October 07, 2026
By: Holmes Murphy
Holmes Murphy’s Brainery Program Invests in the Next Generation of Insurance Talent
Holmes Murphy’s Brainery program is equipping the next generation of insurance professionals in Greater Des Moines (DSM), with the knowledge, experience and relationships needed to build successful careers in the insurance industry. This year’s cohort included 25 full-time employees who participated in nine weeks of structured, hands-on learning across the company’s Employee Benefits, Property Casualty and PLUS family of brands business areas.
![group of Brainery participants]()
Hiring Insurance Talent in Greater Des Moines
Unlike traditional training programs, Brainery participants are hired as full-time employees before beginning the program, allowing them to learn the insurance business through an immersive, on-the-job experience. Over the course of the program, participants engage directly with professionals throughout Holmes Murphy while building technical knowledge, professional skills and relationships. The program is designed around Holmes Murphy’s philosophy of hiring top talent and teaching employees what they need to know to serve clients effectively.
This year’s class completed 90 hours of Employee Benefits training, interacting with more than 100 facilitators; 80 hours of Property Casualty training, with exposure to 70 professionals across the business; and 39 hours of PLUS training, engaging with 53 facilitators. Collectively, the 25 class members participated in more than 1,700 hours of learning during the nine-week program.
“Brainery is an investment in people and in the future of our industry,” said Julie McAnally, Vice President of Growth and Development. “We believe talented people can come from a variety of backgrounds, and our responsibility is to give them the knowledge, experiences, and relationships they need to succeed. What makes Brainery unique is that our participants are already Holmes Murphy employees. They’re not simply learning about insurance in a classroom — they’re experiencing our business, learning from our people and building the foundation for their careers from day one.”
![Brainery cohort]()
The program also demonstrates the long-term impact of investing in early-career talent within Des Moines, other markets and across the insurance industry. Reed McManigal, Senior Vice President, Property Casualty Sales Leader and member of Holmes Murphy’s Brokerage Services Executive Committee, was a member of the inaugural Brainery class in 2015. Today, he is a shareholder at Holmes Murphy.
“When I joined Holmes Murphy and participated in the inaugural Brainery class, I had made the decision to switch from a career in law to insurance. I had transferrable skills, but they’re two different paths. Being part of the Brainery gave me an opportunity to learn the business in a hands-on way from people across Holmes Murphy while also allowing me to build relationships that have continued throughout my career,” said McManigal. “More than a decade later, I’m proud to see the program continuing to develop talented professionals and create opportunities for people to grow within the organization. Brainery is an example of what can happen when a company is willing to make a long-term investment in its people.”
Learn more about Brainery at holmesmurphy.com/careers/brainery.
![Brainery participants in the gym]()
About Holmes Murphy
Independence isn’t just our structure — it’s our mindset. It gives us the freedom to invest in our people; drive our clients forward with unmatched understanding, insights, and impact; innovate with intention; humanize insurance; unlock unique potential where others see limits; and champion our communities. That’s our approach to risk management, benefits consulting, and our people, and it’s worked for us since our inception in 1932. As an independent brokerage, headquartered in Waukee, Iowa, we serve clients in every industry and of almost every size, with the goal of providing exceptional service and caring for everyone’s unique needs. That’s the power of our independence. For more information, visit holmesmurphy.com.
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