Kent Shantz, CIC, former President & CEO of Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, Retires After Forty-Plus Years in the Insurance Industry

(Pictured left to right: Dan Yesbeck, VP - Information Technology; Patrick Kennedy, VP - Claims/Internal Council; Kent Shantz, former President & CEO and acting Executive Consultant; Shane Heeren, VP - Sales/Marketing)

On August 2, 2024, Kent Shantz, former President & CEO and acting Executive Consultant, retired from Rockford Mutual. Kent joined RMIC as VP of Operations in 2012 with over 30 years of insurance management experience in Marketing, Underwriting and Claims. He quickly advanced into a Chief Operations Officer (COO) position in 2013, only to progress a few short years later to the organization’s President & CEO in 2017. 

Kent Shantz made significant strides in transforming RMIC during his tenure, including maintaining a “strong outlook” financial position regarding Rockford Mutual’s A- (Excellent) AM Best rating, expanding the company’s Commercial appetite tremendously, helping to create an inclusive, diverse, and supported award-winning workplace, and he was the driving force behind our current technology and rating platform. As of November of last year, Kent stepped down from his duties as CEO and has acted as an Executive Consultant to our Executive Team in preparation for his retirement.  

“We at Rockford Mutual thank Kent for his many contributions to RMIC’s success and wish him all of the best in his retirement.” says Rob Jacobson, President/CEO of Rockford Mutual.

ONWARD

Kent looks forward to spending time between his SW Michigan home in the summer and fall months and his Florida home in the winter months with his wife. With 40+ years of experience in the insurance industry, Kent also plans to invest his knowledge and expertise into his own consulting company, Kirtland Consulting Services, LLC, based out of Florida. 

“I will truly miss all the associates and agents affiliated with Rockford Mutual; they feel like family” says Kent Shantz, “Great people doing great things”.