About us
A family agency, now on its second generation.
Lind & Birch Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in Traverse City in 1987 by Margaret Lind. Today it’s run by her son Erik Lind and partner Dana Birch, with six people in one local office. We’re licensed in Michigan and compare several carriers for home, auto and business insurance.
Opened by Margaret Lind above a hardware store.
Regional and national carriers we can quote for you.
People in one Traverse City office. No call center.
A licensed agent calls you back on any business day.
Six people. One office. No call center.
Every licensed agent’s Michigan license number is shown here and in our Licensing & Disclosures. You can verify any of them with the state.
Erik Lind
Principal Agent & Owner · since 2004
Grew up behind the front desk his mother built. Handles home, cottage and auto for most of the families we insure, and still returns his own voicemails.
Dana Birch
Partner · Commercial Lines · since 2009
Insures the restaurants, wineries, marinas and contractors that keep the region running. Reads every policy before it renews, not after a claim.
Luis Ortega
Personal Lines Agent · since 2016
Shops auto and home for first-time buyers and growing families. Bilingual, so he can explain PIP choices in English or Spanish.
Hannah Kowalczyk
Account Manager · since 2012
Policy changes, new cars, certificates of insurance for contractors. If you need it today, Hannah is who you want.
Ben Ashby
Client Service & Claims Help · since 2021
Walks you through a claim from the first call to the final check, and chases the adjuster so you don’t have to.
Margaret Lind
Founder (1987) · Semi-retired · since 1987
Opened the agency in a rented room above a hardware store. Still comes in on Tuesdays, mostly to check that we’re answering the phone.
Concept note: initials stand in for the agency’s own team photos. People and license numbers are fictional samples.
Our story
It started in one rented room.
Margaret Lind opened the agency in 1987 in a rented room above a hardware store, with one phone line and a filing cabinet. Her rule was simple: answer the phone, and tell people the truth about their coverage even when it doesn’t make a sale.
Her son Erik joined in 2004. Dana Birch came on in 2009 to build the business side, and became a partner. The name on the door changed; the rule didn’t.
- Independent: we represent several carriers, not one
- Licensed in Michigan (agency license on every page)
- English and Spanish spoken
- Claims help from a real person, start to finish