As Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation, Michelle Halverson oversees all legal matters. Additionally, she serves as a strategic advisor to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
Halverson began her early career in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate governance at a leading international law firm, which provided a strong foundation in complex legal strategy and business dynamics. To further build on that experience, Halverson has since become known for her ability to align both legal strategy and business goals while fostering innovation and safeguarding integrity across the company.
Halverson leads with a clear vision to position the legal function as a strategic enabler of growth and resilience. Additionally, she promotes early legal engagement, leverages technology to enhance operational effectiveness and establishes governance frameworks that foster flexibility and accountability.
Colleagues across GreatAmerica recognize Halverson’s strong efforts and leadership, as Jared Hanlin, Chief Risk Officer of GreatAmerica, shares, “Through working collaboratively with our teams, Michelle has elevated herself from being the ‘legal resource’ to being broadly recognized as someone you want, and need, on the team solving our most challenging issues. Our teams and GreatAmerica’s customers achieve better results when Michelle is in the room.”
Halverson’s impact is evident in her high-performing team, which is recognized for its business acumen, legal expertise and collaborative spirit. She fosters a culture of ownership and continuous learning, empowering her team to tackle obstacles with confidence, creating a team that is valued for its insights, trusted for its impact and instrumental in shaping the organization’s future.
In addition to her professional skills, Halverson is also deeply committed to talent development and inclusion, making an effort to mentor team members across the organization to help them grow into effective leaders.
When asked what advice she offers to those building their careers, Michelle shares: “Every day, show up and give your best, especially when it’s hard. Success is built on facing challenges head-on. Trust yourself, keep moving forward and you’ll find your way. Perseverance creates opportunities and growth.”
Through her commitment to growth, governance and people, Halverson continues to define what it means to lead, both legally and in making a lasting impact on the business, its customers and those around her.
“Every day, show up and give your best, especially when it’s hard. Success is built on facing challenges head-on. Trust yourself, keep moving forward and you’ll find your way. Perseverance creates opportunities and growth.”
– Michelle Halverson
