Mark your calendars now for the SFM Foundation’s annual Iowa and Minnesota golf events.

The outings are the biggest fundraisers of the year for the foundation, which provides helps families affected by workplace injuries by providing scholarships to children of workers disabled or killed in work-related accidents. The SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota.

These events bring together agent partners, supporters and scholarship recipients for a meaningful day on the course, all while raising critical funds students.

“Our golf events are powerful reminders of what community support can accomplish. Every sponsorship and every golfer directly impact a student’s ability to pursue their educational goals after a family tragedy,” said Deb Zorn, the foundation’s Scholarship Director.

2026 golf events

The Iowa golf event will be held Monday, May 18, at Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City. This is a new location for the fundraiser. Register now .

Minnesota’s golf fundraiser will be held Monday, June 8, at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury. Register now .

You can take part by sponsoring the event, enjoying a day of golf, or both. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. Visit the links above for more information.

“We’re always so thankful of the support of our agent partners, clients and others who contribute to our mission. These golf events are not only a way to raise scholarship funds, but they also allow those involved to connect and build a community,” said Linda Williams, President of the SFM Foundation.

2025 highlights

The SFM Foundation had a successful year in 2025. Highlights include:

• Nearly $600,000 in new scholarships, a record since the group was founded
• Awarding the highest number of scholarships in the foundation’s history, 19
• The Iowa governor proclaiming Oct. 13-17 as Kids’ Chance Week (the SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota)
• Reaching Gold Level status from Kids’ Chance of America, recognizing top-tier excellence in nonprofit operations

About the SFM Foundation

The SFM Foundation was created in 2008 by SFM Companies. The nonprofit is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents. Scholarships are awarded regardless of which workers’ compensation insurer was involved in the claim. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 266 scholarships totaling $4.7 million. For more information, visit sfmfoundation.com .

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The results of a recent policyholder survey demonstrate the value our customers see in SFM and illustrate why we continue to have an exceptional client retention rate each year.

Each year, we send surveys to policyholders with over $25,000 in premium to get their thoughts about their workers’ compensation experiences with SFM. The latest survey was sent in October 2025 and the results were recently tabulated.

Among the key findings, most respondents, 92%, were “extremely” or “somewhat” satisfied with SFM. Regarding ease of doing business 93% said SFM was “very easy” or “easy” to do business with.

New to this year’s survey was a specific question about claim experiences. Again, we received high marks from policyholders – 90% reported that the experience was “excellent” or “very good” with SFM.

The premium audit experience, also a new survey question, received strong ratings, with 84% saying it was “excellent” or “very good.” 

“We’re always excited to hear back from folks about their experiences with SFM – we strive to provide top-shelf customer service,” said Steve Sandilla, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer. “In fact, nearly two-thirds of respondents to one survey named at least one SFM employee who provided excellent customer service – that’s a 9-percentage point increase from 2024.”

Regarding positive comments from survey respondents, customer service was the topic most frequently cited.

Returning customers

The results of those surveys are reflected in two other clear metrics – a 93% customer retention rate.

“With our customer-focused service model, we see outstanding retention rates year after year compared to our competitors,” said Mike Happe, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Our value comes from maintaining excellent practices that always put policyholders first.”

We also had a record for returning clients in 2025. Last year, 374 employers that left us at some point in the last three years returned to SFM. That figure bested the previous record of 333 in 2024.

“We play a long game at SFM, and it’s so cool when we win former customers back with levels of service that our competitors cannot match,” Happe said. “That’s what I call proof in the pudding of the value of SFM’s consistent, industry-leading, high-quality service.”

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Contributing to our communities is a core value for SFM.

From long‑standing philanthropic programs to hands‑on volunteerism and partnerships with nonprofit organizations, SFM’s charitable efforts continue to grow in both reach and impact, contributing to communities in all states in which our employees live and work.

Once again in 2026, SFM will continue its involvement in the Minnesota Keystone Program , which affirms the commitment to contributing 2% of pre‑tax profits to charity. In 2025, we contributed even more than anticipated.

