Best Places to Work 2020

A.I.M. Mutual Insurance Companies

President & CEO: Michael Standing
Burlington, MA

A.I.M. Mutual’s reputation as a premier workers’ compensation insurer took hold in 1989. We credit our efficient operations and exceptional staff with giving us a competitive edge in the New England region. As an employer, we value the dedication and talent of our employees; we appreciate and support the dynamic workplace they have established. When building an employee benefits package, we listen and research. Providing a top-notch program, one that includes health care, dental care, 401(k) and compensation, is a priority. Professional development opportunities are available in all areas, and team building takes place at these sessions and at company outings, luncheons, wellness fairs, inter-department meetings, and more. Our employees—Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in their respective fields--have been published in regional and national insurance publications such as The Standard, IN magazine and our own Connection magazine, which is distributed in print and online to brokers across the country. As an insurer, service and innovation are what set us apart. Regionally and nationally, our workers’ compensation programs have captured the attention of the business community. We have been recognized for the impact we’ve had in treating injured workers at risk for opioid dependence. In addition, we were among the first to introduce a wellness component to injury prevention in the workplace. Our approach to workers’ compensation insurance involves a partnership with employers and their broker representatives. Our employees are on the front lines answering—and anticipating—questions and concerns that come up in a wide range of work environments. Healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality and construction are just a few of the industries who rely on our workers’ compensation guidance. A.I.M. Mutual is financially strong, rated A (Excellent) by the insurance industry rating organization, A.M. Best Company. We have a 92% retention rate in our voluntary business, which means employers are asking their brokers to renew their coverage with us year after year. Employers have more options than ever for workers’ compensation, so it’s a statistic we take pride in. It’s due in no small part to the team we have in place.

Acclamation Insurance Management Services

President & CEO: Dominic Russo
Sacramento, CA

We are a family owned business, specializing in 3rd party Workers' Compensation adjusting, with a reputation for fairness to our employees and our customers. We are known in the business space as having the ability to customize our programs to meet the client's needs. We recognize the whole employee with a work/life balance approach and a strong support system. We have beautifully designed and maintained work spaces, and we work hard to keep those spaces ergonomically correct, regularly updating equipment and chairs. Our owners and employees have a strong sense of commitment, a solid work ethic, and a healthy sense of humor. We trust each other's intentions. Employees' contributions are regularly recognized by peer and manager awards. We work together, asking for input all the way through, to improve our own communication, knowledge, feedback systems, and our IT systems to make it easier for our employees to succeed and for the company to retain and attract clients. And when we make a mistake, we raise our hand, own it, and work on the fix. We are always looking for ways to grow together as a company.

AF Group

President & CEO: LIsa Corless
Lansing, MI

Headquartered in Lansing, Mich., AF Group is a premier provider of innovative insurance solutions through our brands across the country. Our collective strength ensures our customers have access to resources and support needed to keep costs down and workplaces safe. We have a best-in-class workforce, building and executing industry-leading best practices, analytics and resources to manage risk and minimize loss for our policyholders while strengthening business with our agent partners. Our culture is one of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, focused on our customers, but always valuing our amazing teammates as our most valuable asset. In fact, one of our strategic pillars is “People First” — which was created and implemented by our President and CEO Lisa Corless. She, along with our entire leadership team, knows that without our high performing team, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As such, she (and all) make sure every teammate knows just how valuable they are. From informal kudos and thanks on a regular basis to more formal service recognition awards (a cash reward for going above and beyond) and annual performance recognition, employees are shown the spotlight they deserve. They are also rewarded with fun events and gifts throughout the year, including outings, picnics, boat cruises, Yeti coolers, gift cards and more. This is all on top of our competitive total compensation package, which includes top rate health insurance (with low cost sharing for employees), company match on 401K, ample and generous time off (starting at more than 4 weeks for new hires), on site fitness facilities and more.

