July 13, 2021

UIS Insurance & Investments Continues to Perpetuate from Within

Mitch Felton, Chairman of the Board and CEO of UIS Insurance & Investments recently announced that Chuck Ritzler has been named President of the agency. Ritzler started his insurance career right out of college when he graduated with a degree in accounting from Heidelberg University in 1986.  Ritzler has been Vice President of the Financial Services department for the past 12 years.

Felton said the agency’s goal has always been to stay locally owned and operated.  The agency is committed to providing a great place to work for its employees as well as support the communities where it does business.  The recent trend in the insurance industry is for smaller agencies to sell out to the large national companies or private equity firms, which have no tie to the local community.  This typically leads to a consolidation of services and a loss of local jobs.  The steps that UIS has taken in the past and is taking now helps in the goal of staying locally owned for many years to come.

Ritzler said, “Bill Felton gave me, a young man right out of college an opportunity to work and grow in a career in the community where I grew up.  Now, to be sitting in his office as President of the agency is very humbling.  I owe a lot to the Felton family.”

Newly named officers are: 

Scot Flueckiger, Chief Financial Officer – Before joining UIS Insurance & Investments in 2004 Flueckiger spent 7 years in public accounting.  Flueckiger commented, “The UIS associates and family atmosphere drew me to the agency.  We have great people who go above and beyond each and every day.  It is an honor to be a part of such a fantastic organization.”

Scott Dickey, Executive Vice President - Dickey started with UIS in 2004 as a Senior Account Executive.  What he loves most about the agency is its dedication to clients. “UIS always keeps our customers’ best interests in mind to protect them from what life brings.  I look forward to our continued growth while not losing our small-town feel.” states Dickey.

Andy Stephey, Vice President of Sales and Marketing – Stephey has been a licensed insurance agent since 1994 and with UIS Insurance & Investments since 2002.  “Working for an independent agency allows us to provide solutions for our clients and always keep their needs at the forefront of what we do.  I love the long-standing relationships that we build with our customers and the impact that our agency makes in our communities.”

Deb DeBlase, Vice President of Operations – DeBlase started her career with UIS in 2005 and has held positions as Senior Account Executive and Human Resource Manager.  “Many companies claim to follow a family-friendly work culture.  It was apparent on my first day that Mitch, and the other owners, we're committed to enabling employees to balance their work and family responsibilities.  We, as a management team, strive daily to continue this practice for our employees.”

Ritzler added that each officer brings different talents and expertise to the room to make a very strong Management Team. The agency leaders plan to continue the growth of the agency organically as well as through agency acquisitions increasing its footprint.  They will continue working with the next generation to be able to perpetuate UIS and keep the agency locally owned for years to come.  The agency is continually expanding the services offered to their clients and developing growth opportunities for their employees.

UIS Insurance & Investments is one of the largest independent, full-service agencies in Northwest and Central Ohio and Southeast Michigan.  The agency has offices in: Tiffin, Bellevue, Bowling Green, Findlay, Fostoria, Fremont (2), Leipsic, Marion, Oak Harbor, Ottawa, Sandusky, Upper Sandusky, and Monroe, MI.  UIS employs over 110 people throughout their many locations. 

Photo of UIS Management Team: Back Row (Left to right) Andy Stephey, Scot Flueckiger, Deb DeBlase, and Scott Dickey. Front Row (Left to right) Chuck Ritzler, Mitch Felton, and John Kobelt

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