Influential Woman · Insurance & Financial Services
Michelle Calvin
Independent Insurance Agent | Owner, Calvin Insurance | Sunny Street Inc.
Howell, MI 48855
Her Story
About Michelle
Michelle Calvin is an independent insurance professional and owner of Calvin Insurance, bringing approximately 29 years of experience to the insurance and financial services industry. Her professional background encompasses insurance, project management, sales and marketing, recruiting, corporate training, talent development, and coaching. Through Calvin Insurance, she focuses on serving clients in areas including supplemental insurance, life insurance, and disability coverage, while also drawing on her extensive experience in professional development and business leadership.
Throughout her career, Calvin has progressed through a broad range of professional and educational roles. Her experience with Aflac includes serving as a Special Project Manager, State Training Coordinator, Regional Sales Coordinator, and District Sales Manager. She has coached high-performing teams, helped bring teams back to target across measurable categories, recruited agents and district managers, acquired large accounts, and designed and revamped training programs. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Jackson College, teaching remedial and college-level mathematics and conducting professional development workshops. Calvin earned a Bachelor of Science in History Teacher Education with a minor in Social Sciences from Evangel University and a Master's Degree in Special Education from Spring Arbor University.
Calvin is committed to continuous personal and professional development. She is a licensed brain trainer through Dr. Amen's program and has participated in Tony Robbins Master University programs. She is also affiliated with NAPA and Virtuity Financial Group through Rural Financial Group. Beyond her professional work, Calvin has contributed to her community through Habitat for Humanity International's Women's International Build projects and other community activities. She is passionate about reading, cooking, traveling to sunny locations, visiting farmers' markets, professional development, and supporting the success of other women. Her approach to business is grounded in resilience, authenticity, family, peacefulness, personal growth, and treating clients with the same care and respect she would give to family.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success primarily to my unwillingness to fail. I learned that determination and tenacity from my mother, who taught me to make my own way and believe that I could accomplish what I set out to do.
That mindset has helped me remain persistent throughout my career. I have learned to keep moving forward through challenges, continue developing myself, and remain committed to the goals I have chosen to pursue.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is simple: don't quit. There will be good days and bad days, and I have learned not to allow the bad days to determine whether I continue pursuing my goals.
I believe resilience is developed by working through periods of discomfort rather than immediately walking away when something becomes difficult. Those challenging experiences can strengthen us and teach us how to persevere.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is not to chase money as their primary goal. Instead, I encourage them to embrace their passion and identify the work that genuinely gives them a sense of purpose.
When you embrace your passion and discover your purpose, that purpose can become the driving force behind your financial success. I also encourage women to seek out other women who are working in the fields they aspire to enter and find someone willing to provide mentorship, even if that mentorship begins on a small scale.
I believe one of the best investments I have made in my own business has been investing in myself through conferences, continued development, and working with a business coach. I have had a business coach for approximately 10 years, and I also coach others. My experience has taught me that many challenges in business are connected to personal challenges, so identifying and working through those barriers can make a meaningful difference professionally.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my industry is the level of competition. In my 29 years in the industry, I have never seen competition this aggressive, and that can be especially challenging for people entering the field.
At the same time, I believe the opportunities are essentially endless. The competition exists in part because many people are trying to do the same things in the same way. I see a significant opportunity for professionals who are willing to define who they are, understand what they want to accomplish, and develop their client base around their own strengths rather than simply following what everyone else is doing.
The key is creativity and authenticity. There is tremendous opportunity for someone who is confident in who they are, understands the value they bring, and is willing to build a business and client community around that identity.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is one of the most important values in my life, along with peacefulness, calm, and a sense of balance. These values are important to me personally and also influence how I approach my professional life.
I treat my clients like family because I believe relationships matter. Building a business is not simply about transactions; it is about developing genuine relationships, caring about the people you serve, and creating an environment where trust and respect can thrive.
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