AHT Insurance

President and CEO: David Shaefer
Leesburg, VA

At AHT, we pride ourselves on being “One AHT”, meaning that no matter which of our eight offices you report to, or if you work from home, you still feel like part of the AHT team. We prioritize our employees by providing a flexible work-life balance, based on our understanding that everyone has a life outside of work. There are many team members that are parents, going to school, etc., and we want them to be able to come into work knowing we are here for them and will try to accommodate whatever their situation may be. We offer a competitive benefits package and PTO policy for team members. AHT has also implemented an employee assistance program to ensure team members are able to prioritize their health and wellness. We recently began offering a floating day each year, which allows employees to take an additional day off and use that day as they please. This may include taking off for a birthday, mental health day or just because. We also offer a “Day of Thanks”, which allows employees to take a day off to volunteer for an organization or cause of their choosing. We are constantly looking for ways to improve and expand what we offer our team members. We have implemented an employee engagement platform that allows team members to write suggestions, requests or ask questions anonymously or with their name attached. Team members can also send “You Rock” messages to other teammates to internally recognize the hard work they’ve done. We’ve found that this tool has really encouraged support and praise within the company and among peers. AHT has department team building events and social gatherings throughout the year to bring everyone together and have fun outside of the office. These events have allowed team members to get to know each other better and learn from one another in a more collaborative manner. We also have upbeat social gatherings such as, retirement parties, holiday parties and other fun events to bring the offices together. In 2021, AHT will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. This accomplishment reminds us of how far we’ve come and how much we can continue to grow in the future. We are proud of all the hard work we’ve accomplished and could not have done it without our amazing team members.

American Global LLC

Chairman & CEO: Michael Marino
New York City, NY

In 2014, the vision of creating a collaborative brokerage platform with a specialization focused solely in the construction industry became a reality. Our strategy to grow organically and methodically, with the right people in the right regions, set the wheels in motion for what is now a team of surety and insurance construction professionals in offices across the US as well as Latin America and London. As a firm that specializes in insurance and surety for contractors, the depth of our capabilities stems from our team of professionals. Our team is focused on aligning with our customer’s business plans in each territory they operate to assist with maximizing new opportunities. American Global provides an integrated approach to connect our clients to various strategic partnerships from insurance companies to potential joint venture partners. Our culture is driven by a desire to provide the best possible solution for our client through innovation, credibility, and partnership. Our model has always been, and will continue to be, to build around the best individuals wherever they are.

American Integrity Insurance Group, LLC

CEO/President: Robert C Ritchie
Tampa, FL

American Integrity Insurance, the fifth largest Florida domiciled residential property insurer, has in excess of 300,000 customers and is represented by more than 1,000 independent agents. The Tampa-based company offers sound and comprehensive property insurance solutions, including traditional home insurance and coverage for vacant homes, condominiums, manufactured homes, dwelling fire, umbrella, golf cart, X-Wind policies, cyber coverage, and small boat coverage. We are a best place to work as culture is a number one priority and we recognize our employees are our greatest asset, they matter and we see each other as family not just employees/employer. When asked why they love American Integrity, employees highlight the company's culture of fun, collaboration, and family atmosphere, where each employee is supported, and celebrated for their contributions and achievements.

Amerisure

President and CEO: Greg Crabb
Farmington Hills, MI

Amerisure is an insurance organization charged with creating exceptional value for its Partners For Success® agencies and policyholders. This value is fostered by Amerisure’s exceptional employees, who are offered various benefits for their dedication and service. Employees consider Amerisure a “best” place to work because of its competitive base pay, annual performance bonus, robust benefits package, employee engagement and charitable activities.

