Kapnick was recently featured in a local Ann Arbor magazine. The result—a very nice article highlighting the history, Ufer connection, community involvement, corporate culture and values of Kapnick Insurance Group.

A really good read! See below for the full article.

On a sunny afternoon in October, I met with Réne Carpenter, Creative Director for Kapnick Insurance
Group, at the Ufer Building on Briarwood Circle. While waiting for the friendly front desk staffer to find Réne, I browsed the literature in the lobby and learned a bit about the company.

The Kapnick Insurance Group is a third generation, family-owned business with deep roots in Ann Arbor. Originally owned by Elmer Kapnick, the company opened its first office in Adrian in 1946 and serviced mainly local residents needing home and auto insurance, and small business owners. The company thrived, and in the years to follow they broadened their scope to other markets including auto-related manufacturing segments and doubled in size every few years. Eventually, they also expanded into the international arena, serving area businesses being bought by foreign entities, or expanding themselves overseas.

In 2009 our own local Ufer & Co. joined forces with Kapnick Insurance Group. The union gave Ufer added capacity to support customers’ insurance programs by drawing on Kapnick’s comprehensive risk management and employee benefits resources. “Our alliance with Kapnick has made custom insurance solutions even more accessible to our clients,” said David Ufer. “We have leveraged their strong carrier relationships and in-house expertise to offer our clients more options while still delivering Ufer’s trademark personal service and community involvement.”

“This partnership marks an unparalleled opportunity for two successful Michigan-based organizations to unify with a singular intent on being the premier agency within the Ann Arbor Community and throughout Southeastern Michigan,” said Jim Kapnick, president of Kapnick Insurance Group. “Combining the two entities creates one of the largest privately held insurance agencies in the United States, headquartered here in the 'Great State of Meeechigan!'” added Tom Ufer, playing on the famous “Uferism” used by their father, Bob Ufer.

In 2011, Kapnick Insurance Group and Ufer & Co. Insurance took their partnership to the next level when they consolidated their individual Ann Arbor offices by moving into the newly renovated office building on Briarwood Circle Drive, adjacent to the Briarwood Mall. The company officially named the new facility the “Ufer Building” in honor of Ufer & Co. founder Bob Ufer, who most will remember for his illustrious career as the University of Michigan football announcer from 1945 to 1981. The Ufer team has been providing the residents and businesses of Ann Arbor
comprehensive insurance and unsurpassed client service for over 60 years and is now operating under the auspices of Kapnick Insurance Group.

Kathy Wood, a member of the extended Ufer family and one of our own Ann Arbor Hills residents, serves as a client executive with the company. She is passionate about taking care of her clients and maintaining the highest level of customer service. In Kathy’s words, “Keeping current is half the battle; that’s why we provide client education year-round.”

While talking with Réne, I asked her about the plaque in the lobby that displays a list of employees who have worked for the company for more than five years, all the way up to 30 years and more. The list is long and impressive. An obvious factor in the company’s great success in retaining employees is their focus on building top-of-the-line services in a friendly and fun workplace. As proof, Kapnick recently won a spot in Crain’s Detroit Business coveted list of Cool Places to Work.

When I asked Réne how they’d won the workplace award, Réne showed me the conference room where the staff meets every other month to play Kapnick Klinko, a game that allows employees to apply their personal and business accomplishments towards earning points for prizes such as Jeans Day, additional PTO and gift cards. Employee recognition is an important part of the Kapnick culture, and once a month, company owners take a group of employees out to lunch. In addition, a Process Improvement Award provides cash to employees who propose an idea that results in greater efficiency.

According to Réne, the staff includes a great many millennials who bring their youthful energy and a passion for quality to the office every day. In many ways, this provides the perfect balance of current and cutting edge thinking with a strong foundation of traditional values and customer service. The smiling faces I saw the morning I met with Réne definitely proved her point.

The Kapnick family is also personally committed to the Ann Arbor community. In fact, co-owner Mike Kapnick resides in Burns Park, and his daughters attend Tappan Middle School and Pioneer High School. Fourth-generation, Andrew Kapnick is starting his own family here in Ann Arbor and has purchased a home in the Georgetown neighborhood.

As a company, Kapnick Insurance Group is very much involved in supporting local community events and efforts. For example, they are actively involved with the United Way as well as the annual Top of the Park summer events and many other non-profit organizations. When surveyed about their community involvement, this is what Kapnick learned about their employees:
∙ 40 employees are board members at non-profit organizations
∙ 75 different non-profit organizations are represented
∙ 5,053 total volunteer hours have been donated to date

Looking ahead, the company has big plans for future growth and expansion. Led by Douglas Kapnick’s
sons, Jim and Mike Kapnick, who purchased the business from their father in 2007 – taking it into third generation
ownership, a comprehensive 5- year plan has been drafted. Goals include increasing staff and upgrading client offerings and services, strengthen client partnerships, and continue to be the agency of choice. If you would like
to learn more about the many personal or business insurance options Kapnick provides, you can visit them online at www.kapnick.com, or give them a call at 888-263-4656

Robin Keith - Ann Arbor Hills Magazine, Area Director