Home Office: Cottonwood, Minnesota

June 2018

Spring Agents MeetingsThank you to all who were able to join us at one of our recentSpring Agents Meetings. Late winter weather adverselyaffected attendance at a couple of locations but over 1300 agents still turned out and set attendance records at a few locations. Underwriting and claims staff were on hand to bring updates from each department. We always enjoy the opportunity to meet with you in person each year and meeting many first-time attendees as well.

These meetings are important to us as we set our future direc-tion. Your ideas, feedback, and suggestions help us identify and prioritize changes that will provide the greatest benefits to our working relationship.

Thank you for your support for North Star and congratulations to all agencies and township mutuals that received production awards. We appreciate your business!

PERSPECTIVEJeff Mauland, CPCU, AU

President and CEO

United Way Golf TournamentNorth Star held our 3rd annual golf tournament to benefit the United Way of Southwest Minnesota on June 1st. We are proud to support this great cause; it is through their local programs and outreach initiatives that our community thrives!

Growth Accelerating 2018 is off to a nice start in terms of increased policy and premium growth. Overall premium is up 5.7% through May, fueled by the addition of over 5,700 policies, well ahead of last year’s pace. Virtually all lines in all states are seeingpositive growth with auto and commercial lines leading the way. Market conditions remain competitive so we are thankful for this growth and very much appreciate your support. SFM Partnership

SFM, our Work Comp partner, continues to do a great job of providing a Work Comp market for your Commercial and Farm risks. Over 9 million dollars in annual premium is written with SFM through North Star agents and that number continues to increase. Please consider North Star and SFM as a market for your Commercial risks.

Year-to-Date Results2018 is off to a very good start with a nice underwriting gain and addition to policyholder reserves through the first five months. One good thing about the cold and extended winter weather conditions is it delayed the start of our traditional storm season. Storm activity has started to pick up over the past few weeks but nothing major so far. The next 100 days or so usually determines how our year will turn out. Hopefully, we can avoid major storm activity this year.

David L. Anderson is a life-long resident of southern Lincoln County, SD. He and his wife, Karen, live on the family farm. They have two children and five granddaughters.

Anderson attended a rural grade school, Canton High School and South Dakota State University. After graduating from SDSU in 1978 he began farming with his father.

In 1983 Anderson became a licensed insurance agent and began working in Canton at the Farm Mutual Insurance office. He became the owner of Canton Insurance Agency in 1992 and assumed the duties of manager of the Farm Mutual Insurance Company at that time. He has been a North Star agent throughout his career. He has earned the CPCU and PFMM professional designations.

As part of his service to the insurance industry, Anderson spent nine years as the executive secretary of the South Dakota Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

North Star Welcomes New Board Member

He spent six years on the board of directors of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and was chairman of the board in 2001-2002. He has also served on and chaired the NAMIC PAC board.

Other public service includes 15 years as a member of the Canton Volunteer Fire Department.

Currently he is a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving as Chairman of the HouseAppropriations Committee.

Congratulations, Terry, and thank you for your years of dedicated service!

North Star RetirementTerry Davis, Vice President of Accounting,

retired from North Star effective June 8th, 2018. Terry began his career with North Star in August of

1990 as the Assistant Manager of Accounting. In August of 1991, he was promoted to Department Manager. He was promoted to his current position

of Vice President in May of 2001 and will retire with 28 years of service.

Terry and his wife, Joan, currently reside in Marshall. They have one daughter, Marissa.

Congratulations!Thank You for your years of dedicated service!

New Claims Representatives

Welcome to Tom Schooley, who was hired as a Floating Claims Adjuster for the Property/Casualty Claims department. He began employment on March 21st.

He is originally from Burnsville, Minnesota where he graduated from Burnsville Senior High School. After high school, Tom attended Southwest Minnesota State University and received his degree in Marketing. Prior to North Star's employment he was employed with RemaxAlliance Realty.

Tom resides in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf.

Welcome to Sam Fenske, who was hired as a Floating Claims Adjuster for the Property/Casualty Claims department on May 29, 2018.

He graduated from Owatonna Senior High School and attended Minnesota State University in Mankato, where he received his Bachelors of Science degree in Com-munication Studies. Prior to North Star's employment, Sam was self-employed with his business Fenske's X-Lawns.

