MI Future Foundation

  

MI Future Mission Statement

Our Mission

Recognizing the staffing crisis facing the insurance industry, the MI Future Foundation works externally to educate the public about career opportunities offered by Michigan’s independent insurance agencies and internally by educating independent insurance agents on the potential pool of talent offered by higher education institutions. In conjunction with these efforts, MI Future is building a bridge between agencies and prospective employees. MI Future is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 foundation.

  

MI Future Scholarshps

Student Scholarships

Sons and Daughters Scholarship
This academic scholarship benefits an immediate family member (defined as spouse, parent, child, brother or sister, spouse’s parent, child, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild) working at a Big I Michigan-member independent agency. Scholarship range is $2,500 - $5,000. Click here for the application

MI Future NextGen Leaders Conference First-Timer Scholarship
This scholarship provides a full registration to the 2024 Big I Michigan NextGen Leaders Conference, June 5-6, 2024 at Boyne Mountain and includes a two-night stay at the resort. Qualifying applicant must be a young agent under 40 years of age and/or in the insurance industry for less than five years who has never attended the Conference. Click here for the application

  

MI Future Internship Assistance

Agency Internships

TDA Insurance & Financial Agency, LLC was fortunate to be awarded the MI Future Foundation’s Agency Internship Grant for 2024. We selected a graduating senior from Central Michigan University, Austin Hintz, for our internship program. Austin graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration, and was eager to explore a career in Insurance Sales. Austin quickly passed the State of Michigan Licensing exam and immediately began contributing to our team. After completing his training, he has been successfully quoting and selling Personal Lines insurance under the supervision of our Management team. Austin has demonstrated a strong grasp of our systems, processes, and coverages, as well as an appreciation for our family-oriented culture at TDA. We are pleased to announce that Austin has been permanently hired as an Insurance Advisor for TDA. He is off to a great start, and we expect big things for Austin in his future. We cannot thank the Big I – Michigan Futures Foundation enough for providing us with the opportunity to bring such a great asset into our insurance world.  Mark Diederich, TDA Insurance & Financial

Watch for details on how your agency can benefit from a MI Future intern scholarship in early 2025.

MI Future Board of Directors

MI Future Chair Barbara Walker CHAIR
Barbara Walker, CAWC
Hartland Insurance Agency, Inc., Hartland
barbarawalker@
hartlandinsurance.com
VICE CHAIR
Cliff Miller, CIC
Tri-County Agency, Inc.
Tawas City
cliffmiller@tricountyagency.biz
Denise Cox SECRETARY
Denise Cox, CPCU, ARM, LIC
Donald K. Pierce & Company
Grosse Pointe
dcox@pierce-company.com
Treasurer Dan Mercure TREASURER
Dan Mercure, Jr.
Mercure Agency
Rockwood
dan@mercureagency.com
Ron Devers, MI Future Board of Director Ron Devers, CIC, CPIA, CAWC 
PSI Insurance Agency, LLC
Lansing
devers@psiinsurance.net
Tim Fekete, MI Future Board of Director Tim Fekete, AAI 
Fekete Knaggs & Burr Agency
Cadillac
tfekete@fkbinsurance.com
Jim McGrain, MI Future Board of Director

Jim McGrain, CIC, AAI 
Hartland Insurance Agency, Inc.
Hartland
jamesmcgrain
@hartlandinsurance.com

John Olson, MI Future Board of Directors John Olson, CPCU, LIC
General Agency Company
Mt. Pleasant
jolson@ga-ins.com
Amy Purcilly, CIC, ARM
Mason McBride, Inc.
Troy
apurcilly@masonmcbride.com
Dan Aitken, CPCU, CIC, AAM
Aitken Ormond Insurance, Inc.
New Baltimore
daitken@aitken-ormond.com
Steve Phillips, CIC
W.J. Phillips Agency, Inc.
Flint
steve@wjphillips.com