MEM evolves through merger while staying true to its mission.

It’s sometimes true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. On the surface, that seems to be the case for Missouri Employers Mutual, which officially became MEM — just MEM — on January 1 as the result of a merger with Previsor Insurance.  

The move became official two months before MEM marks its thirtieth anniversary on March 1.  

The merger and the transition from being a public mutual to a standard Section 379 mutual insurance company, also effective January 1, has ushered in important changes but Laura Gerding, MEM corporate communications strategist, says the work comp insurance company’s mission is the same.  

“We really care about bringing people home safe to their families,” Gerding said, noting that 86 percent of MEM workers compensation policyholders are injury-free.  

A series of internal and legislative actions led to and prepared for the merger. Last summer, MEM President and CEO Roger Walleck announced in a news release that the company had taken “a bold step towards the future” by aligning its executive team “to drive revenue growth and deliver an exceptional customer experience.”  

MEM was originally considered a public corporation because the governor appointed the initial board of directors.   

Gerding pointed to a national crisis in workers’ comp coverage and claims in the early 1990s, and the Missouri General Assembly debated and approved a bill that created Missouri Employers Mutual. Gov. Mel Carnahan signed the legislation into law in 1993. Once the structure and business was in place, MEM opened on March 1, 1995 — and soon captured the top spot in Missouri’s work comp market share. Between 1996 and 1999, MEM opened offices in St. Louis, Springfield, and Kansas. The company maintains its headquarters at 101 N. Keene St. along Columbia’s medical and health corridor.  

MEM partnered with Previsor Insurance in 2015 to serve more Missouri businesses while also launching in Kansas.  In 2023, policyholders voted to convert MEM to a private insurance company and the conversion was made possible by Senate Bill 101, which was signed by Gov. Mark Parson.  

Gerding said Columbia Chamber of Commerce officials were among the local leaders who testified on behalf of MEM during hearings about the recent legislation.  

As a private mutual insurance company, MEM is owned by its policyholders and cannot be acquired. Its status as a private company will allow it to expand geographically and streamline operations.  

“We could only write policies for Missouri businesses,” Gerding said, explaining the need to become a private mutual insurance company. “We’re still serving our policies, but this allows us to grow and write business in seven states.” She said there’s also data that indicates rates tend to go down when work comp policies go private.  

Previsor will be a subsidary of MEM and operate as an underwriting company in 2025 and 2026. It will stop taking new or renewal policies in 2026 and merge with MEM Mutual on January 1, 2027.  

During its thirty-year history, MEM has developed relationships with multiple local nonprofits, and that level of community engagement will not change with the shift to privatization, company officials said.  

“We’re proud of our success — and we’ve made it part of our company mission to share it with the communities we call home,” the company said in a frequently asked questions segment on its website. “Our headquarters will remain in Columbia, and our commitment to our community will not waver.   

For instance, MEM has been awarding safety grants since 2017. The grant program is designed to give policyholders funds to purchase something in an area where they have had a claim. MEM awards roughly $400,000 in safety grants each year.   

Other community projects include:  

• Raising more than $25,000 per year for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia.  

• MEM executives and staff members volunteering with several community organizations and serving on nonprofit boards.  

• Supporting First Chance for Children with board membership, diaper wrapping, book drives, and participating in the Bingo for Babies.  

• Contributing more than $1 million to the Heart of Missouri United Way over the years and playing an active role in the local United Way’s shift to a “community impact” funding model.  

• Sponsoring two sleeping rooms in the family area at the Ronald McDonald House, while also supporting the organization’s Lunch on the House program.  

MEM’s calling card is its ability to build relationships with its insured businesses, Gerding said. MEM writes business through independent agents — many with twenty-plus years of experience — but MEM is the carrier. Claims are serviced in-house in Columbia.  

Becky Duello, MEM senior underwriter, emphasized on the MEM website the value of those relationships.  

“Our agents know who their underwriter is, no matter the account size. They know they will get a person on the phone to answer their questions,” Deullo stated. “It gives them a level of comfort that we are all working together on the same goal: to write business and retain it.”  

Ultimately, Gerding said, MEM’s mission and success comes down to caring for injured workers.  

“It’s not just a worker comp plan,” she added. “It’s about them having the best experience possible, and our medical services team helping them get back to work.”  

1993: Missouri Employers Mutual is created by the Missouri legislature.  

March 1, 1995: MEM opens and soon captures the top spot in Missouri’s work comp market share.  

1996-99: Opened offices in St. Louis, Springfield, and Kansas City.  

2004: Recognized with an A- (Excellent) A.M. Best financial strength rating.  

2015: Partnered with Previsor Insurance to serve more Missouri businesses and launched in Kansas.  

2017: Awarded first safety grants to 17 Missouri businesses.  

2023: Senate Bill 101 makes MEM a private mutual insurance company.  

2025: Missouri Employers Mutual and Previsor merge to become MEM.