Robert Wurtz and John Dirkse of Aegis Corporation Receive Prestigious "Friend of County Government" Award from Wisconsin Counties Association
Brookfield Company Executives Recognized for Years of Work on Behalf of Counties 

After over 17 years of working of closely with county governments around the state, Aegis Corporation President Robert Wurtz and Executive Vice President John Dirkse have been named this year's co-recipients of the Wisconsin Counties Association's (WCA) "Friend of County Government Award." 

This is the highest honor given by the Association to an individual or individuals who have performed outstanding service to county government in their official capacity. The two men were honored at last week's WCA Annual Convention in La Crosse, where over 1,000 county officials from around the state were in attendance. 

"We are proud to honor Mr. Wurtz and Mr. Dirkse with this award for their unwavering support of county government in Wisconsin," said WCA Executive Director Mark D. O'Connell. "As private business people, they have a creative energy between them that has helped our organization to better serve and protect the citizens of this state through highly successful insurance companies owned and operated by county government."

Aegis Corporation, located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, serves as the general administrator for the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) and its subsidiary, Community Insurance Corporation. In addition, they serve as the benefits and marketing consultants for the WCA Group Health Trust, which currently provides health insurance alternatives in 18 counties. 

The Wisconsin Counties Association, along with county officials from around the state, created the County Mutual in 1987 to provide quality liability insurance substantially at cost to its members. The County Mutual is a unique non-profit insurance company because it is member owned and is able to pay dividends to counties and municipalities in low loss years. Currently, 54 of the state's 72 counties are members.

Building upon the success of the County Mutual, Community Insurance Corporation was created in 2002 to provide coverage to cities, towns, villages and school districts in the state. There are currently 88 municipal members and nearly 100 school district members.

"From the beginning, Aegis Corporation, with Mr. Wurtz and Mr. Dirkse at the helm, has been instrumental in the creation and successful implementation of these three insurance companies," said WCA Director of Insurance Operations Jon H. Hochkammer. "They are the first private sector recipient of this award and their work speaks volumes to the importance of public and private partnerships in government."

Aegis Corporation specializes in the development and implementation of association and alternative risk financing programs as well as providing a full-line of business insurance coverages. The company also concentrates in the placement of professional and specialty liability insurance coverages. In addition, they provide extensive risk management services on behalf of their clients. In addition to working with local governments in Wisconsin, they also provide services to municipal clients nationwide.

Some of the past recipients of the "Friend of County Government Award" include former Department of Administration Secretary James Klauser, the late State Senator Joe Andrea, State Representative John Gard, former State Representative and current Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, former State Representatives Ben Brancel, Tom Ourada and Joan Wade, and former UW-Extension Chancellor Patrick Boyle.