Frankenmuth Insurance Company
IAIABC: Please provide an organizational overview (number of employees, years in business, vision)
Katie O'Donnell, Claims Operations, Frankenmuth Insurance: Frankenmuth Insurance offers workers compensation insurance in 11 states: AL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, SC, TN, VA, WI. Their subsidiary, Patriot Insurance Company, offers coverage in three states: ME, NH, VT. We have been in business for 158 years and have over 900 employees. Our organizational vision is: To be the company of choice for our agents, policyholders, and employees.
IAIABC: How does your organization serve the workers’ compensation industry?
KD: At Frankenmuth Insurance, we strive to provide value beyond the policy. Our complimentary safety services provide business owners with the tools and resources they need to prevent work-related accidents and injuries from happening in the first place. Policyholders have access to free written safety programs, training materials, and videos to share with their employees through our partnership with an industry-leading provider of safety and compliance resources.
Additionally, our injury triage service provides supervisors and employees with immediate access to a trained healthcare professional for medical support for non-life-threatening injuries. This ensures employees get the right care they need quickly, while lowering claims costs and minimizing lost productivity for policyholders. By pairing reliable coverage with proactive tools and resources that strengthen financial resilience, we aim to deliver lasting value that supports our policyholders today while earning their trust for the long term.
IAIABC: What do you see as some of the major challenges the industry is facing, and how can we as a community address them?
KD: An aging workforce and ongoing shortages of skilled labor are creating critical talent gaps across the trades. As experienced workers retire, many industries are relying more heavily on less experienced employees, increasing the risk of workplace injuries, operational disruptions, and costly claims — particularly in high-hazard trades. Addressing this challenge requires stronger collaboration among industry groups, schools, and local communities to expand affordable apprenticeship, mentorship, and cross-training opportunities that attract and prepare the next generation of skilled workers. From the carrier perspective, helping policyholders strengthen workplace safety through proactive training, education, and injury-prevention resources is essential to reducing risk and protecting both employees and businesses.
IAIABC: Are there any projects/programs/initiatives going on at your organization that you are particularly excited or enthusiastic about?
KD: One of the largest company-wide initiatives currently underway is state expansion efforts. In the near future, we are focused on strengthening and broadening our presence across the Northeast, where we see significant opportunities to deepen market penetration, better serve our agents and their clients, and build stronger regional partnerships. This expansion initiative aims to geographically diversify our risk while enhancing our operational capabilities, talent network, and overall brand presence in key markets throughout the region. Ultimately, this state expansion effort represents a major milestone in our company’s long-term growth strategy.
We have also been working on a project to implement Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) integration within our current claims system to standardize workers compensation reporting through a vendor who submits required filings to the state agencies on our behalf. This solution will automate the generation and transmission of First Report of Injury (FROI)/Subsequent Report of Injury (SROI) transactions while also managing acknowledgments and error reporting. We are excited about the efficiencies this will bring to our claims adjusters while improving report accuracy.
IAIABC: What's an interesting fact about your organization that most people don't know?
KD: Frankenmuth Insurance has been in business for 158 years. The company was founded by community members who pooled their money to support one another during difficult times. Today, Frankenmuth Insurance operates on that same philosophy of “neighbor helping neighbor” by making a commitment to its policyholders and the communities in which it serves.
Beyond insurance services, the Frankenmuth Insurance Foundation focuses on community betterment through charitable grants and educational scholarships.
IAIABC: Why is your organization a member of the IAIABC? What would you tell others about the benefits of membership?
KD: The IAIABC provides us with a strong foundation of industry knowledge and resources that are especially valuable as we expand into new markets. As we enter new states and navigate varying regulations, requirements, and industry practices, we can rely on the IAIABC’s guidance, educational materials, and network of professionals to help ensure consistency and compliance. Their resources help our teams stay informed about industry trends and best practices, which is critical as we expand our footprint and adapt to new markets.
