Congratulations to MJ Insurance
2009 Marketing Agency of the Year

MJ Insurance, a $22 million revenue firm, based in Indianapolis with a branch in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been named Rough Notes Magazine’s Marketing Agency of the Year for 2009. MJ, which was formed in 1964, has grown to 111 employees in Indianapolis and another 10 in Arizona. In the difficult economy of 2009, the firm’s revenues advanced 7% during the first 7 months of the year, at which time MJ was selected the Rough Notes Agency of the Month for September.

Rough Notes cover agents from the years prior to 2009 chose MJ to receive the 21st annual Marketing Agency of the Year award from among those agencies featured on Rough Notes covers last year. MJ executives will be presented with the award at a dinner in their honor in late March, attended by members of the magazine’s editorial advisory board and The Rough Notes Company executives.

Michael H. Bill, CEO, heads the agency, which was co-founded by his father, Michael M. Bill, who currently serves as chairman. The firm’s revenues are divided among commercial lines (65%), benefits (33%) and personal lines (2%). Niches are an important part of their business.

“Eight years ago,” says Michael H., “we developed a focus on Japanese-owned manufacturing firms.” One of those manufacturers had a president who was about to be transferred back to Japan, so MJ hired him to head its Japanese Business Team. The agency also has a Women’s Sorority Division, which insures 24 of the 26 national college sororities. In these and other niches, MJ focuses on strong risk management services.

“We rarely sell off-the-shelf products,” says Jon Loftin, president and chief operating officer. “We look at each client’s needs and develop a specific program that responds to those needs.”

Complementing its strong presence in the employee benefits market, MJ provides its own employees with health risk assessment screenings and access to an exercise facility. “We were recognized in 2009 as one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana,” notes Michael H.

In 1996, MJ began to execute an internal perpetuation plan, and today Michael H., the controlling shareholder, has nine other partners, all active in the firm. “We expect that number to grow,” says Michael H., “since we created a stock purchase plan in 2008 in order to bring in other owners.”

We congratulate MJ Insurance on being chosen Marketing Agency of the Year by its peers, the other outstanding Rough Notes cover agencies. The firm’s model of niche marketing strength, risk management expertise, support for their employees and independent ownership has produced a vibrant, growing agency.