Apex Benefits

President & CEO: John F. Gause
Indianapolis, IN

Apex Benefits is a team of benefits strategists dedicated to helping those responsible for employee benefits create a culture of health and cost savings. We provide the tools, resources and expertise to help strengthen workforces and make organizations better. In the last five years, Apex Benefits has doubled FTEs and more than doubled top line revenue. The same careful consideration that goes into selecting effective benefits plans for our clients goes into growing our diverse team of experts. Each member of Apex demonstrates an exceptional level of industry knowledge, service and effective decision-making skills in their respective fields; all are part of our ongoing initiative to grow our people, grow our business and exceed client expectations. Apex believes in sustaining an employee culture that promotes professional and personal growth. We built ApexAcademy for continual learning opportunities and invested in offerings like Lessonly & trueU. Our BPTW & pulse survey results are shared with employees; we celebrate our successes and work on making improvements when needed. Since 2003, we've remained a desirable place to work. As a recipient of several local and national awards, the value we place on company culture is unparalleled. Our employees remain motivated, passionate and engaged through community efforts and the training/development Apex Benefits provides. Recent awards include: Best Places to Work in Indiana 2011-2020 and Best Places to Work in Insurance 2018-2019 (Best Companies Group); Dave Thomas Foundation - 9th best adoption-friendly small business in the country—multiple years, including 2017; American Heart Association Silver Recognition 2018, and Bronze award winner in the Workplace Health Achievement program—2016-2017; AchieveWell Recognition from the Indiana Council on Wellness—2014-2015 and Five Star Level Recognition in 2018; and Healthiest Employers of Indiana — 2018-2019. Our employees are smart, fun, diverse and caring individuals who create a family culture at Apex. From recruiting and onboarding, to training and development, we build upon strengths and leverage our expertise to help businesses thrive and families feel valued as we affect change across the healthcare landscape

Associated Insurance and Risk Management Advisors

CEO: Max R. Schrayer, II
Rolling Meadows, IL

Associated is one of the top privately-held insurance and risk management firms in the country. We assist businesses and individuals with their insurance needs, including property, casualty, and employee benefits, and more. Founded in 1890, our longevity in the industry provides unparalleled expertise and longstanding relationships with leading insurance carriers. Our proven track record empowers us to anticipate insurance or risk management needs and create innovative and productive solutions, ultimately driving down costs for our clients over time. We serve nearly 15,000 clients nationwide, small and large, for-profit and non-profit, with needs ranging from basic insurance to complex programs.

Assurance

CEO: Tony Chimino
Schaumburg, IL

Consistently recognized as a top workplace, Assurance attracts and retains its insurance talent by rewarding expertise, investing in career development, and recognizing contributions. Assurance colleagues enjoy an award-winning culture that fosters a highly productive and results-driven working environment. To do all this, we attract the most talented insurance professionals in the industry and keep them engaged by building a culture of feedback and flexibility. Feedback The only thing more relentless than our pursuit of feedback is our desire to act on it. We survey our employees extensively, from general engagement surveys to those seeking specific insights. Our CEO meets regularly with randomly selected employees for lunch to learn their ideas on how we can improve operationally or culturally. And our proprietary DNA Performance management process fosters regular two-way feedback between employees and managers. This year alone, we’ve added new health plan options, upped our wellness program incentives, re-worked our bonus program, added standing desks and more – all based on feedback from our staff. Flexibility We’ve found that a workforce that can choose when, how and where it works is not only good for our employees, it’s good for our business. Our employees enjoy the freedom to:
• Work from home regularly.
• We even equip them with monitors, docking stations, mice, keyboards and more to outfit their home offices.
• Choose their primary office location.
• With two Chicagoland offices – one in the suburbs and one in the city – our employees enjoy ample flexibility to choose which office they work out of daily or to even change primary offices if their personal situation evolves.
• 20% of our workforce is also made up of a remote workforce spread across the country, many of whom started with us working in one of our offices, but transitioned to remote as their personal situation changed.
• Set their own hours.

Avalon Risk Management Insurance Agency LLC

President/CEO: Lisa Gelsomino
Elk Grove Village, IL

Avalon Risk Management is a privately held insurance broker 100% committed to our customers & the logistics & transportation industries we have served for 22 years. Our involvement in industry events & government committees helps us provide excellent service, cutting-edge technology & customized insurance products. Our success would not be possible without the expertise & dedication of our employees. Avalon encourages personal growth with an Avalon University training platform related to our products, markets, systems, etc. We encourage job swapping for employees to expand their knowledge & expertise. Employees are encouraged to pursue professional designations or certifications - at our expense - to advance in their careers. Our new learning management system provides additional learning resources related to general business & leadership skills. The benefits we offer & extra activities we sponsor enable our employees to find a healthy work/life balance & keep them engaged. We provide days off for birthdays and work anniversaries. We have flexible work schedules & telecommuting options wherever possible. We host lunches, chair massages, costume contests, potlucks, charity fundraisers & volunteer activities. During COVID-19, our managers have found ways to connect & engage their teams through video lunches on MS Teams, weekly trivia contests, & more. With our core values of Integrity, Teamwork, Communication, Personal Growth & Knowledge, Family & the Global Community we serve, Avalon has built a culture where employees can directly contribute to our company’s success through focus groups & our Bright Ideas program. We have a group of dedicated professionals who go above & beyond typical insurance brokerage activities. Our clients recognize the quality of our employees & often share compliments with our management team. Avalon’s commitment to our industry and to our employees shows in our open communication; useful benefits; flexible work schedules; recognition programs & fun activities. All of these and more help our employees achieve a balanced life. It is our employees themselves who contribute the most to making Avalon a “Best Place to Work”.

