Michael grew up in Elkader and graduated from Central Community Schools in 2005 and was only away from the community during his four years in college. Michael joined the agency in 2016 as a licensed agent, after working as an accountant for a local manufacturing company for several years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Loras College in 2009.
In the summer of 2021 Michael was presented with an opportunity from long time agency owner, Tom Gifford, to purchase Gifford Insurance Agency, Inc. Michael now not only serves as an agent but also President (owner) of Gifford Insurance Agency, Inc. Michael is both humbled and honored to serve as the owner of Gifford Insurance Agency as the Gifford Insurance name is stamped into the fabric of Elkader and holds a high standard of family based service and putting our customers first. Michael states, “It is important to me that the Gifford name stays with the agency as previous owners Glenn Gifford, Brian Gifford and Tom Gifford put their life’s work into serving their customers and putting their needs first. That is the same kind of service that we will continue at Gifford Insurance Agency. I am humbled to have personally known Brian Gifford as I grew up in Elkader and also to have been personally trained and led by Tom Gifford throughout my insurance career since 2016. Tom has always done insurance the right way and covered his customers for any risks that were present within their businesses, autos, homes, farms, etc. The wealth of knowledge that Tom had in the insurance industry was something that he shared with me daily when working side by side with him. I will always be grateful to Tom for taking the time to teach and also for being a close friend. I also want to thank long time and current agent Kevin Lau for being instrumental in guiding and teaching me in the insurance aspects of farm, home and auto, crop and health insurance. I couldn’t have asked for two better agents to learn from.”
Michael lives in Elkader with his wife, Jade and two sons, Abram and Ellis. In his spare time Michael enjoys spending time with Jade and their boys, riding bike, taking their disabled son Ellis for walks in his wheelchair (this is his favorite activity), coaching and spending time with close friends. Michael served as the assistant boys basketball at Central Elkader Community Schools for the last 10 years but will now serve as a volunteer coach for the high school boys basketball team when time permits. Michael also heads and plans the youth boys basketball programs for 1st thru 6th grade in Elkader.
Tom joined the agency in 1996 and purchased it from his parents Brian and Florence Gifford in 2009. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation with an emphasis in commercial lines insurance. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Tom now serves at the agency on a part time basis. Tom sold Gifford Insurance Agency, Inc. to long time employee Michael Beck in the summer of 2021. Tom’s main duties in his part time work include helping with larger commercial renewal meetings and giving any guidance to Michael in agency management if needed. Tom has shown amazing courage over the last 3 years as he has fought cancer and is now feeling well and enjoying life day to day.