Merriwether & Williams Insurance

What Merriwether & Williams Insurance does

Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services (MWIS) is a California-based, woman and minority-owned insurance brokerage and risk management firm founded in 1998 by Ingrid Merriwether. The company operates from three California offices (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland) and serves public agencies, construction contractors, developers, utilities, non-profits, and large enterprises through three core service lines: Commercial Property & Casualty Brokerage, Risk Management & Special Project Consulting (including OCIP/CCIP administration), and Contractor Development & Bonding Programs administered on behalf of California public agency sponsors. The contractor development programs represent the firm's differentiated practice, having facilitated over $1.042 billion in public works bonding for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned contractors with less than 1% default rates over 20+ years, while delivering over $20 million in contract savings to sponsor agencies.

The firm's underlying technology is not proprietary; MWIS relies on industry-standard insurance management systems, electronic insurance tracking tools, and program-administration data systems. The differentiation is operational and relational rather than technological, anchored by the Construction Training Academy (363+ graduates, 132 contract awards totaling $51.4 million), the Contract-Based Financing Program launched in 2019, and 25+ years of accumulated program performance data. Revenue is generated through three streams: insurance brokerage commissions on placement of property, casualty, surety, and workers compensation coverage; professional services fees for risk management consulting, OCIP/CCIP design and construction safety oversight; and managed services fees paid by public agency sponsors for administering contractor development and bonding programs. Pricing for the public agency programs is largely sponsor-funded (no cost to participating contractors), while commercial brokerage is quote-based.

As of May 1, 2024, MWIS joined HUB International as a subsidiary while retaining its brand, leadership team, and California operating footprint. Founder Ingrid Merriwether continues as President & CEO. The HUB affiliation positions the firm to scale its contractor development and SPARTA special events programs beyond California through HUB's national distribution network.

Name

Merriwether & Williams Insurance

Legal name

Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services

Website

https://imwis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services is a California-based, woman and minority-owned insurance brokerage and risk management firm serving public agencies, construction contractors, developers, and non-profits, with a specialty practice administering contractor development and bonding programs that have facilitated over $1 billion in public works for small and diverse contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage and Risk Management

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Surety Insurance (6351)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors) (FSAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage services
• Risk management consulting
• Contractor development programs
• Surety bonding services
• Construction safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: The company earns commissions from placing insurance policies (property, casualty, surety bonds, workers compensation, builder's risk, etc.) for clients including public agencies, developers, contractors, and non-profits. The firm designs customized insurance programs and negotiates coverage terms with insurance markets on behalf of clients.
2. Risk Management Consulting: Professional consulting fees for project risk analysis, mitigation planning, controlled insurance program (OCIP/CCIP) design and administration, and construction safety services. Services include on-site safety oversight, OSHA training, and claims administration.
3. Contractor Development Program Administration: The company administers contractor bonding and development programs on behalf of public entity sponsors (cities, counties, transit authorities). These programs are typically sponsored and provided at no charge to participating contractors, with fees paid by the public agency sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services is a licensed insurance brokerage and risk management firm that places commercial property, casualty, surety bonds, and workers' compensation coverage for public agencies, construction contractors, developers, utilities, and non-profits. The firm also designs and administers contractor development and bonding programs on behalf of public agencies to help small, minority, women, and veteran-owned contractors access public works projects, and provides project risk management, OCIP/CCIP administration, and construction safety services.

Product overview

Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services is a woman and minority-owned insurance brokerage firm offering a portfolio of risk management and insurance services. The core offerings include Commercial Property & Casualty Brokerage Services, Risk Management & Special Project Consulting, and Contractor Development & Bonding Programs administered on behalf of public agencies. Supporting modules include Construction Safety Services, OCIP/CCIP Administration, and the Contract-Based Financing Program (CFP). The company operates primarily in California serving public agencies, construction companies, utilities, non-profits, and small contractors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Property & Casualty Brokerage Services Insurance brokerage services providing sophisticated property and casualty coverage solutions for public agencies, utilities, construction firms, businesses, non-profits, and special events.
• Risk Management & Special Project Consulting Comprehensive risk management services including controlled insurance programs (OCIPs/CCIPs), project risk analysis, mitigation consulting, and construction project safety and loss control for large-scale construction projects.
• Contractor Development & Bonding Programs Programs administered on behalf of public agencies (Alameda County, City of Oakland, City and County of San Francisco, City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County Metro) to help small, minority, women, and veteran-owned contractors obtain bonding, financing, and technical assistance to participate in public works construction projects.
• OCIP/CCIP Administration Owner/Contractor Controlled Insurance Program administration including placement and administration of General Liability, Workers Compensation, Builder's Risk, Professional Liability, and Pollution Liability coverage for large construction projects.
• Construction Safety Services On-site construction safety, loss control, and prevention services including job hazard analyses, OSHA training, safety audits, and ongoing oversight for project owners, general contractors, and public agencies.
• Contract-Based Financing Program (CFP) Working capital loan program providing qualified small, minority, and women construction businesses with loans to cover costs in performing contracts in advance of receiving progress payments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Less than 1% default rate for program-enrolled contractors vs. higher construction industry average
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HUB InternationalflagshipOthers · 1 May 2024As of May 1st, 2024, Merriwether & Williams has joined forces with HUB International, a leading global insurance brokerage. This acquisition/merger positions MWIS to scale its unique contractor development and bonding program offerings nationwide under the HUB International brand, combining MWIS's inclusion expertise with HUB's global distribution network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HUB International: Large North American insurance brokerage that acquired MWIS in May 2024. Provides the parent platform and distribution scale for MWIS's contractor development model and is itself a broad incumbent in P&C and specialty brokerage.
• Alliant Insurance Services: National specialty insurance brokerage with deep public-sector, construction, and surety practices. Comparable to MWIS in serving contractors, developers, and public agencies with brokerage and risk management services.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage with significant construction, public entity, and surety practices. Competes for the same OCIP/CCIP, builder's risk, and public agency mandates that anchor MWIS's book of business.
• Marsh McLennan Agency: Middle-market and specialty insurance brokerage arm of Marsh McLennan serving public entities, construction, and large commercial accounts. Directly comparable in serving complex risk programs and surety placements.
• Aon Construction Services Group: Global broker's dedicated construction practice offering OCIP/CCIP, builder's risk, surety, and risk management. Competes with MWIS for large public infrastructure and developer wrap-up mandates.

Direct peers

• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Specialty wholesale insurance brokerage focused on construction, surety, and complex commercial risks. Closely aligned with MWIS in construction specialty expertise and hard-to-place commercial accounts.
• RPS Insurance Brokerage (a division of Ryan Specialty): Specialty insurance brokerage serving construction, surety, and complex P&C risks through wholesale and delegated authority. Directly comparable to MWIS's construction and surety focus.

Regional players

• Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. Privately held, California-headquartered insurance brokerage with strong construction, real estate, and non-profit practices. Closest geographic and segment peer to MWIS within the Bay Area commercial insurance market.
• Wortham Insurance & Risk Management: Texas-based regional insurance brokerage with construction, surety, and public-sector practices. Comparable in size and specialty orientation to MWIS but operates in a different geography.

Others

• ACEC Business Insurance Trust (via member broker programs): Program-style insurance and risk management offerings for engineering and construction firms, often delivered through member brokers. Comparable as an ecosystem participant addressing similar contractor risk and bonding needs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgjhF9n9P0SUJvE0onsDKJQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Merriwether-Williams-Insurance-Services-Inc/100063476381200
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merriwether-williams-insurance-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/merriwether.and.williams
• Xx.com/MWIS550

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merriwether & Williams Insurance