errict rhett_web.jpgFORT LAUDERDALE —Fort Lauderdale-based McKinley Insurance has opened an office in Miami and has hired former football star Errict Rhett as vice president of community relations as part of its on-going growth strategy.

Rhett is the second important hire for McKinley, after U.S. Rep. Evan Jenne, who joined the firm in February. 

Rhett will lead the company community initiatives, forming partnerships with charities and expanding McKinley’s support of under-privileged communities.  He will continue to manage his own charity, the Errict Rhett Foundation, which supports disadvantaged youth.

“Adding people like Evan and Errict to our growing team reflects the exciting direction we are headed and the stature we are gaining in the community and the industry,” McKinley President and CEO Ralph Campbell said in a statement announcing the hires. “They can work anywhere but they chose McKinley. We hired them because of their high integrity, respect in the community and success in business and life.”

Rhett was a football star at McArthur High School in Hollywood and at the University of Florida, holding the Gators’ all-time rushing record and being inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Professionally, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns. 

The Pembroke Pines native also was inducted into the Broward County Hall of Fame for football and wrestling. 

More recently, he has been a Fox Sports announcer, a custom home builder and a philanthropist.  He currently is selling tickets to raffle one of his luxury custom homes to benefit his foundation.

The McKinley announcement said the Miami office, at 990 Biscayne Blvd., will serve the firm’s growing client base in Miami-Dade County that includes the town of Miami Lakes, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, Miami Dade College, Florida Memorial University and Miami-Dade County government.

“It only makes sense for us to have an office that is closer to our clients,” Campbell said.  “We need to be in Miami to serve Miami.”

McKinley Insurance, which employs about 40 people and operates branch offices in Miami and Orlando, is an independent insurance agency representing more than 100 insurance carriers and is licensed in more than 30 states.

For more information, call 954-938-2685 or visit mckinleyinsurance.com.