About us
As a certified minority business enterprise (MBE), Birwood Services Group is a professional service agency that is passionate about helping clients solve business problems by developing risk management, benefits and human capital programs and actualizing diversity initiatives. We offer boutique client service with global expertise, aligned with your corporate social responsibility goals.
Our pillars
About our name
In 1941, the Birwood Wall was built in a northwest neighborhood of Detroit, along the infamous 8 Mile Road. The wall was intended to separate Black families living in the community from white residents expected to move into the neighborhood.
Now 79 years later, the Birwood Wall still stands. It has been transformed, however, into both a memorial of past segregation and a symbol of progress via brightly colored murals that boldly celebrate civil rights leaders.
Our adoption of Birwood as our company name helps us acknowledge our history, recognize how far we’ve come, and commit to continuing to break barriers.
Breaking barriers
We don’t take our status as a minority-owned business lightly. In fact, it informs much of what we do inside and outside our organization. Because we are a certified MBE, we are uniquely qualified to help our clients bring their diversity initiatives to life. We are dedicated to helping connect other MBEs to new opportunities. And as we grow, we will be working to change the landscape of what professional services firms look like by focusing on professional development opportunities for people of color.
A strategic alliance
Birwood Services Group’s alliance with Lockton Companies allows us to leverage an industry-leading partner, whose entrepreneurial spirit and service focus match our culture and aspirations to change the insurance landscape. Together, we are providing services, jobs and growth opportunities to our ecosystem via advocacy, education and health.
Our leadership
team
Kenneth J. Hurtt, CLU, RHU, REBC
President and CEO
Ken is an experienced leader who serves as the President and CEO for Birwood Services Group. He has the ultimate responsibility for delivering all aspects of service to clients and for the overall growth and strategy of Birwood.
Ken is a veteran insurance professional and entrepreneur with extensive experience deeply rooted in employee benefits, risk management, human capital services and operating business models. His eclectic background renders a valuable perspective, knowledge base and complementary skill set that helps him design appropriate solutions for clients’ highly complex insurance and risk needs.
Ken is passionate about helping clients meet their diversity goals. He is experienced in developing creative partnership models, and he is well-versed in matters related to MBE certification and governance.
He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Michigan State University. He has earned industry designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) and as a Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC). He completed his executive education from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
