Leadership

Michael M. Bill co-founded MJ Insurance, now known as The MJ Companies, in 1964. His journey with MJ has been nothing short of transformative, driven by a shared vision to establish an independent insurance agency based on sound financial principles and strong client service. Over the years, his vision has blossomed, propelling MJ into the ranks of the top 100 independent insurance agencies in the nation, as well as a “Best Place to Work” in both Indiana and Arizona.

Michael’s leadership and determination have enabled MJ to stand out among its peers, becoming the largest locally owned, privately held, independent agency in Indiana. With nearly 60 years in business, his strategic positioning and strong financial management skills have enabled MJ to grow to become a valued market leader. In addition to his many achievements, Michael remains deeply committed to the success and growth of MJ and the community, actively mentoring many of MJ’s employees.

Michael H. Bill joined the MJ team in 1992 as a consultant in the Risk Management + Commercial Insurance department, following his tenure at a nationwide insurance carrier, where he acquired extensive industry knowledge. In 2001, he assumed the role of president, and in 2006, he was appointed as chief executive officer, a role he continues to occupy today.

As MJ’s visionary CEO, Michael provides effective leadership and decision-making, fostering a positive company culture and ensuring the overall success and sustainability of the firm. He leads and is an active member of MJ’s Executive Leadership Team, a team responsible for developing the strategic direction of the organization in alignment with our purpose.

Jon Loftin joined the MJ team in 2004 as vice president of operations and assumed the role of president and chief operating officer in 2006. With a career spanning multiple decades in the insurance industry, Jon brings his extensive experience and wealth of knowledge to the forefront as a recognized thought leader.

As MJ’s President + COO, Jon serves as the architect of our operational framework, ensuring seamless execution of daily operations, driving data and technological advancements, and sustaining profitable growth across the firm. He plays a pivotal role on MJ’s Executive Leadership Team, a team responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategic initiatives in alignment with our purpose.

Brian Friend brings more than 25 years of financial experience to the MJ team. As MJ’s chief financial officer, Brian provides the invaluable insight of an industry veteran, which helped our company grow to become one of today’s leading insurance agencies.

With a focus on the financial health and success of MJ, Brian is responsible for enterprise strategic planning as well as budget formulation, acquisition structuring, and shareholder planning.

Leigh Crick joined the MJ team in 2023 as our senior vice president of people + culture, overseeing MJ’s Human Resources, Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition functions. Leigh is an active member of our Senior Leadership Team and dedicates her efforts to improving the employee experience and nurturing a positive and inclusive workplace.

With nearly two decades of experience in the HR field, Leigh brings a wealth of expertise to MJ. Throughout her career, she has held senior and executive-level positions in complex and high-growth companies. Her talent lies in building exceptional teams and enhancing the associate experience, a skill that has been instrumental in scaling companies from 50 employees to nearly 5,000. Leigh’s enthusiasm for creating powerful employee experiences shines through in her work. Her dedication to fostering a positive work environment and company culture ensures that MJ continues to develop and cultivate top talent.

Wes Edrington joined the MJ team in 2018 as a senior risk analyst in our Risk Management + Commercial Insurance department and has since been promoted to director of analytics and automation. Wes oversees the data collection and normalization of various datasets, as well as the development and production of reports for MJ’s Risk Management + Commercial Insurance clients using MJ’s proprietary analytics tool, APERTURE®. As director of analytics and automation, he is responsible for leveraging data analysis and automation techniques to drive decision-making and operational efficiency across the enterprise and is an active member of MJ’s Senior Leadership Team.

Prior to MJ, Wes gained professional experience in roles such as business and research analyst. Having developed his leadership skills throughout his time at MJ, Wes works alongside the analytics team to determine best practices for handling and analyzing loss data, exposure data, and policy data to provide a descriptive picture of past trends, predict future trends and prescribe solutions that best meet the risk management needs of MJ’s clientele. Wes and his team also work to enhance MJ’s internal and client-facing workflows through process automation, removing friction from both the employee and client experience.

Barry Goodrich joined the MJ team in 2007 as an employee benefits consultant in our Benefits Consulting department. Shortly thereafter, he became a principal and was later named market president – Arizona in 2022. In his role, Barry is responsible for providing strategic direction, leading sales and growth efforts in our Arizona office. His track record for growth and leadership has continued to develop throughout his tenure, solidifying his active membership on MJ’s Senior Leadership Team.

Barry’s specializations are as diverse as they are essential, encompassing employee benefit plan design and analysis, alternative funding, pharmacy benefit management, population health, benefits technology, and compliance management. He and his team help identify primary cost drivers through data analytics and develop tailored solutions for MJ’s Employee Benefits clientele. When faced with complex insurance decisions, Barry strives to simplify the process, helping organizations better leverage their insurance investments while reducing stress and creating optimal benefit strategies for employers.

Brian Gratigny joined the MJ team in 2014 as director of health risk management and has since been promoted to senior vice president of analytics, where he oversees the Analytics practice in our Benefits Consulting department. In his role, Brian leads a team of expert analysts responsible for delivering in-depth analysis and data-driven insights that empower MJ clients to make informed decisions. As a vital member of MJ’s Senior Leadership Team, Brian provides a critical and unique perspective to influence enterprise-wide data strategies.

Prior to joining MJ, Brian worked as director of business analytics for UnitedHealthcare. With nearly two decades of industry experience, Brian and his team work to provide data-driven insights and recommendations to clients while addressing key business goals and initiatives. The need for data and business analytics is continually growing, which pushes Brian and his team to continue to innovate MJ’s proprietary analytics platform, APERTURE®. Brian’s strategic marketing, research, and analytical knowledge have made him an invaluable member of our organization.

Bryan Gross joined the MJ team as the director of compliance regulation and has since climbed the ranks to become the vice president of legal + compliance. In his current capacity, Bryan establishes policies and practices to ensure MJ’s regulatory and contractual compliance, overseeing the legal aspects of our benefits and compliance strategies. As an integral member of MJ’s Senior Leadership Team, he plays a pivotal role in fortifying MJ’s legal foundation and shaping its future.

Remarkable accomplishments punctuate Bryan’s decade-long legal journey. Before joining MJ, he was an associate attorney in Krieg DeVault’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group. There, Bryan focused on Health & Welfare Employee Benefit Plans, offering legal counsel on complex matters such as benefit plan administration, employment contracts, severance agreements, and organizational policies.