Mitch Backes

Agent & Vice President

Mitch Backes brings executive-level expertise and a genuinely personal approach to a profession that has increasingly lost both. At a time when insurance agency consolidation has reshaped the industry; with hundreds of acquisitions annually and private equity ownership becoming the norm Mitch has built his practice on exactly the opposite philosophy: deep relationships, senior-level attention, and the kind of concierge service that mid-market businesses deserve but rarely receive from the mega-agencies driving today’s consolidation wave.

Mitch began his career as a risk consultant for an insurance carrier, working directly with clients on safety training and loss prevention. That foundation in technical risk management set the stage for a career defined by substance over surface sizzle; a philosophy that continues to differentiate him today. He joined Corkill Insurance Agency in 2008 and has been integral to its growth through multiple mergers, serving on the management team that helped guide and scale the organization.

In 2009, Mitch spearheaded the development of a specialized niche serving Fire Protection Districts.  What started as a targeted initiative grew into one of the defining strengths of the practice, positioning the team as one of the largest insurance providers for emergency service organizations in the region. It is the kind of deep specialization that large, publicly traded brokerages simply cannot replicate: built on trust, local knowledge, and years of earned relationships rather than centralized systems and rotating service reps.

In recent years, Mitch and his team have shifted their approach from traditional transactional insurance placements to a more diagnostic, consultative model. By evaluating clients against top performing organizations and providing a strategic roadmap for improvement, they have been able to deliver more meaningful outcomes and elevate the overall client experience.

Mitch is known for his deep technical knowledge of insurance policies and claims, as well as his ability to guide clients through complex situations with clarity and confidence. His approach is grounded in education, strategy, and long term partnership.

Outside of his professional life, Mitch is deeply committed to his family. He and his wife prioritize creating meaningful experiences with their teenage children. traveling, exploring national parks, hiking, and finding places that offer both natural beauty and a chance to disconnect.

He is guided by a favorite quote from Mark Twain: I never let my schooling interfere with my education.  This is a reflection of his belief that real expertise is earned in the field, one relationship and one hard conversation at a time.