Higginbotham snaps up Alabama firm

Independent insurance firm Higginbotham has acquired Alabama-based Burkholder Insurance.

Burkholder is the second agency in Mobile, Ala., to join Higginbotham. The firm entered Alabama in December 2021. Currently, it has 47 employees in Mobile supported by a team of more than 2,000 risk specialists and service associates across the country.

“People like working with their community agency over a giant corporation,” said Josh Smith, managing partner for Higginbotham’s Alabama region. “Partnering with like-minded agencies allows people to have direct access to Higginbotham and the caliber of services we can provide as a large firm. Our partnership with Burkholder Insurance will increase their service ability and further strengthen the Higginbotham name in Mobile and throughout Alabama.”

Burkholder Insurance primarily serves small to mid-sized businesses in southern Alabama and has a large practice in the contractor sector. The agency was founded in 1951 by Paul Burkholder Sr. At one time, the family-run business included his son, Paul Jr., and grandsons Paul III and Chris.

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“Higginbotham’s people-centric culture aligns with ours,” said Paul Burkholder III, president of Burkholder Insurance. “Like us, they began as a small operation and grew one customer at a time because of their humility and sincere concern for the wellbeing of employees and customers. We fully trust our future growth and the care of our people to their leadership.”

Paul Burkholder III has been named a managing director at Higginbotham, and will continue to oversee Burkholder Insurance’s operations.