Baldwin Risk Partners

CEO: Trevor Baldwin
Tampa, FL

"BRP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRP) is a rapidly growing independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance and risk management insights and solutions that give our clients the peace of mind to pursue their purpose, passion and dreams. We are innovating the industry by taking a holistic and tailored approach to risk management, insurance and employee benefits, and support our clients, Colleagues, Insurance Company Partners and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive our growth. BRP represents over 450,000 clients across the United States and internationally. For more information, please visit www.baldwinriskpartners.com. Learn more about BKS-Partners at www.bks-partners.com. **BRP is a firm where colleagues can grow as an Individual - both personally & professionally**"

Berkley Industrial Comp

President: Chandler Cox
Birmingham, AL

Berkley Industrial Comp offers our employees a modern work environment, employee development and appreciation programs, and innovative environment that encourages creativity. In 2019 we moved into a new office that enhanced collaboration with improved technology. Our office is full of natural light, huddle rooms, and comfortable spaces to meet, work, and socialize with fellow team members. Our President takes the time to get to know employees; is extremely open and approachable. Our Culture Wall displays our organization’s cultural values. It demonstrates the areas where we excel and where we can support growth and development. It offers a daily reminder of our collective desire to be creative, accountable, and resilient. We focus heavily on understanding each other so that we can enjoy effective communication and collaboration. All associates participated in a DiSC Personality profile exercise and we weave that together with 7 Innovation Behaviors to support our internal and external team communication. The Prickett University program offers learning opportunities for our team throughout their career by offering both department specific and cross functional modules. We encourage team members to use resources in the Brainier online LMS. Providing growth and development is another reason why BIN is a great place to work. We spend 2-days together every year at our Annual Meeting, where we learn, train, collaborate, and have fun.The meeting this year was at the Space and Rocket museum, where we met with a member of the NASA team who shared NASA’s innovations over the past 20+ years to spark our creative juices. We enjoyed collaborating when learning how to build a hypothesis for experimentation, and had to put our creativity to test with a “Nailed-it” dessert challenge to build a rocket out of cake. Our team is a community of individuals with a shared vision to provide proper care, compassion, and attention to all of our insureds. Our commitment to communication, development, and creativity fuels the passion of our team. That passion is evident in our ability to provide superior customer services, and a well-rounded work environment allowing for balance, and personal and professional success.

BKCW Insurance

Managing Partner: Tyler Spears
Austin, TX

At BKCW, we believe in putting our members and their families first. As a third-generation family owned business, we understand the importance of being able to provide a great work life balance so members can take care of clients at work and can focus on families at home. We want every member to be engaged and pursuing their passions. BKCW strives to understand how we can help each member reach their goals and encourage them to feel empowered to own their work while utilizing their strengths. We promote sharing knowledge, feedback, and ideas to improve processes and we develop an education plan for each member. BKCW pays for all certifications and CE and provides bonuses for completing designations. We want our team to be the most educated and knowledgeable consultants in the business. We strive to create new and efficient ways to work with back-up and redundancy so that everyone has a team member they can count on. When someone plans a family vacation, we want them to truly be out of the office and not worried about work. Communication is always front of mind for BKCW. Our leaders strategize with the team on how we can improve, how we can better collaborate with one another, and the best ways to be available to everyone in the organization. It is important to us that each member feels that they are heard and supported. Our BKCW culture has always been centered around bringing members together, and they have strived in this environment. Our team has had its share of personal tragedies occur over the past year, and what we have seen company-wide is truly what defines a best place to work for us. Teammates have stepped in to help their co-workers financially, they have delivered meals and cards, and provided unending prayers and support. We have always strived to make our members feel supported, but to see them showing this level of support to one another is the best reward a company can receive. We continue to strive for excellence and innovation in all we do, but above all else, we live by a few non-negotiables. Always putting family first and taking excellent care of our clients and team members tops that list. We believe that by upholding these values, BKCW will always be the best place to work in Texas.