“This pledge ensures consistent support for worthy organizations across our region and reinforces our philosophy of giving back to the communities where our employees and policyholders live and work,” said Sarah Hunter, Vice President of Operations. “These donations helped stock shelves, support families, and ensure that our neighbors have the resources they need during challenging times.”

Last year, SFM was also presented with a unique giving opportunity through a 16-year policyholder, Women’s Advocates . The organization’s capital campaign will expand housing for individuals escaping domestic violence and help in their goal of creating safe and supportive housing.

“We are honored to announce that, in recognition of this contribution, SFM will be naming the wellness room at the new facility, a lasting symbol of our commitment to healing and safety,” Hunter said.

SFM also continues to support Helping Paws , a nationally recognized nonprofit that breeds, trains and places assistance dogs. The organization places service dogs with individuals who have physical disabilities, service dogs with veterans and first responders living with service-related PTSD, and facility dogs with professionals in courthouse, educational and mental health settings.

“SFM’s charitable giving is driven by more than financial commitments – it’s fueled by employee enthusiasm, relationship‑building and a desire to make a genuine difference,” Hunter said. “As SFM moves into 2026, these efforts continue to reflect our values: compassion, community and a belief that ‘doing good is good business.’ SFM remains committed to inspiring positive change across the communities we serve.”

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The SFM Foundation will be accepting scholarship applications for the 2026-27 academic year until March 31, 2026.

The nonprofit makes college more affordable for families affected by workplace injuries by offering post-secondary education scholarships to children of parents fatally or seriously injured on the job while working for a Minnesota or Iowa employer.

Scholarships may be used toward the costs of attending a two- or four-year university, college, vocational school or graduate school. To qualify, students must have a parent who was disabled or fatally injured while working for Minnesota or Iowa employers. Scholarships are awarded up to a maximum of $15,000 a year.

Interested applicants can find a registration form and additional eligibility requirements for the scholarships on the SFM Foundation website .

Scholarships will be awarded based on injury severity and impact on the student and their family, among other factors.

About the SFM Foundation

The SFM Foundation was created in 2008 by SFM Companies, a regional workers’ compensation insurance group headquartered in Bloomington, Minn. The nonprofit is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 266 scholarships totaling $4.7 million. For more information, visit sfmfoundation.com .

The SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota.

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The SFM Foundation recently wrapped up its fall fundraising events, resulting in another successful year of helping students.

Founded in 2008, the nonprofit helps families affected by workplace injuries by providing scholarships to children of workers disabled or killed in work-related accidents. The SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota.

SFM’s summer golf tournaments generated approximately $150,000, and the Iowa bowling event and Minnesota fall social raised about $26,500 in total. Also, an SFM information services equipment auction generated another $8,000 for the foundation. 

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of scholarship applications each year, and these events are vital to our mission of helping young people,” said Deb Zorn, the foundation’s Scholarship Director.

Linda Williams, President of the SFM Foundation, said the organization is grateful for the ongoing support of agent partners, clients and others in the community. That generosity has led the foundation to reach new heights of giving, she said.

Other highlights from 2025 include:

• Nearly $600,000 in new scholarships, a record since the group was founded
• Awarding the highest number of scholarships in the foundation’s history, 19
• The Iowa governor proclaiming Oct. 13-17 as Kids’ Chance Week (the SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America in Iowa and Minnesota)
• Reaching Gold Level status from Kids’ Chance of America, recognizing top-tier excellence in nonprofit operations

“These students and families are enduring major challenges,” said Andy Gebhard, Chair of the SFM Foundation Board of Directors. “We’re proud of our mission and thankful for the ongoing support from everyone involved – sponsors, agents and volunteers. Helping these students reach their goals takes all of us working together.”

2026 events

Looking ahead to this year’s events, the SFM Foundation will again host golf fundraisers in Iowa and Minnesota.

The Iowa event is set for Monday, May 18, at Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City. This is a new location for the fundraiser.

Minnesota’s golf fundraiser will be held Monday, June 8, at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury.

Lastly, fall events will return in Minnesota and Iowa. Stay tuned for details.

