Mel Foster Insurance, Davenport, celebrated its 2025 achievements at its annual recognition event Thursday night, Jan. 22, to honor its team members for outstanding performance, professionalism, and dedication to client service.
Hosted at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Davenport, the celebration was led by Marc Engels, president of Mel Foster Insurance, who along with President and CEO Rob Fick recognized individual accomplishments while reflecting on the company’s year of continued growth, resilience, and strong client relationships.
Mel Foster Insurance is a locally owned and operated independent insurance agency providing insurance solutions for business and personal clients throughout the Quad Cities region. Nearly 35 agents, staff and guests attended the annual dinner celebration.
In a Friday, Jan. 23 news release the company said that the insurance industry experienced unprecedented disruption in 2025. That included carrier exits from lines of business and states, significant rate increases, tighter underwriting standards, and reduced coverage availability across multiple markets.
Despite the challenges, leaders said the team remained focused on advocacy, education, and delivering exceptional service to clients. Strong carrier partnerships and experienced professionals allowed the agency to navigate complex market conditions and deliver trusted, relationship-driven solutions.
Despite continued market volatility, Mel Foster Insurance achieved solid revenue growth and improved profitability. It pointed to success across all core verticals, including personal insurance, business insurance, and employee benefits.
In addition, the company was named a 2025 Best Practices Agency. It joins an exclusive group of independent agencies nationwide honored for their high-performing business practices. The designation is awarded to participants in the annual Best Practices Study. Last year, the study analyzed 1,146 independent agencies. It nominated and recognized 348 who scored high enough to qualify.
Optimism for 2026
The evening also marked a spirit of shared optimism for the company’s continued success. Looking ahead, Mel Foster Insurance said it plans to continue to invest in employee development, technology, and operational efficiency to support a consistent and high-quality client experience, the release said.
Community involvement remained a cornerstone of its mission. The agency has supported local businesses, food drives, school supply collections, blood drives, and holiday assistance programs in 2025. It also helped sponsor community events such as the John Deere Classic, Quad-City Times Bix 7, Quad Cities Marathon, Festival of Trees, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Plant Sale.
“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to the communities we serve,” Mr. Fick said in the release. “Our success is built on the support of our neighbors, clients, and partners. Giving back alongside our employees is both a privilege and a responsibility we proudly embrace.”
Employee honors
The event also recognizes team members for their high performance over the past year and other achievements. The honorees are:
- Producer of the Year – Randy Schwanz.
- Outstanding Achievement – Brody Grothus and Stephanie Millage.
- Customer Services Excellence – Johanna Anderson, Sarah Bohling, Lorie Danielson, Sarah Whalen and Amanda Van Theemsche.
- Chairman’s Club – Brody Grothus, Andy Schoonover, Randy Schwanz, Mike Smith, Ben Uker and Lance Van Deest.
- Executive Club – Gene Krismanits, Susie Martens and Stephanie Millage.
- President’s Club – Sarina Andrae, Deb Carter, Jeanette Holland, Denise Mommsen, Kent Unwin and Craig White.
- Honor Club – Michelle Heald and Katie Holderness.
“As we close another demanding and rewarding year, I am incredibly proud of our employees,” said Mr. Engels, who was an inaugural QCBJ Forty Under 40 honoree in 2022. “Their professionalism, integrity, and commitment to our clients continue to set our agency apart. I am grateful for their hard work and excited about the opportunities ahead in 2026.”
Founded in 1932, Mel Foster Insurance represents more than 30 of the region’s most financially stable insurance carriers offering multiline coverage for personal and business clients in the Quad Cities and throughout the Midwest. Visit www.melfosterinsurance.com for more information.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.