About Tribute Insurance

⚜ Employee benefits should be more than a transaction. They should be thoughtful, innovative, and people-centered.

⚜ Small businesses deserve the same level of service, strategy, and advocacy as large organizations.

⚜ And doing what’s easy isn’t always what’s right - especially when it comes to the people who depend on you.

Our Approach

Our approach is rooted in personalization and partnership.

We work closely with business owners to understand their goals, challenges, and long-term vision, then design benefit strategies that align with both their people and their business.

We take a proactive, hands-on approach, focusing not just on plan design, but also on simplifying the day-to-day experience and delivering consistent, high-level service throughout the year.

Nicole Vershaw founded Tribute Insurance to provide a level of strategy, service, and client focus she believed was often missing in the industry. Her goal was to build an agency that prioritizes every client equally, pursues innovative solutions, and makes employee benefits easier to understand and utilize.



She spent five years with UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune 7 company, where she was a top-performing Sales Account Executive working with businesses across the country ranging from 2 to 500 employees. Nicole has experience across a broad range of funding strategies, including fully insured, level-funded, self-funded, and captive arrangements, as well as ancillary and voluntary benefit programs.

During her time on the carrier side, she worked closely with hundreds of brokers and agencies, gaining a unique perspective on what separates a good broker from a great one, not just in strategy, but in how they serve and advocate for their clients. She brings those standards and best practices into every client relationship.

Prior to entering the insurance industry, Nicole spent six years working at three leading Academic Medical Centers. This experience provided a strong foundation in healthcare systems and a deeper understanding of the real-world impact benefits have on employees and their families.

The Meaning Behind "Tribute"

A Message from Nicole Vershaw:

The name “Tribute” reflects something deeper than insurance. It represents honoring what matters most: the people we serve, the businesses we support, and the legacies they are building.

It is also deeply personal. Tribute Insurance is a tribute to my mom, Sharon Vershaw, who passed away unexpectedly and played a defining role in shaping who I am today.

Her influence instilled in me the values this business is built on: integrity, resilience, and a genuine commitment to doing what’s right for others. That perspective carries into every client relationship.

Why Independence Matters

As an independent agency, we are not tied to any one insurance carrier. We don’t operate under carrier-driven quotas or incentives, and we don’t hand clients off to a general service team after the sale.

Instead, we believe in building long-term relationships and providing consistent, high-level support from a team you know and trust. We prioritize responsive, local service, so when you need guidance or support, you’re working with someone who understands your business, not a rotating call center or unfamiliar contact.

That means our recommendations are based entirely on what is best for your business, not on quotas, limitations, or pre-determined solutions.

We evaluate a wide range of options, adapt as your needs evolve, and advocate on your behalf every step of the way.

Simply put, our role is to represent you, and every decision we make is guided by that responsibility.

Based in Bettendorf, Iowa, Nicole has a special focus on the Iowa and Illinois business community. For Nicole, being local means more than geography. It means showing up, being reachable, and building relationships with the business owners and employees she serves; not just at renewal time, but all year long. Licensed in 48 states, she works with businesses across the country and brings that same hands-on approach wherever she goes.

Local service area includes the following cities and counties; however, we serve clients across many states and regions! Please schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss solutions for your business, regardless of where your business is located.

• Quad Cities: Davenport and Bettendorf, IA; Moline and East Moline, IL
• Surrounding Iowa and Illinois Cities: Eldridge, Le Claire, Long Grove, Princeton, Clinton, Mascatine, and Rock Island
• Iowa & Illinois Counties: Scott, Muscastine, Clinton, and Rock Island