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Robert Klonk, chairman and chief executive officer of Oswald Companies and Unison Risk Advisors, was named to the Business Hall of Fame by Cleveland Magazine. He was inducted along with Jules Belkin and Mike Belkin (posthumous) of Belkin Productions.

Klonk has been a leader in the insurance industry for more than 40 years, serving in local and national roles. He has spent the last 28 years at Oswald, where he was appointed CEO in 2013. Klonk also became the chairman and CEO of Unison Risk Advisors in 2020, when it was formed by the merger of Oswald and RCM&D in Baltimore. He continues to spearhead the growth of both firms organically and through mergers and acquisitions.

In Northeast Ohio, Klonk is known as a champion for the region, encouraging his colleagues to support various charitable organizations and efforts.

Perhaps one of his biggest accomplishments is the formation of ERChealth, a health care provider for mid-size businesses in Ohio. He hatched the plan with Pat Perry, former chairman and president of ERC, on a cocktail napkin.

“Bob invented new ways to look at employee benefits and reduce risk,” said Perry, who is now an author, keynote speaker and presenter in the Cleveland Magazine article on Klonk’s induction.

Speaking of his own philosophy that he filters down to all employee-owners at Oswald, Klonk said:

“When our clients go to sleep at night, we want them to have peace of mind knowing that they are covered if anything happens.”

Bob currently is the chairman of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and is on the board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Cleveland Leadership Center.

On a national and international level, Klonk is chairman of the board of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers in Washington, D.C. He previously served as the chairman of the Council of Employee Benefits Executives and Council PAC in Washington, D.C., and was chairman of Assurex Global, an exclusive partnership of the most prominent independent agents and brokers in the world.

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Klonk is passionate about helping those in need and his hometown in general through charitable sponsorships and community involvement. All employee-owners at Oswald receive paid time off annually to support their preferred charity and they are encouraged to become involved in the community in various ways. This year, Oswald was named a Downtown Business of the Year by Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

“I take pride in the many awards I have been given, but a whole lot of people have helped me get here. I accept this award on their behalf,” he said.