About the SFM Foundation

The SFM Foundation was created in 2008 by SFM Companies. The nonprofit is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents. Scholarships are awarded regardless of which workers’ compensation insurer was involved in the claim. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 266 scholarships totaling $4.7 million. For more information, visit sfmfoundation.com .

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Register today for our upcoming webinar for policyholders and agents, The SFM Difference, set for 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. Click here to register .

Presenters include CEO Terry Miller, Wisconsin Team Business Leader Rick Spaulding, Large Accounts Team Business Leader Julie Banker, Premium Audit Team Leader DeAnne Misgen and Dr. Andrew Wilkins, SFM’s Chief Medical Director.

The panel will share their expertise on:

• A history of SFM
• SFM’s philosophy on service to our partners
• Our focus on injury prevention and returning injured employees to work
• How our unique company structure and departmental expertise benefit our partners
• SFM’s customer-centered approach to premium audits
• How our medical services team supports injured workers’ recovery
• Much more, including a Q&A session at the end of the hour

Policyholders are encouraged to attend. If you are interested in the content but are unable to tune in during the live event, please register for the webinar and you will be signed up to receive the post-event email with a link to the recorded webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.

Register now

Other webinars and informational videos

SFM is building a library of educational video resources from our webinars. Head to our webinars page to view previous recordings and quick videos on work comp topics including:

• Loss prevention basics
• Winter slips and falls prevention
• Best practices for injury reporting and return to work
• The lifecycle of a claim
• A breakdown of work comp benefits
• An explanation of experience modifiers
• Tips to avoid litigation of a work comp claim
• Fundamentals of a return-to-work program
• Good practices for hiring and onboarding new employees
• Implementing and enforcing safe driving policies and procedures
• De-escalation protocol for any workplace
• Preventing strain and sprain injuries

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SFM has promoted Amanda Aponte to Executive Vice President, effective Sept. 8, 2025.

In her expanded role, Aponte will partner closely with CEO and President Terry Miller, broaden her leadership across the organization, and represent SFM with industry leaders and stakeholders. She will also continue serving as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) during the transition.

“I’m honored to step into this position,” Aponte said. “While my background is in analytics, my passion is leading people with kindness and empathy. I’m excited to help guide our teams through staffing and technological evolution as we strengthen our reputation as The Work Comp Experts.”

Nearly 20 years of impact at SFM

Aponte’s journey with SFM began in 2007 as an Actuarial Intern. Over the years, she rose through the ranks as Actuary, Director of Analytics, Chief Risk Officer and CFO. Her fingerprints are on nearly every financial milestone the company has achieved – from enterprise risk management and reserving to investments and business intelligence.

“I love data storytelling – using data to explain where we’ve been and where we’re headed,” Aponte said. “It creates buy-in, drives better decisions and connects across every discipline.”

Her financial expertise has not only fueled SFM’s growth but also contributed to community impact, including her role on the Children’s Minnesota Hospital investment subcommittee.

Looking forward

“Amanda is a sterling example of what happens when we give people the space to fulfill their potential,” Miller said. “Her financial acumen and vision have been critical to SFM’s success, and her leadership will help position us for the future.”

Aponte is clear about SFM’s purpose: “SFM is mission-driven. We have a safety-first mindset and we’re there for employers and their workers when injuries happen. We strive to have the right employees that believe in and support that mission, people who have the highest service standards and principles. SFM continues to seek policyholders that embrace our expertise, and we will be around to fulfil the long-term promises we make.”

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Mark your calendars now to join us for the SFM Foundation’s fall events.

The SFM Foundation is a nonprofit that helps families affected by workplace injuries by providing scholarships to children of workers disabled or killed in work-related accidents.

Up first is the third annual Bowling for Scholarships fundraiser in Iowa . It will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, at Spare Time Entertainment in West Des Moines.

Next is the Minnesota Fall Social fundraiser , which will be held at Pinstripes in Edina. This is a new event and new location for 2025. It will be held Thursday, Nov. 6.

More details will be announced as the events draw near.

