Cottingham & Butler

The Captive Advantage: When good becomes great. Schuster Co took their fleet safety to the next level by tapping into the power of collaborative risk management. Hear VP Jeff Arens share how joining a captive has allowed their fleet to collaborate with industry peers and elevate their entire operation.

We're celebrating teammates who have dedicated years of service to Cottingham & Butler. Please join us in congratulating these team members! #BetterEveryYear Join a team with endless opportunities at www.bit.ly/CBnewcareer!

Onboarding is not just a process, it's a journey! Our goal is to integrate employees into our culture, align them with our values, and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary for success. Our New Employee Orientation is just one piece of the onboarding puzzle where our newest teammates get to dive into all things Cottingham & Butler!

Our latest Empower Hour event brought teammates together to focus on building stronger money habits and working towards financial freedom. Presenter Melissa Schmitt, Financial Advisor, shared valuable tips for team members, with three high-level areas to keep in mind: Cash Savings - Money to be used for emergencies. Asset Accumulation - Setting aside money to build wealth. Wealth Transfer - Distributing your assets. #BetterEveryDay

?? YP Next Up, a program by the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, is a dynamic program that connects college and university students with experienced mentors to foster relationships, provide valuable insights, and prepare for life after graduation. As a mentee, you'll gain career and personal development guidance while having a trusted mentor to bounce ideas off and tackle challenges together. ? Mentor Owen Ness from Cottingham & Butler shares: "As a young professional and recent college graduate, I am passionate about building connections and helping others navigate their often-challenging professional journeys. Through the Next-Up program, I have been paired with a dedicated student-mentee who is eager to learn and grow. While my mission is to support his professional development and help him achieve his goals, we have also formed a personal relationship that I believe will last a lifetime." – Owen Ness, Mentor to Donovan Pollas (Mentee) Are you ready to make an impact? Whether as a mentor or a mentee, we'd love for you to join the YP Next Up program! The signup form is now more streamlined for your convenience. ??Sign up today ?? https://bit.ly/ypnextupdbq #NextUp #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #YoungProfessionalsMentor

Our Service Excellence Awards are a time when we get to shine the light on achievements of our incredible service team members. In the last year, we proudly acknowledged 60 outstanding teammates, culminating in a memorable evening of recognition and celebration last month. Take a peek at the fun below then become part of something better and join our service team at www.bit.ly/applyCB.

How do we define ourselves? As I celebrate my 28th anniversary of Cottingham & Butler, I become somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent of how I got here… I remember- - I took piano lessons as a small child till I lost interest, and then I quit. -?Playing flag football in junior high until it got difficult, and then I quit. -?Tried wrestling my sophomore year in high school, and then I quit. -?Was in speech and debate through high school, until I quit. -?Attending my freshman year of college, until I quit. It was the summer of 1991 when I enlisted in the Air Force and learned the importance of resilience, integrity, commitment and self-discipline… In February of 1997 I was given the opportunity to join a start-up division of Cottingham & Butler.?I was told that it had unlimited potential, and would challenge me in ways I hadn’t imagined…? Over these 28 years -?I’ve grown as a person, an employee, and as a manager.?? -?I’ve experienced tough times & I’ve experienced the best of times.?? -?I’ve seen people come & I’ve seen people go.?? -?I’ve helped develop some super stars and I’ve managed a few duds. -?I’ve developed an expertise in the industry and serve as a trusted advisor for my clients.? I view myself as a coach & a mentor to our teammates and strive to be a great role model… Looking back, I see a pattern—not of quitting, but of learning. Each step, each challenge, and each setback prepared me for where I am today. I no longer define myself by what I once quit, but by the commitment I’ve made to personal and professional growth. As my journey continues, I am reminded of our company mantra “Better Every Day”.???Today I remain steadfast in my pursuit of self-improvement. Today I define myself as somebody committed to being Better Every Day!

Knocking down pins for a cause! Recently, team members from our Risk Management division had a blast participating in Junior Achievement of the Heartland's Bowl-A-Thon for the fourth year in a row. "In 2017, I started volunteering for JA in the schools by teaching classes on personal finance," said Mike Pennington, Private Client Manager. "I still teach classes at Senior High School each spring and fall! In 2019, I was asked to join the board and have served on that since then. We're passionate about JA because we value their mission of supporting financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness among local students."

New year, new career! Join us in welcoming the newest members of the Cottingham & Butler team. Find your spot in 2025 at www.bit.ly/applyCB.

Last night, we recognized over 60 individuals at our 2024 Service Excellence Awards! Our annual awards go far beyond a tradition - these winners have earned every bit of this moment, and we use this night to give them the stage and recognition they deserve. They are teammates who raise the bar in how we serve our clients, make our business better, and support colleagues. Congratulations to each of our winners - you represent the very best of who we are at Cottingham & Butler.