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In business, insurance is seen as something that companies need to purchase. For Mark Sheedy, Owner and President of Associates Insurance Group, insurance can have a much larger role to play. It can be used to help mitigate risk, safeguard employees, control costs, and create greater financial stability for businesses.
Associates Insurance Group is an insurance firm with offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, specializing in commercial insurance and tailored coverage options for companies. The company says it’s not just a “one size fits all” insurance. Instead, its experts are dedicated to understanding a business and then creating coverage that caters to its demands.
From Insurance Agency to Business Partner
Better Business Bureau says Associates Insurance Group was set up in 2003. Mark Sheedy is also listed as serving as “President” of Associates Insurance Group in public records of the company that have been available since 2002.
As time has gone on, Sheedy has evolved a philosophy that focuses on long-term client relationships, education, service, and risk management. When asked about the company’s growth, he stated that strategic sales, good service, and constant education have been the three drivers.
This philosophy is a shift in thinking among many businesses when it comes to insurance. Rather than just being familiar with the premium they pay, businesses must now get to know what is causing the premium to be borne or what they can do to reduce their risk.
Incorporate the strategy into Workers’ Compensation
One of the important aspects of Associates Insurance Group’s job is working with workers’ compensation. For many companies, workers' comp will be a major operating cost. Job safety, claims record, payroll classifications, employee roles, and more can impact cost.
Associates Insurance Group does a more in-depth job in this particular area. Risk management, claims advocacy, policy design, and resources for safe operation are among the major components of its business model, as stated on its website.
Mark Sheedy has spoken publicly about assisting businesses to understand their experience modification rate and workers' compensation costs. He has a strong background in assisting companies review their workers’ compensation programs and opportunities for enhancements on LinkedIn.
The concept is straightforward: Insurance should not be a line-item expense. They should be aware of the reasons for that bill and seek to control risk before it becomes a costly claim.
A Focus on Education
Education is one of Sheedy’s most prominent messages behind his leadership.
Insurance can be perplexing. As a business owner, you might be wondering about coverage limits, deductibles, claims, classifications, safety programs, and compliance. If these particulars are not known, businesses can make decisions based on just the price.
Associates Insurance Group’s model aims to provide more information to business owners before they make decisions. According to the company’s website, its experts analyze a company’s processes, industry risks, and future objectives to develop insurance solutions.
Educating is thus an important part of the relationship between the insurance agency and its clients. It is not just about selling a policy; it’s about helping business owners become more aware of the risks they are taking on.
Different business types require different insurance
Each business will have its own types of risk. These are not problems that a construction company would encounter, as they are problems that would be faced by a technology company, transportation business, healthcare organization, or professional services company.
That’s why Associates Insurance Group stresses the importance of customizing policy design.
The company’s website says that its experts analyze business operations and industry risks before creating coverage. The objective is to determine the possible gaps in coverage without incurring unnecessary costs.
This can be particularly beneficial for expansion businesses. Your insurance coverage requirements may change as your business grows and expands, such as hiring employees, opening new locations, buying vehicles or equipment, signing new contracts, or introducing new services. A policy that provided protection for a smaller business may not be the same once the business expands.
A customized approach enables insurance planning to evolve with the business.
Claims Advocacy and Support
Insurance becomes particularly vital when things go wrong.
An unexpected event, such as an accident, loss of property, or workplace injury, can cause financial and operational pressures. In these cases, a policy document is not enough for businesses. They need assistance with understanding the claims process.
Claims advocacy is a key component of associates’ service model. The company says its website outlines an advocacy plan based on the business, employee, and situation of a claim. It also outlines a nurse-led team to assist clients in the process.
This kind of help can save business owners time in trying to understand complicated claims procedures, and more time in running their business.
In the event that a claim does not occur, how much risk management is in order?
Prevention is an integral component of Sheedy’s strategy
While insurance can help cover the costs following an incident, risk management is about mitigating the risk of the incident or its consequences.
Associates Insurance Group offers safety resources, which encompass safety materials, safety methods, and compliance recommendations. The firm sees these services as assisting businesses in preempting risks that can turn into costly issues.
This can be advantageous to employers as well as insurers. A more positive safety culture can help employees, enhance workplace practices, and contribute to a more consistent operation within the business.
Creating a strong base of repeat customers
Relationships seem to be a key element of Sheedy’s leadership philosophy.
According to Sheedy, in a 2026 industry profile, long-term relationships, strategic sales, outstanding service, and ongoing education have fueled the company’s growth. He also spoke about the need to increase services as the demands of clients evolve.
A central tenet of commercial insurance is that a business relationship doesn’t have to terminate because a policy is bought. Businesses evolve and so do their insurance requirements.
There are various reasons a business could enter a different market, add more staff, acquire new equipment, have a claim, or modify operations, among others. Those changes, however, need to be understood by an insurance partner, and they should work out how the business can adjust its risk approach accordingly.
The insurance industry continues to change as businesses face new risks, rising costs, regulatory requirements, workforce challenges, and evolving workplace environments.
For Associates Insurance Group, the response has been to place greater emphasis on customization, risk management, claims support, and education.
Under Mark Sheedy's leadership, the company presents insurance as more than a necessary expense. Its approach is built around helping businesses understand their risks and make informed decisions about protecting their people, operations, and financial interests.
For today's business owners, that shift can be meaningful. Insurance is not simply about having a policy when something goes wrong. It is also about understanding potential problems before they happen and creating a strategy to manage them.
That is the space Associates Insurance Group continues to focus on: combining commercial insurance expertise with practical risk management and ongoing client support.