Other SFM Foundation updates

Earlier this year, the SFM Foundation announced nearly $600,000 in new scholarships, a record since the organization was founded in 2008.

“We have seen a steady uptick in the number of applicants for our scholarship, so being able to award more students and provide more funding this year is amazing,” said Deb Zorn, the foundation’s Scholarship Director. “It’s so rewarding to see these young people follow their dreams with the support of the foundation community.”

This year marks the highest number of scholarships awarded in the foundation’s history – 19.

Also, the SFM Foundation’s summer golf tournaments generated $150,000.

“We are so grateful for the continued support of our agent partners, clients and others in the community,” said Linda Williams, President of the SFM Foundation. “Without their generosity, we wouldn’t be able to help as many students as we do each year.”

About the SFM Foundation

The SFM Foundation was created in 2008 by SFM Companies. The nonprofit is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents. Scholarships are awarded regardless of which workers’ compensation insurer was involved in the claim. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 266 scholarships totaling $4.7 million. For more information, visit sfmfoundation.com .

The SFM Foundation is an affiliate of Kids’ Chance of America  in Iowa and Minnesota.

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Wes Spain has been with SFM since 2022 as a Subrogation Specialist & Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Manager. We asked Spain to share a little bit about his background and role.

Tell us little bit about your background.

I grew up in an insurance household. Both of my parents worked for insurance companies, so I watched them and how they handled insurance.

When I got out of college I worked for an insurance company, then at a rental car agency for a bit, then back in insurance for 19 years. I joined SFM in 2022 and got into subrogation. It’s been great and I really enjoy it here.

How would you describe your role in a nutshell?

To be a learner and a leader at the same time. Although I’m a leader of a team, I’m new to workers’ compensation, so I’m learning as I go. My main role is to work with my team, work with attorneys and outside surveillance vendors, handling subrogation claims, reviewing catastrophic claims for subrogation potential, as well as leading a team of SIU reps — being a coach and motivator for them, addressing any issues they have, and hopefully making life at SFM somewhat enjoyable for them.

How is SFM different from other carriers you’ve worked with?

SFM feels like your neighbors, like your family. It’s very closeknit. At other companies, you kind of feel like a tree in a forest. At SFM, you’ll have the CEO and COO asking about you and your kids and your weekend. We all know each other and have a great sense of community here.

Is there a time that stands out to you when your job was particularly rewarding?

Thursdays – I love Thursdays because that’s when we get our results entered. It is a real time measure of our success and it’s rewarding most weeks, because it’s a team effort. Many factors go into making a recovery that could reduce or eliminate our ability to recover so when you get the check it’s a good feeling.

What do you like about your job?

I like the ability to work with different people and different departments. I like working closely with my team.

We’re here to serve claims and I’ve always been a customer service guy. Any time we’re able to accomplish that though bringing back subrogation dollars or completing a strong investigation, that makes me feel like we’re getting the job done.

What’s most challenging about your job?

When I don’t know something — having to figure out who the right person is to get that answer. Being relatively new, I still don’t know exactly what everybody does. Plus, if I’ve done a process, it might have been just once. Figuring out things I don’t do very often and that aren’t in my wheelhouse keeps me on my toes.

What words of wisdom do you have for employers?

I would suggest that they treat their employees well and provide a good work-life balance.

Recognize talent early and make sure you hold onto them and reward them appropriately. Continue to push them up. The best companies have employees who mostly feel like they’re rewarded and recognized for what they do every day.

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The recording of SFM’s recent webinar, Preventing Strains and Sprains, is now available.

Click here to watch the presentation .

Our experts discussed a range of issues related to the topic, including how employers can help reduce the occurrence of strain and sprain injuries — the most common type of injury reported to SFM.

The webinar covered:

• What constitutes a strain or sprain injury
• How these injuries typically occur
• Manager and supervisor responsibilities to report
• How to identify individual workplace risk factors
• Why safety programs should cover ergonomics
• Legal aspects to a strain or sprain injury
• How to reduce the risk of litigation of a claim
• More, including a question-and-answer session at the end

Lastly, you can find previous educational webinars on our website.

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