Bold Penguin

CEO,Co-Founder: Ilya Bodner
Columbus, OH

Bold Penguin in the tech company that's "people first." We do not sell insurance, but we build technology to make it easier for the people who do. All of this is a part of our grand mission to help small business owners easily and quickly navigate the world of commercial insurance. It is partially this mission that makes Bold Penguin an excellent place to work. That, plus the driven people that make up our company, motivate us each day. We know we are all coming together to do important work to help small businesses around the country. Our job is to ultimately help business owners get their dreams up off the ground. Our "people first" mentality is just as important to Bold Penguin internally as it is externally. Everyone who works here genuinely cares about their teammates. You can definitely feel it in the air, that everyone has a passion for what they do here, day in and day out. The level of commitment on the team is intoxicating, and we all work to build each other up, including management.

Brown & Riding

President and CEO: Jeffrey J. Rodriguez
Los Angeles, CA

Brown & Riding was founded in 1980 in California and is the only Top 10 wholesale E&S brokerage that is 100% internally owned. We are committed to remaining fully independent and have a long-term perpetuation strategy that offers top professionals meaningful ownership opportunity. We have 19 offices nationwide, 40+ shareholders, 280+ employees, produce over $1Billion in annual premium volume, and continue to grow. Our true independence continues to allow us the freedom to focus on what’s best for our staff and clients, rather than cater to outside investors. We offer flexible work arrangements, including the option to work remotely, provide comprehensive benefits, and promote a full work-life balance. We firmly believe our employees are our greatest asset and are committed as a company to the development of our people. We strongly support diversity and inclusion and have collectively built an organization offering unobstructed opportunities to anyone seeking growth in their career at B&R. We have a proven track record of developing people and promoting from within, which has resulted in a highly professional, motivated, and very diverse organization at all levels, including our shareholder group, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors. The well-being and morale of all of our people is a top priority, and we believe our focus on building a great culture has resulted in a high level of job satisfaction at Brown & Riding. We strive for excellence, not only in what we do for our clients but also to be the best place to work in the industry for our staff. We remain dedicated to investing in our employees and are committed to providing resources and opportunities to develop and further their careers.

Burnham Benefits Insurance Services

President & CEO: Kristen Allison
Irvine, CA

The Burnham Benefits team operates much differently than your average brokerage firm. We are highly collaborative and revel in a culture that allows each employee to blossom into the best possible version of themselves. Burnham hires self-managing people and employs career pathing to identify opportunities for advancement, focusing on the employee’s experience, skills, and personal and professional competencies. Employees are placed in roles depending not only on their strengths but also their passions. This cultivates a staff that comes to work every day to enjoy the responsibilities they are fulfilling. Burnham Benefits strives year after year to provide a healthy workplace where people can arrive each day (physically or remotely), feel supported and safe, and offer valuable employee benefits services for our clients. With evolving investments in technology and critical resources, employees are supported, and experience increased productivity. In alignment with evolving investments in resources, Burnham Benefits is a Certified B Corporation. Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. We are legally required to consider the impact of our decisions on our colleagues, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This designation continues to evoke pride and innovation throughout the company. After each monthly company-wide staff meeting, Burnham Benefits provides lunch as a form of appreciation and as an opportunity to foster interpersonal relationships. The lunches are one of the many opportunities employees have to connect, in addition to the monthly holiday, cultural, life-event celebrations the firm sponsors, and weekly carrier sponsored events. Burnham Benefits truly understands the importance of work-life harmony, encouraging employees to get involved in the community, and offering flexible schedules. Flexibility with employees' work schedules allows them to devote valuable attention to their work while still being present with their families—including the opportunity to work remotely. Ultimately, there is strong mutual respect among the staff because everyone cooperates to work toward the same end goal: Burnham Benefits' continued success!