Sam and his fiance, Rachel, reside in Owatonna, Minnesota. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, college football and basketball, and motor sports.

Welcome to Mason LaRock, who has been hired asAssistant Actuary for the Actuarial department. He be-gan employment on May 14th.

Mason is originally from Tyler, Minnesota and is a graduate of RTR High School. Mason attended Minnesota State University of Moorhead and received his Bachelors inActuarial Science.

Welcome to Jim Sharkey, who has been hired as a Under-writer for the Commercial Lines department on May 29, 2018.

Jim is a graduate of Lakeview High School, and attended the University of Minnesota in Duluth and received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications.

Josh Sorensen, transferred to a Field Representative position for the Property/Casualty Claims department on May 21st. Prior to his transfer, Josh held the position of Floating Claims Adjuster for the Property/Casualty Claims department.

He has been with North Star since May of 2017.

New Position

ActuaryCommercial Lines

Prior to North Star's employment, he was employed with Citizens Alliance Bank. Jim and his wife, Myranda, reside in Cottonwood.

Prior to North Star's employment, Mason worked at HyVee.

Department Promotions

Chad Johnson, CPA, AIAF, AINS, has been promoted from Assistant Department Manager to Department Manager for the Accounting department.

Chad has been with North Star since April of 2014.

Connie Nelson, CPA, has been promoted from Senior Accoun-tant to Assistant Department Manager for the Accounting department.

Connie has been with North Star since December of 2016.

Tyson Rosa, AIC-M, AIC, AIS, AINS, has been promoted from Senior Claims Representative to Assistant Department Manager for the Property/Casualty Claims department.

Tyson has worked for North Star since May of 2009.

Brenda Schake has been promoted from Assistant Under-writer to Underwriter for the Farm department.

Brenda has worked for North Star since April of 2014.

Brenton Johnson, API, AIS, AINS, has been promoted from Assistant Underwriter to Under-writer for the Personal Lines department.

Brenton has worked for North Star since March of 2012.

Andrea Dolan has been pro-moted from Developer 1 to Developer 2 for the Information Technology department.

Andrea has worked for North Star since April of 2016.

Jessica VanOverbeke, AU, AIS, AINS, has been promoted from Underwriter to Senior Under-writer for the Commercial Lines department.

Jessica has worked for North Star since June of 2006.

Susan Javens, has been promoted from Assistant Un-derwriter to Underwriter for the Commercial Lines department.

Susan has worked for North Star since September of 2000.

Designations Earned

Kelly Buchert API, AINSClaims Technician

Auto Claims

Associate in General Insurance (AINS)

Brandi Louwagie, AINSUnderwriter

Farm

Associate in Personal Insurance (API)

Julie Gregoire, AIC, AIS, AINSClaims Representative

Property/Casualty Claims

Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)

Chris Lindquist, AIS, AINS, HCI-RClaims Adjuster

Property/Casualty Claims

Tyler Thompson, API, AIS, AINSAssistant Underwriter

Personal Lines

MALVERN, PA - Desiree Grunewald, CPCU, AIT, AINS, has been awarded the professional insurance designation Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) by The Institutes for successfully completing courses and examinations on risk management principles, insurance policy contracts and coverage analysis.

Desiree is a Developer 3 for the Information Technology department and has been with North Star since February of 2013.

She joins the growing number of North Star CPCUs, which presently includes: Sara Anderson, Randy Bakke, Todd Bossuyt, Sheila Brockman, Jon Brower, Brian Doose, Kyle Dretsch, Jan Falkum, Mike Flugum, Cody Fruin, Scott Gleitz, Deb Gniffke, Ashley Grams, Sarah Hansen, Pete Hellie, Cory Hubbard, Chuck Jahn, Larry Johnson, Ryck Jorgensen, John Kucera, John Kunkel, Darik Lyons, Jeff Mauland, Gary Metz, Bret Moeller, Brandon Olson, Zeb Prairie, Ellie Schuster, Travis Tjaden, and Deb Trevett.

CPCU Designation Earned

Congratulations on achieving this milestone in your career!