Mike Gleason

Some people saw the film Jaws and never put more than an ankle in the ocean again. Mike Gleason went to Stewarts Cove in the Bahamas, chummed the water to attract a swarm of 12-foot reef sharks and then hopped overboard. Add his more than 500 career ocean dives to skydiving and bungee jumping, and you can safely conclude that Mike is a risk-taker. He is also an expert risk management professional for The Horton Group specializing in the food production industry, international insurance, and group captives.

For nearly 40 years, Mike has worked tirelessly to build strong client relationships. He feels the difference between The Horton Group and publicly-traded insurance brokers is the delivery of value-added services, such as loss control, claims advocacy, and legal assistance.

"These resources are not cheap to invest in or maintain, but they are what keeps Horton clients satisfied and separates us from the competition," Mike explained. "Whether it be safety, claims or legal assistance needed, our people are among the best in the business and clients come to appreciate the access to these great resources." Mike has taken a leading role in The Horton Group's international efforts, including the company's valuable partnership with Assurex - international networks of insurance agencies.

"I provide risk management assistance for McDonald's bakery facilities throughout Europe and other countries across the globe. If McDonald's wanted to open a baking facility in Istanbul, Assurex puts me in touch with a reputable broker who is licensed to write policies in Turkey. If an Assurex partner in Denmark needed assistance with a claim filed at a client facility in America, Horton would help them. It's a proven network of top-tier independent brokers," Mike said.

Whether assessing the risks management needs of a bakery in Chicago or his own underwater oxygen & depth levels, Mike keeps a level head and does the job right.