2026 Sustaining Sponsor Spotlight: TrueNorth Companies

2026 Sustaining Sponsor Spotlight: TrueNorth Companies

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association is pleased to feature our Sustaining Sponsors in the 2026 Spotlight Series. This week, the focus is on Bronze Sponsor: TrueNorth Companies.

TrueNorth Companies

Location (Main Headquarters): Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Year established: 2001

Number of employees: 700+

About Your Company

TrueNorth Companies is a privately-held risk management and insurance brokerage, focused on creating value for our clients, colleagues and communities. We offer tailored solutions designed to protect your assets and inspire growth. Our industry specialization and dedicated teams deliver comprehensive, client-centric strategies to promote long-term success.

We provide property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and risk management services, along with agribusiness-specific solutions like TrueAg Insurance Exchange and AgShield Alliance, member-owned captive programs built specifically for agribusiness risk.

What makes your company unique? We're Midwest-based and locally owned, so we understand agribusiness risk because we live and work in agricultural communities ourselves. That local perspective, paired with national-level resources, lets us build unique solutions with you in mind, rather than adapting from a generic template.

Your Company Story

TrueNorth was established in November 2001 through the merger of three companies, creating the largest financial services firm of its kind based in Eastern Iowa at the time. Since then, we've established regional offices in Colorado and Illinois, launched First MainStreet Insurance (FMSI) to give independent agencies a path to partner with a lager firm, and extended our innovation and perpetuation efforts by investing in businesses that complement our core risk management and insurance brokerage services.

We've expanded our footprint with regional offices who serve clients across the nation, added employee benefits, risk management and specialty capabilities along the way, and have ensured a shared commitment by our colleagues to build lasting client relationships. We're proud to have been named a USA Top Workplaces award for five consecutive years.

What's next for your company? Our Agribusiness team has carrier partners and risk financing vehicles that allow for us to continue to serve the industry. In addition to our valued carrier partners, we have two group captives that are designed for the agribusiness industry. TrueAg & AgShield Alliance allow companies and cooperatives to take ownership of their insurance programs with likeminded companies. Our team is reinvesting in our clients risk management programs to make sure they are properly protected throughout their policy period.

OABA Membership

How has OABA membership benefited your company or the agribusiness industry? OABA has allowed our geographic footprint to grow and reach companies in the state of Ohio. Growing our network and connections to companies is the primary benefit we've received from OABA.

What is one reason you would encourage others to become an OABA member? Two reasons to join OABA is the connections made and staying current with what is going on in agriculture in Ohio.

Just For Fun

• The name "TrueNorth" was inspired by Franklin Covey's Seven Habits of Highly-Effective People.
• Philanthropy and community involvement are deeply important to us. In 2025, our community impact efforts reached $1,555,295 - and we're on track to surpass that for 2026!
• 2026 marks a major milestone for us - 25 years of helping clients protect today and maximize tomorrow.

Interested in becoming a Sustaining Sponsor?

Click here to learn more about the program or contact Lauren Prettyman Brown at [email protected]. Sustaining sponsors will automatically be promoted as such at all OABA events and will not be approached for sponsorship opportunities throughout the year.

Note that because the OABA Educational Trust is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, sponsorships related to this trust are separate from OABA.