Jim McCormack
Co-founder and chairman
Diversified Insurance Solutions
100 N. Corporate Drive, Suite 100, Brookfield
Industry: Insurance
Employees: 80
www.div-ins.com
Jim McCormack is co-founder and chairman of Brookfield-based Diversified Insurance Solutions, a full-service insurance broker that provides employee benefits and solutions, risk management and business insurance to area companies. Its giving is associate-driven, and that approach has produced remarkable results inside and outside the company, McCormack says.
“Over the years, we’ve developed a culture of outreach that’s embedded in our company’s personality. We feel it’s our responsibility and it’s something our associates expect of us.
“For our 25th anniversary, we made a five-year commitment to help restore Sherman Park (in Milwaukee). For our 30th, we established a SPARK program to award $5,000 grants to area nonprofits. We created an internal SPARK committee to lead the review and selection process. That gave our associates an opportunity to assume a leadership role and gain experience and confidence outside their normal areas of responsibility.
“Externally, we wanted to fund organizations that were tackling issues in an innovative way. For example, one of our grants helped build a wheelchair-accessible fishing dock for Zachariah’s Acres (location of photograph) so children with special medical needs could experience the healing power of nature and the excitement of catching a fish.
“Our entire company is engaged with SPARK. We host a check presentation with each nonprofit so they can educate all of our associates about the needs that are out there.
“I truly believe we are sparking change in southeastern Wisconsin and in our associates, who we hope will become future business leaders dedicated to giving back.”
