Our Origin

Built on collaboration

1970s

Our foundation was built on collaboration and sharing best practices. What started as a small life insurance brokerage general agent study group in the early 1970s has grown, through decades of shared effort and investment in partner relationships, into the largest IMO in the country.

Today

Today, that foundation gives partner firms access to unmatched expertise, resources, and strategic relationships built to help them grow.

 
See the full timeline

Leadership

The team guiding
our partners forward

Today, that foundation gives partner firms access to unmatched expertise, resources, and strategic relationships built to help them grow.

Bill Shelow
Bill Shelow
President & CEO
J. Craig Collins
J. Craig Collins
Recruiting and Executive Consultant
Kelly Anonson
Kelly Anonson
Senior Vice President of Business Development
Rick Buteau
Rick Buteau
Senior Vice President of Operations
Molly Fallon
Molly Fallon
Vice President of Finance
Kelli Grass
Kelli Grass
Vice President & Chief of Staff

Our Culture

The people behind the partnerships

LIBRA group photo

At LIBRA, our success starts with our people and the relationships they build. Our BGA partner firms operate independently while working together with a shared commitment to growth. Leaders exchange ideas, share lessons learned, and support one another's success.

Strong relationships with carrier and vendor partners add depth to our network, creating opportunities to share knowledge, improve performance, and strengthen outcomes across every LIBRA firm.

Peer-Driven Collaboration

LIBRA promotes a culture where collaboration comes before competition. While BGA partner firms often serve similar markets, they openly share best practices, operational insights, and business strategies. Leaders learn from one another's successes and challenges, helping every firm improve and grow. This exchange of knowledge creates accountability, strengthens relationships, and allows each partner to benefit from the collective experience and expertise of the entire network.

Independent by Design

Each LIBRA BGA partner firm maintains local ownership, local leadership, and the flexibility to make decisions that best serve employees, customers, and communities. This structure preserves the entrepreneurial spirit that drives success while connecting firms to the resources of a larger organization. Partners gain the advantages of shared knowledge, collective strength, and industry expertise while maintaining the independence and identity that define their businesses.

Shared Ownership and Strong Relationships

LIBRA operates through a partner ownership model where every partner has an equal voice and an active role in governance. Through our reinvestment model, value returns to partner owners to support growth, innovation, and future opportunities. Our collective scale also strengthens relationships with carriers and strategic vendors, creating shared opportunities, deeper partnerships, and long-term value for every firm within the LIBRA network.