Merchants Insurance Group President Charles E. Makey, III has once again been named to Buffalo Business First’s Power 250! This annual list highlights Western New York’s most influential leaders, as selected by a committee of the publication’s editors and reporters. 2023 marks the second consecutive year that Mr. Makey, President of Merchants Insurance Group since April 1, 2021, has received this distinction. This year, Mr. Makey ranks #185 on the publication’s 11th annual Power 250 list.
“I am honored to be part of the Power 250 list with so many talented Western New York leaders again this year,” stated Makey. “This is a testament to Merchants’ long history – 105 years! – of giving back to make our customers and communities stronger – a legacy I intend to continue building upon alongside the company’s dedicated colleagues and independent agency partners.”
Mr. Makey is Merchants Insurance Group’s 10th President in the company’s 105-year history. His career at Merchants spans over two decades, beginning in 1996 as the Director of Sales. In 1998, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President/Regional Manager of the company’s New England regional office, located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Mr. Makey assumed the role of Vice President and Regional Manager of the company’s Central States Strategic Business Center in 2004, which was located in Dublin, Ohio. In 2009, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations at the company’s corporate headquarters in Buffalo, New York.
Mr. Makey earned his MBA from Daniel Webster College. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Management from St. Bonaventure University, and a degree in Business Acumen from University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Additionally, he has earned certifications and designations including General Insurance (INS), Associate in Management (AIM) and Associate in Insurance Services (AIS).
Mr. Makey also serves as a board member, trustee, and council member for many businesses and philanthropic organizations, including:
- New York Insurance Association (NYIA) Board Member – Chair
- New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation (NYISF) Board Member – Trustee
- Long Island Insurance Education Foundation (LIIEF) Board Member – Director
- Birdsong Association Board Member – Treasurer
- Invest Buffalo – Board Member
- AON – Client Advisory Council Member
Click here to view Buffalo Business First’s Complete 2023 Power 250 List.
