Man of the Year
Each year the Mustang Foundation honors a man or woman who shows exceptional entrepreneurship and leadership in their community. Their extreme generosity and involvement in the education of young people are the keys to Mustang's success.
To make a donation to the Mustang Scholars Foundation or purchase tickets to the dinner event on October 17, 2009 click here.
Tony McIntyre
Tony McIntyre is a proponent of paying it forward. He truly believes that one good turn deserves another and he's built his whole life and his incredible career around this concept.
Now, holding the reigns of The McIntyre Group, one of the area's most successful insurance broker and consultant firms, McIntyre realized - even as a child - that he had a dream. And that dream became the impetus that propelled him to work a little harder and put forth a little more effort. In the process, he gained confidence in his ability to achieve.
You see, when he was a teenager, McIntyre had his heart set on becoming a commissioned officer in the military. With limited funds available, he reached out and asked his neighbor for a hand, explaining to them his dream.
They admired his gumption and generously wrote him a check for $1,000. He used it to attend the Marine Military Academy. The school ended up giving McIntyre the rest of the money he needed in the form of a $3,000 football scholarship.
Today, years after he became Chairman of the Board of his alma mater, McIntyre often finds himself in the position of offering the same support to young men and women of potential. Recently, he had the opportunity to return the $1,000 favor by writing a check for a different neighbor's grandchild with the same dream. In addition, Tony has helped other young men and women and multiple cadets with their education at MMA.
Paying it forward is the motto that McIntyre lives by. And it's this selflessness and appreciation for the gifts he's received that have helped him to not only become one of the top insurance brokers in the country, but the 2009 recipient of a very prestigious award- the Man of the Year.
The Man of the Year award is given by the Mustang Scholars Foundation- an organization that offers financial support to talented, economically and socially disadvantaged young men and women who wish to begin their military education. The award honors a man or woman who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurship and leadership in the community. Tony McIntyre is that man. He's set to be honored at the October 17th Mustang of the Year dinner.
McIntyre's story is the classic case of hard work and determination paying off. After serving his military obligation, McIntyre took a job in the computer division of Xerox and then changed careers and worked for a regional insurance broker. He was instrumental in the agency's growth to become a nationally recognized firm. He eventually became a stock holder and was a member of their board of directors. In 2002, Tony left a prominent position and sizable pay to venture out on his own. He has since grown The McIntyre Group, with the help of his elite team, from $0 to $10 million in revenue and approximately $90 million in sales. The firm has given back generously to many other charities including The Eagles Fly for Leukemia, The Horsey Family Youth Foundation and The American Paralyzed Veterans of America. McIntyre credits his military education at MMA and Army ROTC in helping achieving these accomplishments.
It's McIntyre's undoubted drive, his "pay it forward" point of view and his relentless passion that are the keys to his success. And it's those qualities, combined with his commitment to helping others that make McIntyre the Mustang Scholars Man of the Year.