Preferred Insurance Services Employee Receives Award

WEST BEND, Wis. – West Bend Mutual Insurance Company recently presented its Spirit of the Silver Lining Award to Brad Gombold, President of Preferred Insurance Services, Inc. The award honors West Bend agents and the nonprofit organizations they support for their dedication to delivering a silver lining to those in need.

Gombold received the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award for his support of Birdies4Brains, where he has been a vested partner since 2013. The mission of Birdies4Brains is to help families and individuals who, because of traumatic brain injuries, have unmet needs. The grant will be used for specific gifts to help people who are nominated for needs through the Birdies4Brains website.

"We are thrilled to bring recognition to Birdies4Brains and grateful to receive this generous grant from West Bend,” said Gombold. "This grant will allow Birdies4Brains to continue supporting families affected by traumatic brain injuries.”

“At West Bend, we have a proud tradition of giving back to the communities in which we do business,” said Kevin Steiner, president and CEO of West Bend. “The Spirit of the Silver Lining Award is a unique program that allows us to express our gratitude to our agent partners on whom we rely to identify the causes that matter most in our communities.”

Since 2006, West Bend has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants for sustaining support, special projects, or capital projects to nonprofit organizations representing a broad field of interests, including, but not limited to: arts and culture; education; the environment; family, youth, and elderly; health and human services; medical research; and community development. Grants are made to organizations within West Bend’s core geographic operating territory that includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota.

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About West Bend Mutual Insurance

Founded in 1894, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company is headquartered in West Bend, Wisconsin, and provides property/casualty insurance products throughout the Midwest. The company offers a broad personal lines coverage package, a full range of commercial products and services, insurance for specialty lines, and a surety division. West Bend employs more than 1,200 associates and is represented by approximately 1,300 independent insurance agencies throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska and has grown to more than $1.5 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The company has been rated A (Excellent) or better by A.M. Best since 1971.