business of the Week: M3 Insurance

Fifty years can seem like a lifetime, yet it has gone by in a flash. M3's milestone anniversary provides the opportunity to celebrate five decades of doing business the best way we know how – with hard work, integrity, lots of fun, and a commitment to care for each other, our clients, partners, and communities.

M3 was founded by Loren Mortenson in 1968 as an independent life insurance agency in Madison, Wisconsin. Two years later, Rich Matzelle joined Mortenson, bringing expertise in employee benefits with him. The company’s name expanded to Mortenson, Matzelle & Meldrum in 1985 with the addition of Charlie Meldrum, who specialized in property and casualty insurance. 

Regional expansion began in 1998, and by 2008, the company officially rebranded itself as M3 Insurance. Today, we are an independent, full-service insurance brokerage firm offering products, services, and specialized expertise in the major disciplines of insurance for business and business executives. 

A key theme driving M3's success over the years has been our willingness to expand to meet an ever-growing range of clients' insurance needs. Each new venture has brought with it new partners and officers and key employees, all vital in their contributions, all of whom have shared in and shaped what has become another key driver of our company's success: a distinctive company culture. 

The spirit of giving has also been an integral part of M3 since day one. The communities where we live and work give us a lot, so M3 wants to give back in ways that have real value. That's why we donate our time and money to local organizations that help make people's lives better. 

More than 260 M3 employees in five offices throughout Wisconsin – including Eau Claire – partner with thousands of clients to manage risks and protect assets. As the largest independent, privately owned insurance agency in Wisconsin and one of the top 100 brokers in America, we are humbled and grateful to have become well-regarded in the industry. 

Learn more about M3 Insurance and the impact it makes on businesses, employees, and community organizations through the M3 blog. 

M3 Insurance supports their communities, including United Way.