About Ironwood Founded in 2007, Ironwood continues to make a positive impact on our clients by protecting their business and supporting their employees across the world, providing Corporate Risk and Insurance, Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services, and Private Client Services. Our depth of resources, technology platforms, and dedicated service teams provide our clients with the level of risk management and insurance and employee benefits services they need to protect their assets and attract and retain employees.
Our mission is simple: Make a positive difference through service to our clients, our community, our insurance company partners, and each other.
As of January 2020, Ironwood officially joined Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA), a subsidiary of Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management. MMA was established in 2008 as a separate operating subsidiary of Marsh Inc., primarily to serve the employee benefits and property/casualty needs of the mid-size employer market. Under the umbrella of Marsh, Inc. and the Marsh & McLennan Member Companies, we are recognized as the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser.
Through the strength of our management team, our geographic presence and our world class services, MMA provides public and private companies with risk management and employee benefit support that helps them flourish. We are proud to provide our clients with best-in-class services that meet their growing needs.
Ironwood Leadership
William E. Underwood III Chief Executive Officer, Ironwood Insurance Services, LLC a Marsh McLennan Agency Company National Private Equity Practice Leader, Marsh McLennan Agency
Will Underwood is the Chief Executive Officer of Ironwood Insurance Services, a commercial insurance broker and employee benefits consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Will is also the National Private Equity Practice Leader for Marsh McLennan Agency.
In 2007, Will Underwood set a course for a new private risk management firm. After more than twenty years in the insurance brokerage business, he had a vision to create a firm that would make a positive impact protecting and serving clients, empowering its employees and bettering the communities they served. Drawing on his significant experience as a leader, as well as years in insurance placement, service, and sales, Will founded Ironwood. By the end of 2019 Ironwood was one of the fastest growing insurance brokers in America serving clients around the globe.
In January of 2020, Ironwood Insurance Services was acquired by Marsh McLennan Agency. Will Underwood continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Ironwood and provides oversight and support at the local level. Additionally, he serves as National Merger and Acquisitions Practice Leader for The Marsh McLennan Agency. He is responsible for growing the existing Ironwood Private Equity practice as well as leading Marsh McLennan Agency’s growth strategy in the middle market private equity industry.
From 1993 to 2007, Mr. Underwood was a Senior Partner with the 2nd largest privately held insurance brokerage firm in America. He created and managed the company’s national private equity practice, which was the largest source of organic growth for the firm.
Will holds a degree from the University of Georgia and began his career in London at the Fenchurch Group. When he’s not in the office, he can be found saltwater fly fishing.
Matthew R. Hene Co-President
Matt Hene is Co-President and founding member of Ironwood, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company. Hene has been instrumental in growing Ironwood to become the leading commercial insurance brokerage firm in the southeast. Along with his colleague, Matt Lovein, Hene is responsible for creating and implementing strategy to grow the firm’s Business Insurance, Employee Health & Benefits, and Private Client practice groups.
Hene also serves on the Executive Committee where he brings expertise, sound judgment, and senior leadership to help make financial, operational and strategic decisions for all Ironwood stakeholders.
Hene has extensive experience working with public and private companies, both nationally and internationally. He specializes in real estate management and development, construction, technology, media and communications, manufacturing, restaurant/hospitality, and private equity industries. Matt assists his team in identifying, analyzing, and evaluating a company's operations and exposure to a financial loss, including: operational risk, technological risk, financial risk, market-related risk, employee and consumer-related risk. He then leads the team in designing, negotiating and managing a risk management and insurance program that facilitates each client's unique growth strategy.
Beyond his responsibilities at Ironwood, Hene spends time in the community supporting various organizations. He serves on the Board of Wellspring Living whose mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through advocacy, education and treatment programs for young girls, boys and women. Matt and his wife, Amanda, are active within The Wesleyan School building lasting relationships within the community and they actively support The Schenck School and other organizations whose mission is to build and support a solid educational foundation for students with dyslexia so they excel in their academic journey and in life, reaching their highest potential.
Hene is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance. He enjoys giving back to the university by meeting with undergraduates about professional development and the insurance industry.
Matt lives in Atlanta with his wife, Amanda, and two children, Hampton and Hannah Grace. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf, tennis and other outdoor activities.
Mike M. Trammell Senior Vice President, Private Equity
Mike Trammell is a Senior Vice President and founding member of Ironwood Insurance Services. He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and actively involved in the strategic plans and growth of the firm.
Mike focuses on serving Private Equity Funds and their portfolio companies as their outsourced risk management consultant. He is considered a leading expert in the insurance industry for due diligence, transactional policy placement, and portfolio management for middle market funds.
Mike earned a BA in Finance from Auburn University. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Emily and their two children, Tyler and Anne Lawson. He enjoys playing sports with his kids and anything to do with golf
Matthew Lovein Co-President
Matt Lovein is Co-President and a founding member of Ironwood Insurance Services, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company. Since 2007, he has been instrumental in growing Ironwood to become the leading commercial insurance brokerage firm in the southeast. Along with his colleague, Matt Hene, Lovein is responsible for creating and implementing strategy to grow the firm’s Business Insurance, Employee Health & Benefits & Private Client practice groups. He also serves as a member of the Ironwood Executive Committee and is integrally involved in Ironwood’s financial planning, recruitment and operations.
Matt is also responsible for managing client relationships and the firm’s Business Insurance Practice. Matt has been serving commercial property and casualty clients for over 17 years, specializing in Financial & Professional Services, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Environmental Services, Healthcare and Hazardous Products. In addition, Matt is one of the industry’s leading experts in providing risk management due-diligence services and transactional risk consulting to private equity funds and financial sponsors engaged in control buyouts, mergers & acquisitions.
Matt earned an M.B.A. from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and a BBA in Risk Management & Insurance from the University of Georgia.
Mark Conner Senior Vice President
Mark Conner, Senior Vice President of Ironwood Benefits Advisory Services, has over 20 years of experience in employee benefits brokerage and consulting. He has extensive background in evaluating and implementing medical, dental, life, disability and 401k plans, and specializes in structuring fully insured and partially self-funded plans that create cost efficiencies while minimizing risk for his clients. Mark leads a team of experienced professionals who focus on serving middle market clients and private equity firms.
Mark joined Ironwood in 2011 to lead the employee benefits practice. Previously, he spent a total of 13 year with the Hamilton Dorsey Alston Company, which became Wachovia Insurance Services in 2001. Mark served as a producer during these years and in 2007, he left to join Dominium Benefits. There, he worked as a partner and producer where he focused on clients and new business in their middle market practice. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Our Passion
There is a reason Ironwood is one of the leading brokers in the Southeast; it is our passion for people. It is woven into everything we do. Whether it’s providing clients with customized insurance solutions, encouraging our employees to develop and grow in their careers, or serving in our community, we strive to build long-lasting relationships. We pride ourselves in our company culture and believe it is a direct reflection in the way we serve our customers. The relationships that employees have with each other and with clients go well beyond the scope of insurance. They are genuine partnerships, built on a solid foundation of positivity and trust. They motivate and drive Ironwood as a whole, allowing us to expand our dynamic team and increase community outreach.