Employee Story – Adam Clark
From Ball State to Brotherhood Mutual

Ball State Experiences Set Alum on Lifelong Journey of Discovery

Marketing professional Adam Clark encourages Ball State University students to take advantage of the experiences that life offers, even if they don’t fit neatly into one’s plans. “Experiences that seem like detours may be preparing you for the next opportunity,” he explained.

As a Ball State freshman, Clark had dreamed of becoming on-air talent for television. This evolved into a desire to work behind the camera, then to teach video production. After managing visual communication and teaching at a Christian school for two years, Clark went back to Ball State for his master’s degree. Eventually, Clark found himself working in marketing at an insurance company—and excelling.

He recently was promoted to a role on the executive leadership team with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, one of the nation’s leading property and casualty insurers of Christian ministries. Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State in 2007 and a master’s degree in public relations in 2011. He left his marketing job with a medical malpractice insurance company to join Brotherhood Mutual in 2014 and worked his way to becoming assistant vice president of agency marketing.

Clark was excited to come to a company where other employees shared his enthusiasm about ministry service. In addition to his full-time position at Brotherhood Mutual, Clark serves on the board of the Unity Performing Arts Foundation and he is an elder at Canvas Community Church.

While he hadn’t considered the insurance field at the start of his career, Clark can look back and see how every step of the journey played a role in leading him to where he is today.  That’s why he encourages Ball State students to stay curious and explore the possibilities life offers – just as he did. “The world is a classroom,” Clark said. “There is no such thing as a wasted experience.”

Clark credits his experiences at Ball State with inspiring him to pursue a career path of exploration and discovery.

“I had an outstanding experience there,” he said. As an undergraduate, he soaked up knowledge during time spent with telecom professor Jim Shasky, a former executive television producer. “I loved learning from him. He was so committed to storytelling.” Shasky quickly became Clark’s mentor, instilling in him a passion for people and storytelling.

Outside the classroom, Clark jumped into campus activities that blended friends, fun, and learning. He explored the world of improv through student group Reflex, entertained fans by doing antics as Charlie Cardinal, and he hosted weekly meetings of a popular ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ.

Clark also shared his Cardinal pride by working as a student guide. For three years, he practiced his comedy routine on high school students and their parents while walking backward across campus. It was at Ball State that Clark met his wife, Valerie, who graduated in 2007 with a degree in speech pathology. Their second conversation happened on the steps of the Arts & Communication building.

Two years after graduation, Clark returned to BSU to pursue a master’s degree in public relations. During that time, he learned to embrace curiosity with both arms. Creating a culture that promotes curiosity and humility is foundational to his strategy. “Curiosity says that good ideas can come from anywhere,” he added.

In his role within the marketing department at Brotherhood Mutual, Clark leads a team of people dedicated to solving marketing challenges. And his skills in video production and communication also have been put to use as Clark frequently hosts company webinars, podcasts, videos, and agent training sessions.

Brotherhood Mutual’s success hinges on hiring people with a wide variety of skills. "The company’s marketing department alone is 50 people strong. It offers opportunities for people who like to do information marketing, podcast and webinars, video and photography, web design and development, graphic design, content marketing, client services, social media, working with internal client needs, marketing strategy, newsletters, and a host of other things," he said.

Clark has enjoyed the opportunity to work at Brotherhood Mutual.  “It’s rare to find a place that is professionally challenging and purpose-filled. Brotherhood Mutual is unique.”

About Brotherhood Mutual®
Celebrating more than 100 years in business, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company is one of the nation’s leading property and casualty insurers of Christian ministries. The company serves more than 65,000 churches, schools, colleges, camps, and related ministries in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Brotherhood Mutual is staffed by 600+ employees and works with 424 independent agents in 93 agencies nationwide.