Collaboration, flexibility key to Walsh Insurance’s Larkinville move

The secret to that longevity? The company’s commitment to treating all associates like part of the family, says President and Chief Operating Officer Sean Keenan.

Walsh Insurance’s recent move from Main Street in Buffalo to Larkinville and the strategic design of its new office space reflects that commitment, Keenan says.

“We’ve created a workplace that lends itself to more collaboration and working together,” he explains. “We built it with the vision of who we want to be and how we want to work for the next 10-plus years. It has already energized our current team—people who want to come in and engage differently—and we believe it’s going to attract new talent, too.”

The new space, on the Larkin at Exchange Building’s second floor, features both assigned and “plug-in-and-go” workstations, fun and functional spaces for collaboration and areas for quiet work. Keenan says employee feedback has been exceptional, as the office design reflects the hybrid-work flexibility the company offers.

“We’ve found a balance, where we can capture collaboration and spontaneous learning moments by bringing people together at the office, while at the same time preserving flexibility,” Keenan says. “People have real-life demands, so we want to stay nimble so they can engage with work and life in a healthy way.”

Working with Larkin Development Group, another family-owned business, to lease and renovate the space felt more like a partnership than a transaction, says Keenan.

“We win relationships in our line of work because of our partnership approach. Larkin Development made it clear from day one they value the same thing,” he recalls. “We knew quickly this was a move we wanted to make.”

Keenan also points to the “incredible” energy in Larkinville, from the diverse neighborhood businesses, amenities and things to do as a major selling point.

“It’s a place that’s growing and innovating, which matches our focus,” he says.

With 106 employees across three offices, including locations in Rochester and Medina, Walsh Insurance designed the Buffalo space with growth in mind. Surviving and thriving in an industry dominated by national brokerage agencies that acquire both mom-and-pop shops and larger agencies like Walsh at a breakneck pace requires some bold moves and organic growth.

“We have done some acquisitions ourselves over the years,” Keenan says. “For the right firm that wants to preserve a legacy and transition client relationships to a service model like their own, we can be a wonderful home, and we’re having those conversations all the time, but we’re also focusing on growing organically by leaning into our unique sales process and the ways we support customers.”

Staying independent remains an important priority, as well as the company’s commitment to working with clients on long-term, informed strategies based in risk management, not premium cost.

“We’re large enough to compete with national firms and offer serious value, but we’re also small enough to make our own decisions. That flexibility allows us to move quickly when needed and stay focused on what matters most,” Keenan says. “We want to be real advisors, not just brokers, and we think we’re that perfect middle ground: big enough to deliver value, but small enough to stay true to our core values.”