Farmington Hills-based insurance company H.W. Kaufman Financial Group today announced the acquisition of Chlystek and White Services Inc. The Grand Rapids-based regional insurance premium audit services company will become part of Afirm, Kaufman’s international provider of premium audits, loss control, and risk services, which is based in Fort Collins, Colo.
“Michigan is home to H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, and there is no better place to invest time, talent, and resources than in our own state,” says Alan Jay Kaufman, chairman, president, and CEO of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group. “Chlystek and White has a reputation for developing key talent and a positive workplace culture. Those core values align perfectly with our organization.”
Each of CWS’s 158 employees will be retained by Afirm, including principal shareholder Mark de Waal, who will serve as vice president of sales, out of Grand Rapids.
“Afirm continues to lead our industry through their world class client service, and we are proud to play a key role in the journey,” says de Waal. “The strength of Afirm will allow all our clients to experience significant enhancements and improvements in speed, service, support, coverage territory, and additional services to better serve their insured.”
CWS has served the audit needs of commercial lines insurance providers since 1988.
H.W. Kaufman Group also recently announced the opening of its new office in Grand Rapids for Burns and Wilcox, a wholesale insurance broker and underwriting manager. The new location expands the company’s presence to better serve an expanding client base of insurance retail brokers and agents – marking the second major location in Michigan.
Jeff Diefenbach, CPCU, Corporate Senior Vice President and current Managing Director of Detroit/Farmington Hills, also oversees Cleveland and Indianapolis with Burns & Wilcox, and will serve as Managing Director of the new office located in downtown Grand Rapids inside the historical Ledyard Building. The office will be located at 125 Ottawa Street, Suite 425, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. A growing team of industry experts will operate in the Grand Rapids office, with employees originating from the local area and across major Midwest cities, including Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis.
“Grand Rapids is a growing business hub in Michigan, and the new location is a direct result of an increased focus in our home state” said Diefenbach. “Burns & Wilcox has already been able to attract high-caliber talent from major Midwest strongholds, and we look forward to continuing to grow the team as we expand.”
Additionally, H.W. Kaufman Group has recently extended its visibility in Michigan by becoming an official partner of the Detroit Red Wings. Leaders at Kaufman from around the globe will converge in Detroit for the annual Kaufman Leadership Meeting on October 23-28, 2017 to discuss 2018 goals, initiatives, and development plans.