BXS Insurance

President and CEO: Markham McKnight
Baton Rouge, LA

BXS Insurance is the fifth largest bank-owned insurance broker in the nation and is in the top 10 percent of brokers in the U.S based on total revenue. This large, nationally recognized firm has strategically grown to 31 offices across eight states. From small companies to organizations with more than 10,000 employees, BXSI delivers the highest standard in brokerage services. It has become an industry leader in commercial insurance, surety, employee benefits and private client brokerage services by investing in technology and human capital to expand service offerings and create a competitive advantage for clients. BXSI employees are set for success from the very beginning, starting with going back to school – BXSI University, that is. BXSI-U is a weeklong training session that provides employees with a comprehensive understanding of the organization, its resources and its competitive strategies. BXSI is known for recruiting top talent, with several professionals relocating from across the country to join the team in the past year. This investment in human capital has been repaid in spades, with the average employee tenure spanning just over 11 years. As the organization grows to become a global resource, its core focus has remained on building and maintaining a people-centered culture of talented insurance and risk management professionals who are committed to going above and beyond for its clients.

C3 Risk & Insurance Services

President: Gabe Erle
San Diego, CA

C3 is extremely unique in every way imaginable for a corporate workplace, but what truly sets their employee experience apart is their compassion and appreciation for their staff, and their highly-encouraged work/life balanced culture. All full-time employees are equipped with a dedicated office work space, and each of them offer the mobility to set up a fully-loaded home work space. One never has to stress about missing too much work unexpectedly when it comes to illness or family emergencies, and that sigh-of-relief makes all the difference! We also regularly have staff appreciation and recognition events, and our team acts as a true band of friends and family who enjoy each other at the office, and outside of work. You could say that one never dreamed that an environment like this was possible, particularly in such a "straight-edged-no-games" industry like that of insurance.

Captive Resources

Chairman/CEO: George Rusu
Itasca, MI

Captive Resources, LLC (CRI) helps businesses take control of their insurance plans, lower their total cost of risk and promote safer workplaces. We do this by providing strategic, innovative consulting services to guide these businesses through the process of creating, managing and growing member-owned group captive insurance companies. We are the indisputable leader in the group captive industry, currently consulting to 40 group captives that generate $2.7 billion in annual premium, and have returned $2.2 billion in dividends to their member-owners. We provide support for every aspect of the group captives we advise, from claims advocacy to operational oversight, risk management, financial services, regulatory compliance, investment services and more. A key driver of our success is our amazing colleagues. We’ve built a rich environment that fosters dedication and camaraderie while producing a sense of pride and accountability. Our colleagues are integral to our long-standing relationships with the captives’ service partners. We believe in our people and strive to make CRI a great place to work. We offer exceptional benefits and perks like: generous health insurance, dental, vision, voluntary life, and more; a $900 annual wellness credit; on-site health screenings; ample vacation time, 7 PTO days and 9 paid holidays; time off for volunteering; flexible works hours; work from home options; shortened hours on summer Fridays; quarterly off-site colleague gatherings; a marriage “toast” to new brides and grooms (1 hotel stay with dinner and a gift card); new-born gifts; team building events (e.g., Cubs games, lake tours, etc.). On top of our benefits, we’ve endeavored to keep our colleagues safe during the pandemic by canceling events and travel and having everyone work from home. We also offered colleagues $550 to buy home office equipment, set up COVID-19 and antibody testing for colleagues and their families, and supplied masks and oximeters. We moved into our state-of-the-art workspace in 2018 which includes ergonomic, customizable work stations; a free fully equipped fitness facility; a deli with discounted meals; a spacious café area; and kitchens with free coffee and bottled beverages on every floor.

