Continental Western Group

Our Mission

Continental Western Group provides valuable underwriting and claims services which are viewed by our customers as being fair, rational, and responsive. Our consistent approach to local markets supports financial stability and relationships on which our independent agents can rely.

Company Description

The Continental Western Group of companies prides itself on meeting insureds’ needs in an ever-changing environment, building on the expertise and service developed over 100 years of insurance business history. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, it also has offices in Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin - and will be establishing an office in Colorado in 2011. Continental Western Group provides products to a wide range of businesses, but has also developed specific areas of expertise. For example, by leveraging the companies’ early roots in farm and grain dealer insurance, Continental Western continues to expand our offering of specialized programs for agriculture-based businesses. The expansion of our newest division, Berkley Agribusiness Risk Specialists, demonstrates our comitment to investing in specialty products that bring value and opportunity to our independent agency partners. Continental Western has enhanced its portfolio of products within other business classes such as telecommunications service providers, golf courses and country clubs, schools, collectible vehicles, volunteer fire departments and municipalities.

How Continental Western Group Is Different

Local Advantage
Continental Western Group believes that specialized knowledge about customers, territories or products only becomes a competitive advantage when this knowledge is applied as close to the customer as possible. Our regional office structure provides us with an in-depth understanding of our territories and knowledge of region-specific business interests. Opening a branch office in Denver in 2011 reinforces this commitment to local service. In addition to our office staff, we employ many sales, loss control, claims and agribusiness field representatives who live and operate in the same communities as our customers. Continental Western builds close relationships with both our agents and policyholders by maintaining traditional values and leveraging current technologies.

Expertise
We are well respected for our regional, market-based underwriting expertise and our value-added services, such as loss control, sales and claims. The average tenure of our underwriting staff is more than 15 years. They apply sound underwriting principles and take a disciplined approach to evaluating risk. This allows Continental Western to "protect our customers, one business at a time."

Group of Companies
Continental Western Group is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, recognized as one of the most respected names in the property casualty commercial insurance industry. Working in conjunction with other members of the Berkley group of companies, we are able to provide unique solutions to our agent and customer needs.

Distribution

Continental Western Group's commercial standard products are distributed through the independent agency system in 12 Midwest states. Because we have a decentralized management approach, regional offices are able to create programs and procedures best suited to their territories and consistent with the company direction.

Contact Information

For more information regarding Continental Western Group, please contact us at any of the office locations below.

Continental Western Group – Home Office
11201 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50322
Tel: (515) 473-3000
Fax: (515) 473-3015
www.cwgins.com
Contact: Ruth Ann Richter
Assistant Vice President – Sales

Continental Western Group – Tri-State Region
10 Roundwind Road
Luverne, MN 56156
Tel: (507) 283-9561
Contact: Curtis W. Bloemendaal, CPCU,
Regional Manager (interim)
Territory: Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota

Continental Western Group – Wisconsin Branch
8401 Greenway Blvd., Suite 248
Middleton, WI 53562
Tel: (608) 826-1185
Contact: William H. Cox, Jr., CPCU
Assistant Vice President
Territory: Wisconsin

Continental Western Group – Central Region
11201 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50322
Tel: (515) 473-3000
Contact: William J. Besonen, CPCU,
Regional Vice President
Territory: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri

Continental Western Group – Union Region
3641 Village Drive
Lincoln, NE 68516
Tel: (402) 423-7688
Contact: Michael L. Anania,
Regional Vice President
Territory: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming

Berkley Agribusiness Risk Specialists Division
11201 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50322
Tel: (515) 473-3000
www.berkleyag.com
Contact: Terry L. Shaw, CPCU
President
Territory: National