Brechler-Lendosky Group Celebrates 90 Years with Acuity

In the Fennimore, Wisconsin, office of Brechler-Lendosky Group, LLC, there is a wall filled with insurance company plaques. Many of those plaques are relics—from companies that no longer exist. Some of those companies have gone out of business. Some have merged. Some have been acquired.
November 6, 2020 | Agent
By: Michael V.
Michael has nearly 30 years of insurance industry experience that spans both commercial and personal lines. As Senior Correspondent for Acuity, he is responsible for creating a wide range of communications designed to inform and educate Acuity's customers and agents. Michael holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Author of Infocus

In the Fennimore, Wisconsin, office of Brechler-Lendosky Group, LLC, there is a wall filled with insurance company plaques. Many of those plaques are relics—from companies that no longer exist. Some of those companies have gone out of business. Some have merged. Some have been acquired.

 

But one plaque on that wall is from a company—and a partnership—that has stood the test of time: Acuity. In fact, the Brechler-Lendosky Group has represented Acuity longer than any other agency, marking an incredible 90 years this October.

 

At the foundation of this longstanding partnership are the relationships the agency has built with Acuity over time. “The underwriters we’ve had, the company personnel we’ve worked with—Acuity has always had great people,” says Steve Lendosky, Owner. “In a relationship-based business like insurance, that’s incredibly important.”

 

Family Legacy

 

When Steve was growing up, there was no question that he would have a career in the insurance business. “I spent a lot of time in the agency as a kid,” he says. “During college, my dad made me get my insurance license—during spring break when everyone else was off having fun!”

 

At that time, Steve’s father, Dennis, and mother, Sarah, owned the agency. Sarah’s father, Bob Brechler, preceded them in ownership, and Bob’s father, Leo Brechler, was the agency’s founder.

 

A community focus has been part of the agency since its founding. “We’ve always focused on giving back to the community and providing service,” Steve says. “People know and appreciate the fact that we are very involved.”

 

The agency is heavily involved with the Fennimore Chamber of Commerce, where Steve has served as president in four different terms. Dennis was a volunteer firefighter and served on the school board. Many staff are involved with local charities and church volunteer efforts. And Steve makes time to teach a class on insurance at the local high school.

 

“Most young people don’t know much about insurance, and few people think about insurance when making career plans. We try to do our part to provide education to the next generation,” Steve says.

 

Additionally, Steve and his wife, Brandee, created a foundation, Do It 4 Derek, named in the honor of their son, Derek Stanley, who died unexpectedly in 2013 just three days before his 10th birthday. The foundation sponsors a large fundraising event each year that helps support education, from offering scholarships to funding improvements in and equipment for local schools. Dennis and Sarah also have a private foundation that gives back to youth of the community through educational projects and school support.

 

“It all about giving back to the kids,” Steve says.

 

Personal Service

 

The agency prides itself in providing small-town service, where customers’ phone calls are answered personally, and agents can be reached 24 hours a day in emergencies. “Customers know they have access to us, and that makes a huge difference,” says Steve.

 

Additionally, Brechler-Lendosky Group has a large geographic reach, writing business not just throughout Wisconsin but also into Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Arizona. “People assume we’re this little agency that’s been in Fennimore for years, but we’re much more,” Steve says. “We also know if you want to grow as a business, you can only grow so much in your area, which is why we keep pushing into new territory.”

 

The agency’s P&C business is split nearly evenly between personal and commercial lines. “Although we write a fair number of contractors, we’re a generalist in commercial lines,” Steve says, adding that referrals and networking are the keys to its growth over time.

 

“We don’t buy any lead lists or make cold calls,” he says. “We want our business to be built on relationships.”

 

Future plans

 

Looking forward, the agency hopes to maintain family ownership, but understands that trying to find a fifth generation will be a challenge.

 

“We’ve made it to four generations, which is rare in this industry, and our children don’t have any interest,” Steve says. “Fortunately, we have some great employees—who we really consider part of our extended family—so I’m optimistic that the agency will be serving customers for many more years to come.”

 

And no matter how far the agency’s geographic reach spreads, it will always call Fennimore home.

 

“People know our location. They can see us from the highway. People walk by our office every day going to shops and restaurants and see us,” Steve says. “This is where we want to be.”

By: Michael V.
Michael has nearly 30 years of insurance industry experience that spans both commercial and personal lines. As Senior Correspondent for Acuity, he is responsible for creating a wide range of communications designed to inform and educate Acuity's customers and agents. Michael holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Author of Infocus