Cavignac & Associates Insurance Brokers

President: Jeffrey Cavignac
San Diego, CA

At Cavignac we’re working towards realizing a vision where every business in our community is protected from risk. To achieve this, we’ve built a team that has been recognized as best in industry by giving them the resources and independence to: • Belong: We emphasize culture and encourage collaboration. We work in a supportive work environment where teammates have each others back. • Give: We believe community engagement is an integral part of a fulfilling career. We’re always looking for new ways to give back to the place where we live and work. • Grow: The only thing more important than our clients futures are the futures of our team members. We invest a significant amount of time and resources on employee education. • Thrive: Comprehensive health insurance, 401k matching, profit sharing, team events, competitive PTO, all staff and individual bonuses - we give our team the benefits they need to live their best life. Because of these efforts, we’ve been very fortunate to achieve numerous awards over the years. What’s just as fulfilling is the constant messages we receive from the team about how they are proud to tell others that they work at Cavignac. You can learn more about our culture and what employees have to say about it on our Glassdoor page.

CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services, Inc.

President, CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services, Inc.: Michael Kouzelos
Cleveland, OH.

We focus each day on our commitment to making our company a great place to work. We work hard to understand the needs of our associates, and then do our best to meet those needs. We adopted Great People, Great Place (GP2) as a primary company goal in 2006. GP2 is an enduring program to ensure the leadership and environment of CBIZ are together creating a place that our associates are excited about and are proud of. We began by conducting a baseline satisfaction survey, and adopted countless policies and benefits based on the feedback. We continue to re-survey and make continuous improvements. We implemented GP2 Committees in each office, who execute programs and activities to further increase engagement. Led by a Chair and comprised of members representing all areas, activities may include annual events, such as Employee Appreciation Day, All-Hands business meetings, Take Your Child to Work Day, etc. Monthly activities include celebrations for birthdays, promotions, retirements or holidays, or to attend outings such as picnics or sports events. Each Committee elects a CBIZ Cares Leader. CBIZ Cares allows each associate to volunteer 5 hours of paid time in their community. The Leader engages co-workers to select the organization(s) their office will support. Associates have this opportunity to work together outside of the office to further develop professional and personal relationships. Each Committee elects a National Food Drive Leader. Each Fall we seek donations of non-perishable items as well as cash, donated to local food banks. We sponsor friendly competitions between our offices – those with greatest amount of food receive ½ day vacation for all. In 2019 we renewed our commitment to protecting our environment and reducing our footprint. Each office has a Green Team Leader, who has established a local committee. The teams have initiated action steps, and in our first year, recorded 771 improvements in recycling, office equipment and facilities efficiencies, and use of eco-friendly office supplies.

Christensen Group, Inc.

CEO: Bruce Christensen
Eden Prairie, MN

Christensen Group Insurance (CG) is 100% employee-owned and connected in our mission to grow together as a team. We believe we can achieve this growth without sacrificing our culture, entrepreneurial mindset or financial excellence. Our team is at the heart of each decision and we are open to listening to different opinions and using employees' input to guide our decisions. Our Leadership Council, made up from leaders across the organization, meet frequently to discuss business decisions and understand how those impact our team and culture. At CG, we want to pursue success by growing in a way that honors where we've been, where we want to go, and that aligns with our team values. We also believe in fun and socializing as a team, and are lucky to gather together frequently. We gather formally with employees and spouses for our Fall Party and Annual ESOP meeting. Potlucks, cornhole games, trivia games, happy hours are common occurrences. We've adopted Zoom meetings during COVID-19 to host virtual happy hours or driveway lunches to stay connected. We host coffee talks to learn from others' career journeys and start our day together with morning coffee. We host Benefit Fairs to educate on our benefit offerings. We have four committees lead by the employees. The first, Culture & Wellness Committee, serves our team with providing wellness and social activities. In the last year, they have planned Biggest Loser weight loss challenges, Step Challenges, bi-monthly fruit deliveries, healthy snacks, Family picnic, chair massages during the work day, lunch trivia games, monthly lunches to gather together. The second, Charity & Community Involvement, leads our Charity Match program, offering volunteering opportunities and hosting quarterly blood drives. The third, Green Committee, finds ways to support our environment and through their leadership, we have defaulted to 2-sided printing. The fourth, Welcome Committee, meets all new hires and takes them out to lunch to help them meet people across the agency. We have a fitness center, racquetball court, walking treadmills and are supportive of employees exercising during the day. We have a golf simulator and event center available to host clients or personal friends/family.

