Jack Pearl
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Laureates
Founder & Chairperson
Pearl Companies
A graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, IL, Mr. Pearl founded Pearl & Associates in 1954 and has served as CEO for over thirty years. During his time at the helm, Pearl & Associates moved from a small insurance company consisting of himself and a part-time assistant, to a national, multifaceted company with over 550 employees. Pearl & Associates has transformed into the Pearl Companies, consisting of Pearl Insurance, Pearl Technology, Pearl Benefits, and Pearl Automotive.
The big break for the company came when the Illinois State Bar Association became a client in 1957 and Pearl began providing malpractice insurance. That specific kind of insurance was a rare concept at the time and the company soon expanded to insurance for other professional organizations who needed protection.
Mr. Pearl runs his business under the premise that a company is only as good as its people, based on his belief that you must always reward people’s hard work. One of Pearl’s core values, “We value innovation,” is a reminder of the humble beginnings and great things that came of acting in entrepreneurial spirit.