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The newly combined staff worked long hours to complete the merger. They had to image all the Watertown policies and files. In the next three months, they filled a quart jar with staples they had to remove from these files. This initial work was finally completed by the end of year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides the work of merging, the day to day work of the mutual continued, including the largest single loss ever experienced by either company.\u00a0A house exploded and was totally destroyed.\u00a0As a result, over $335,000 was paid in property damage and $49,000 in legal, cause and origin investigation, and adjusting expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Forward’s first year, Board Chairman Charles Crave suggested that the mutual discuss long range planning and visioning.\u00a0In April 2011, with the help of an outside facilitator, all directors and staff participated in the mutual\u2019s first vision workshop. They discussed the future and the ever-changing needs of our insureds, the\u00a0 insurance industry, and\u00a0Forward Mutual.\u00a0The board continues to hold such workshops every several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Watertown Mutual office building was sold in late 2010. Meanwhile, Forward Mutual\u2019s office was crowded with employees and it was necessary to hold the board meetings off site. In April 2011, the board of directors approved the expansion of the office building. This addition was complete by the next year and Forward celebrated with an open house on May 18, 2012. It was fortunate Forward built the addition when it did because shortly after the state department of transportation announced the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 16 and American Street. In 2012, the state purchased one-third acre of Forward\u2019s lot for the roundabout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On April 1, 2014, Lois Wiedenhoeft became president and CEO of the mutual.\u00a0She replaced Howard Wiedenhoeft, who retired after serving over 33 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
True to its name, Forward Mutual has always been innovative in its business thinking. It maintained an online presence long before other mutuals had even considered a website. In 2015 Forward updated its website and began connecting to the community via social media.\u00a0These new ways of marketing helped establish relationships with the mutual\u2019s viewing community and allowed consumers to learn about Forward from whatever device they were using. Forward also added the convenience of paying online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Read more!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
By the Minutes: Introduction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1872 Watertown Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1875 Ixonia Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing the Capitalizing of Two Early Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Mutual\u2019s First Claim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting Dairy in the Late 1800s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1879 Early Challenges for a Young Mutual<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ixonia Mutual\u2019s First $1000 Loss<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1885 A Year of Neighbor Helping Neighbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Changes of Bylaws<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Dairy Heritage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Insuring Automobiles<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Taxes, War and the English Language<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting the Community\u2019s Fire Protection<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Directors and Their Meetings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Standardization of Wisconsin Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of Electricity, Radio and Foxes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Annual Meetings Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tumultuous 1930-1940s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How a Major Disaster Affected Extended Coverage and Reinsurance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Surviving the Big Dogs in the 1960s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Introducing Agents to the Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Accounting Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Centennial Anniversaries<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mutual Offices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mutual Managers and Staff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Establishing Confidence in Financial Strength<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Entering the Era of Computers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1990s, Advancement and Angst<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Start of the 21st Century<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Concord and Watertown Merge<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ixonia Mutual and Watertown Mutual Merge and a New Company is Formed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting the Stage, Moving Forward with a New 2020 Vision<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n