John E. Butler

In 1957, current Chairperson John E. Butler joined the family business as one of three employees. Under his leadership and vision, Cottingham & Butler has grown to over 1,300 employees nationwide. The firm’s growth has been propelled by John’s spirit of innovation and commitment to exceptional service, developing several alternative market facilities within the claim administration, health, managed care, and safety sectors. John’s current focus is the development and implementation of initiatives for the company’s continued vigorous growth. 

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During his tenure at Cottingham & Butler, John served as director and acted as an executive committee member for both Assurex Global and the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers. He is a former chair of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. 

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John resides in Dubuque, Iowa, where Cottingham & Butler is headquartered. He is an active member of his community, sitting on the Executive Committee of the Board for the University of Dubuque, and formerly the Grand Opera House Foundation. John was honored with the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. Regionally, John serves as a member of Chicago’s Executive Committee of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, as well as the Lyric Opera. 

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John graduated from Babson College in Massachusetts with a BS in Business Administration, receiving his MBA with a concentration in Insurance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.