Breaking the ice: Meet Collins & Associates Corporation

The UNIBA Partners’ network is constantly evolving; new Partners join, IDMs, and Senior Contacts change. Although we have the chance to see each other face-to-face, most of the time we are meeting behind our laptops. And in this online environment, you might have missed a new Partner joining or a contact change, right?  Through this article-series, we will make sure that that doesn’t happen anymore! In ‘Breaking the Ice’ we will introduce new Partners, their specializations, and, perhaps even more importantly, the people behind them.

In this month’s edition, we’re introducing our new American Partner, Collins & Associates Corporation. We’re joined by Parke Collins, President of Collins and Associates, Sheryn LeDuc, Collins’ Senior Marketing and Operations Manager, and Michelle Collins, Chief of Planning and Operations.

For those who haven’t have the chance to meet you just yet, can you please introduce yourself and your company?

Parke Collins II: I'm Parke Collins, President of Collins &  Associates Corporation. I've been with the company for 24 years, handling new business and working with producers.

Sheryn LeDuc: I’m Collins’ Senior Marketing and Operations Manager, involved in new business, Parke's accounts, and relations with other producers.

Michelle Collins: I am the Chief of Planning and Operations, working with our commercial lines team on marketing, carrier relationships, renewals, and new business.

Can you tell me more about your company and the type of business Collins does?

Parke Collins II: We were founded in 1929, now in our 95th year. We're a fourth-generation family-owned company focusing on large commercial and industrial accounts. We provide a holistic risk management experience, including risk financing, risk control, and claims mitigation services.

Why is “international” important to your company and clients?

Parke Collins II: International business enhances our global reach and expertise. It broadens our offering and value proposition, ensuring our clients receive world-class insurance and risk management services.

What are you hoping to get out of the UNIBA network in the coming years?

Parke Collins II: Relationships are key. We're looking forward to building relationships with other partners and agencies in the network while broadening our expertise.

We already had the opportunity to meet some Partners face-to-face during the Americas Regional Conference in Miami, back in April. The speakers and topics were all very impressive, and we value the collaboration and diverse perspectives within the network. Miami showed us how exciting it can be to see everything from a different angle, whether it’s in terms of geography or specialty. We need to reach outside of our bubble to learn and grow, and that’s exactly what we did and are hoping to do these upcoming years.

The other way around, how do you see your company contributing to the network?

Parke Collins II: We offer a variety of risk financing options, including guaranteed cost, large deductibles, and self-insurance captives. The Mid-West is one of the leaders in terms of captives, so we know that space very well.

Secondly, risk management. We're committed to improving our clients' risk profiles, ultimately driving down their total cost of risk. We hope that this will be of value to the Partners and their clients and we look forward to working with them in this area.

Is there any book that inspired you, either professionally or personally?

Michelle Collins: I read a lot for both professional growth and personal enjoyment. One book that stands out is Jane Austen’s "Sense and Sensibility" for its insight and ahead-of-its-time perspective.

Sheryn LeDuc: I enjoy reading as a stress reliever. I can't pinpoint one book, but it's something I really enjoy.

Parke Collins II: "The Ideal Team Player" by Patrick Lencioni was a great read, offering insights into building the right team with the right values.

And on a final note, if you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be and why?

Michelle Collins: Michael Jordan, for his intensity, integrity, and ability to elevate his team to greatness.

Sheryn LeDuc: I'd choose my grandparents. They passed away when we were young, and I'd love to share our achievements with them.

Parke Collins II: Frank Siller, founder of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, for his inspiring work supporting families of fallen heroes.