8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): March 19, 2018

Conifer Holdings Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Michigan	001-37536	27-1298795
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

550 West Merrill Street, Suite 200

Birmingham, MI 48009

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (248) 559-0840

________________________________________________

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[   ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[   ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)

Emerging growth company þ

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. þ

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On March 15, 2018, the Board of Directors of Conifer Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Jeffrey Hakala to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective immediately. The Board of Directors did not elect Mr. Hakala pursuant to any arrangements or understandings between Mr. Hakala and the Company or any other person. There are no material transactions between Mr. Hakala and the Company or any other person.

On March 19, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Hakala's appointment as a director. A copy of the press release is attached as an exhibit hereto.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1.       Press release dated March 19, 2018

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 19, 2018	Conifer Holdings Inc.
	By:	/s/ BRIAN J. RONEY Brian J. Roney President

EXHIBIT INDEX

Item No.	Exhibits
99.1	Press release dated March 19, 2018

EX-99.1

News Release

For Further Information:

Jessica Gulis, 248.559.0840

For Immediate Release

Conifer Holdings Appoints Investment Strategy Leader Jeffrey Hakala as

New Board Member

Birmingham, MI, March 19, 2018 - Conifer Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNFR) (“Conifer” or the “Company”) announced today that Jeffrey A. Hakala has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Company. With the addition of Mr. Hakala, Conifer’s Board of Directors increases to eight members.

James Petcoff, Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Jeff to serve on Conifer’s Board of Directors. His background in portfolio investment management and public accounting brings valuable investment strategy and financial expertise to the Board.”

Mr. Hakala is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Clarkston Capital Partners, an investment management firm based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Prior to Mr. Hakala co-founding Clarkston Capital Partners in 2007, he served as a portfolio manager for multiple investment management firms and also worked in public accounting.

In addition to his position on Conifer’s Board of Directors, Mr. Hakala serves on the Board of Directors of Clarkston State Bank. Mr. Hakala holds a B.A. in accounting and M.B.A. from Michigan State University and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and a registered Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry.

About the Company

Conifer Holdings, Inc. is a Michigan-based property and casualty holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Conifer offers specialty insurance coverage for both commercial and personal lines, marketing through independent agents in all 50 states. The Company is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol CNFR. Additional information is available on the Company's website at IR.CNFRH.com.