Ron Jackson Insurance was founded by a former Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox player in 1962 and has stayed in the Kalamazoo area, and in the family, ever since.

RON JACKSON INSURANCE; KALAMAZOO, MI | Today, the organization is staffed by members of the Jackson family, but it has also expanded its ranks to include new “family” members. “We are one big family. But on two levels,” states Ron Jackson’s son, Mark Jackson, who serves as the company’s president alongside his sister, Operations Manager Jennifer Jackson.

To make sure that every new hire is a perfect match for the family culture, the agency has a rigorous hiring strategy. Jennifer explains, “Because we are such a tight group, one of my biggest concerns was how a new person would fit. So before we hire anyone, we have a job shadowing stage and then a team interview, so everyone has a say in whether the newbie will be good for our culture.”

In years past, the Ron Jackson team has been spread out between two locations, but recently, the team moved to a new home base, completely reimagining an old community bank. There, they have found that they work best when they can collaborate and support each other in the same space. The team participates in regular activities like book clubs to better themselves professionally, and constant coaching pushes new team members of all levels to new heights.

Together, the Ron Jackson Insurance team continues to live out the legacy that its founder intended, proudly displaying its values on the wall. “I am so grateful to dad,” says Jennifer Jackson. “I know he’s super proud of us continuing to grow. When I started in the business, potential clients would meet me and say, ‘There isn’t a more honest man in the community than your dad.’ It was always such an honor. And it’s our responsibility to continue that legacy for the community.”