 400-point jump for the insurer over 2021. ==== COVID-19 ==== In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis hit the United States. When the nationwide Stay-at-Home order was given in March 2020, Acuity remained open and operational. This was thanks in due part to the company's approach on remote work technology and procedures, as well as flex hour options for employees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Acuity's COVID-19 Update{{!}} Acuity|url=https://www.acuity.com/about/acuity-covid-19-update|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.acuity.com|language=en}}</ref> Throughout 2020 and 2021, Acuity would operate on a work-from-home basis, providing their employees with necessary equipment, gift cards, and other presents.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=This Insurance Company's Employees Say it's Been One of the Best Places to Work During the Pandemic|url=https://time.com/5935052/acuity-insurance-pandemic/|access-date=2021-05-03|magazine=Time|date=5 March 2021 }}</ref>

Acuity received praise for their handling of the COVID-19 crisis, with Ben Salzmann being ranked as the 8th Best CEO in the United States during the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=Highest Rated CEOs During the COVID-19 Crisis - Glassdoor|url=https://www.glassdoor.com/research/highest-rated-ceos-coronavirus/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Glassdoor Economic Research|language=en-US}}</ref> Employees would also rank Acuity as the best company for work-life balance during COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-29|title=Highest Rated Companies for Work-Life Balance {{!}} Glassdoor|url=https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/companies-work-life-balance/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Glassdoor Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Flagpoles == Acuity Insurance raised the tallest flagpole in the United States on July 2, 2005. The steel pole was {{convert|338|ft|m}} high, {{convert|6|ft|m}} wide at the base, weighed 65 tons (without the flag), and was sunk into a 550-cubic yard block of concrete that was {{convert|40|ft|m}} deep, {{convert|8|ft|m}} wide and reinforced by steel rods. The American flag was {{convert|120|ft|m}} by {{convert|60|ft|m}}, or 7,200 square feet (670 m2).

Each star was {{convert|3|ft|m}} high and each stripe was {{frac|4|1|2}} feet wide. It weighed {{convert|300|lbs|kg}}.<ref>{{cite news|first=Eric |last=LaRose |work=The Sheboygan Press |title=Acuity raises Old Glory Atop tallest flagpole in the nation |date=2005-04-02 |url=http://www.sheboygan.lib.wi.us/pages/acuity.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217023533/http://www.sheboygan.lib.wi.us/pages/acuity.html |archivedate=2006-02-17 }}</ref> This flag and flagpole outdid an earlier Acuity record, a flag raised June 2, 2003, atop a {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=on}} flagpole. The new flagpole was a replacement; the old pole toppled over due to stress and high winds, falling away from nearby Interstate 43. The new flagpole was designed with extra bracing and placed much farther from the highway.<ref>{{cite web| title=Acuity Raises Largest Symbol of Freedom in Wisconsin| url=https://www.acuity.com/whatsn03.nsf/pages/flag.htm| publisher=Acuity| access-date=2006-06-02| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927132916/https://www.acuity.com/whatsn03.nsf/pages/flag.htm| archive-date=2007-09-27| url-status=dead}}</ref> A powered hoist raises the flag at {{convert|80|ft|m}} per minute, regardless of wind conditions, and is synchronized so that the flag reaches the top of the pole just as "The Star Spangled Banner" ends. On October 4, 2007, it was announced that the flag pole would yet again be rebuilt to allow access to the beacon marker on top in case of light bulb replacement. The flag was rebuilt and the top section finished on April 4, 2008. On April 7, 2008, the pole, without a flag yet flying, began swaying noticeably during relatively low wind speeds. On April 8, 2008, the ball and top section were again removed, followed by a full removal of the pole.<ref name="AcuityFlag">{{cite web |title=The Acuity Flagpole |url=https://www.acuity.com/about/flagpole |publisher=Acuity Insurance |accessdate=19 December 2018}}</ref>

In April 2014, Acuity Insurance announced another attempt at the nation's largest flagpole to be erected by that year's Fourth of July, this time with a {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=on}} pole built in Manitowoc, WI by wind turbine manufacturer Broadwind Energy.<ref name="2014 flag pole">{{cite news |last1=Le |first1=Pauleen |title=Made in Wisconsin: Broadwind Energy |url=https://fox11online.com/archive/made-in-wisconsin-broadwind-energy |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Fox 11 News |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group |date=8 April 2014 |ref=Fox11Broadwind}}</ref> The flag measured {{convert|120|ft|m}} by {{convert|60|ft|m}}, with an LED lighting system designed to be visible from Cedar Grove {{convert|11|mi|km}} south and much heavier reinforcement of the pole structure. The new flag pole stands {{convert|400|ft|m}} tall. A {{convert|120|ft|m}} by {{convert|60|ft|m}} flag was raised for the first time on May 22, 2014. The pole has a concrete base spanning {{convert|11|ft|m}} wide at the bottom, with the top portion able to retract into the bottom portion like a whip antenna in high wind conditions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20140404/SHE0101/304040136/Standing-tall-Acuity-raise-record-setting-400-foot-flagpole-photos-?nclick_check=1 |title=Standing tall: Acuity to raise record-setting 400-foot flagpole |last=Theil |first=Kali |date=4 April 2014 |work=The Sheboygan Press |accessdate=4 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406022806/http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20140404/SHE0101/304040136/Standing-tall-Acuity-raise-record-setting-400-foot-flagpole-photos-?nclick_check=1 |archivedate=6 April 2014 }}</ref>

In November 2015, Acuity Insurance began flying a {{convert|140|ft|m|adj=on}} by {{convert|70|ft|m|adj=on}} flag. The new flag at Acuity Insurance, covering nearly 10,000 square feet, features stripes that are over 5 feet high and stars that are nearly 3 feet across. Weighing 340 pounds dry, the nylon flag requires 72 cubic feet of storage space when not being flown. The flag is the world's largest free-flying American flag.<ref name="AcuityFlag" />

On June 2, 2020, the flag was severely damaged during a heavy storm.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hilton |first1=AnnMarie |title=World's largest free-flying American flag torn in half by Wisconsin storm — some view it as a sign |url=https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/2020/06/03/american-flag-torn-half-storm-wisconsin-amid-coronavirus-george-floyd/3133219001/ |accessdate=3 June 2020 |publisher=The Sheboygan Press |date=3 June 2020}}</ref> Several red and white stripes were torn away.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feld |first1=Tyler |title=Acuity flag |url=https://www.facebook.com/tylerfeldphotos/posts/3001906886570431 |publisher=Tyler Feld Photography |accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> File:AcuityInsuranceSign.jpg|Road sign along Interstate 43 File:AcuityInsuranceBuilding.jpg|Corporate headquarters File:AcuityInsuranceEntrance.jpg|Entrance to corporate headquarters File:Acuity Insurance Flag.jpg|Acuity flagpole seen from Kohler's Blackwolf Run golf course </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.acuity.com Official website] *[https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.acuity_a_mutual_insurance_company.462c1895651a34b803082e770a9078ff.html Dun & Bradstreet Overview]

Category:Financial services companies established in 1925 Category:Companies based in Wisconsin Category:Buildings and structures in Sheboygan, Wisconsin Category:1925 establishments in Wisconsin Category:Mutual insurance companies of the United States Category:American companies established in 1925