The key is perseverance. Stick to your guns! Difficulties are bound to arise, and those days you want to toss in the towel. But in order to make real change happen, you have to stay focused on your vision and keep moving forward.

We recently chatted with Michelle Tremblay, Managing Director of St. Clair Insurance Brokers and recent graduate of Beyond Best in Class (BBiC), our 5-day program that focuses on collaboration and innovation. We were curious why she chose BBiC for her brokerage, what impact the program’s had and where the business is headed in the next few years.

IBAO: How long have you been in the industry?
Michelle: Since 1994. I started as a Claims Clerk working for Crawford Adjusters. I moved to the sales side in Personal Lines, then to Commercial Lines as a CSR working for a number of brokerages in Windsor. In 2005 I worked with two entrepreneurs to create Canada’s first full-service online insurance brokerage, Easyinsure which we launched in 2007. I moved to Toronto in 2010 to be Operations Manager for The Shepherd Group, then I returned to Windsor in 2013 to work for St. Clair. I currently oversee our three branches in Windsor, Chatham and London.

IBAO: Tell us about St. Clair Insurance Brokers.
Michelle: Our roots date back to 1891, with Ambassador Assurance in Windsor. After several mergers, acquisitions and name changes, we became St. Clair Insurance Brokers in 2012. In 2015 we acquired Grant & Mingay and Alliance Windsor. We’re now a modern, vibrant company backed by 125 years of customer service. We have 33 staff including 31 licensed brokers that range from 23 to 75. We have a past owner of Ambassador working for us to this day! Until recent acquisitions, we were primarily a Commercial Lines brokerage; we now have an even split – 50% Commercial Lines, 50% Personal.

IBAO: How does your team feel about change?
Michelle: Change is never easy. Our team has been through a lot, especially over the past year. It hasn’t been smooth sailing, but passion is infectious. We’re positive about the changes we’re making and do our best to ensure staff sees that, leading by example every day.

IBAO: When did St. Clair become involved with BBiC?
Michelle: When we acquired Grant & Mingay, the previous owner Jamie Mingay (now Personal Lines Sales & Operations Manager) and I discussed the program, hoping we could benefit by taking it together.

IBAO: Why did you decide to enroll?
Michelle: When I took over operations in 2013, it was just me. Bringing in Jamie was a new dynamic – I now had someone in a management position to assist on the leadership side. We needed BBiC to help us learn each other’s style. We were trying to merge two very different brokerages with two very different cultures, and we needed to learn how to work together to bring St. Clair to the next level.

IBAO: How committed are you and your team to adopting new strategies?
Michelle: I’m happy to say management is very well-aligned. We’re 100% committed. We’ll bring staff along at their own pace – I’m confident everyone will get there.

IBAO: What’s the most valuable aspect of this program?
Michelle: Wow. That’s a tough question! I found the entire program invaluable. If I had to pick one thing, I’d say the collaboration between participants over the course of the program. We had a wonderfully eclectic group representing nine brokerages, with some really amazing ideas and feedback. We weren’t afraid to discuss anything – everyone was very transparent about the things they’re doing within their brokerage. We worked together, helped each other and gained perspective on things we never would have just working within our own brokerage.

IBAO: Do you feel BBiC expanded your professional network?
Michelle: Absolutely! I was truly honoured to be involved in this program, with such brilliant insurance and business-minded individuals. I learned so much from every one of them, I hope we’ll be exchanging ideas for years to come.

IBAO: After taking BBiC, were you inspired to make change at your brokerage?
Michelle: We had already implemented a ton of change and were on our path to more. BBiC motivated us to carry on. It gave us confidence that we’re doing the right things.

IBAO: Where will St. Clair be in 5 years?
Michelle: We’ll have a digital arm, well integrated with our bricks and mortar brokerage, to help enhance and grow our business. We’re aiming to be a $50M company with 50+ employees.

IBAO: Would you recommend BBiC to your peers?
Michelle: I’d recommend it to anyone looking to truly affect real change in their brokerage. My advice if you’re considering BBiC: be 100% committed to not only creating a strategy for change, but following through and executing on it. It’s a lot of effort! Don’t go in thinking about RIBO hours – participate, do the work, live and breathe it. I can say with confidence every single broker in our program brought it, and then some. I for one am very excited to see where they take their brokerages!

IBAO: Have we missed anything?
Michelle: I’d like to thank Bill and Alex for their excellent facilitation of the program. They did a great job inspiring us. There were never crickets in the room with our gang, Bill and Alex ensured everyone was on their game at all times, which made all the difference. The main takeaway for me – collaboration is powerful!

BBiC runs May 10–12, with part two September 27 + 28 in Cambridge. Check our website for details and connect with Tracey with any questions.

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