Cobbs Allen

Chief Executive Officer: Grantland Rice, III
Mountain Brook, AL

Our corporate mission is to always be out front for our clients, our employees, and our communities. From the top down, our employees exhibit integrity and respect for one another and foster a friendly, pleasant, and enjoyable work atmosphere.

Commercial Insurance Group LLC dba BIGFOOT INSURANCE

CEO: Martin Burlingame
Colorado Springs, CO
 

Connor & Gallagher OneSource (CGO)

Co-Founder: Thomas W. Connor
Lisle, IL

Connor & Gallagher OneSource (CGO) is a Chicagoland based insurance broker that focuses on serving small to medium sized businesses. We have consultants and customer support reps that specialize in each of the areas of business insurance, employee benefits, HR consulting, payroll & HRM systems, and 401k and 403b plan services. What makes CGO a best places to work company is our people. We've got an incredible group of employees that are very close knit, we work hard but have a lot of fun and our culture is a driving force for our growth.

Continental Western Group

Continental Western Group® (CWG) is a regional provider of commercial lines insurance. As part of Berkley (WRBC), we are guided by the principals that we are a company of people. People with knowledge, devotion, desire and determination. People who recognize that every detail of the insurance transaction is significant, that every person in our organization is important and that every task they accomplish makes a difference in our results. People who make up a caring family with a commitment to a common set of goals. The culture of CWG is one of inclusion and thoughtful recognition that by creating an environment that allows our associates to use their expertise to grow both personally and professionally we all see greater outcomes. As such, CWG has adopted a brand philosophy of “Find Greater”. We accomplish this by creating an environment where our associates are not only enabled to, but also given the charge to challenge the status quo to ensure we do what is right for our customers and our associates. This sense of ownership is shown throughout the organization through our commitment to elevate, educate and evolve our associates at every step in their careers. Through programs like flexible work schedules and generous PTO and sick leave policies, we create a work environment that is family friendly. We understand that the success of our associates leads to the success of our customers, and ultimately to success of the company.

Davies

CEO: Dan Saulter
London, UK

At Davies, it's about diversity, foundation, recognition, camaraderie, and loyalty. We take care of our employees so they can take care of our customers. We do so by continuing to provide a positive work environment where we value diversity in decision making and planning while delivering exceptional value to our clients. Davies continues to lay the foundation as a great place to work for claim adjusters and all staff. Our people, clients, and the communities we serve are at the heart of our business as we continue to hire the best people who maintain a loyal employment retention rate. Our loyalty to our staff includes training each staff member well by giving them the tools necessary to succeed, and by creating an environment that allows them to be successful (i.e., lower caseloads). At Davies, we encourage camaraderie, which empowers and rewards our staff as they take part in the Davies Innovation Lab, a "big idea" program designed to improve client outcomes through staff thought innovation resulting in a new product or service development. Davies also encourages local participation in charitable causes through the Davies Foundation. Finally, Davies gets out of the way to let our staff do their job. By doing so, we reward them through multiple award programs.

Deeley Insurance Group

President: Laura Deeley Bren
Willards, MD

Deeley Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency serving individuals and business in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. We’re licensed in 26 states and service over 4,000 commercial and 11,000 individual clients. Our 60 associates have an average of 10 years of experience in the industry. Our areas of expertise include Coastal Property, Transportation, Hospitality, Contractors, Community Associations. Our visionary leadership team is young and aggressive. Our president, Laura Deeley Bren, is a second-generation agent, but she’s also a surfer with a major in philosophy. From the very top, the agency is infused with a radical energy that is rare in any industry and unheard of in insurance. We have a Culture of Empowerment. We intentionally hire and train people who fit our optimistic, positive agency culture, not necessarily those who have the most experience or most impressive book of business. Our office is bright and inviting. Our team knows our Core Values and lives them every day. We boldly invest in new technology to improve our clients’ experience and enable our team to collaborate more effectively. We fund training, licensing and continuing education for all interested associates. Work/Life balance is a big deal. Our perks include ample vacation, work-from-home options and flex days during the summer, where we work longer days to earn additional days off. We have an entire committee devoted to employee morale and planning agency activities. We’re passionate about giving back to the communities who have supported us for 90 years. Our inter-agency charitable group, Deeley Serves, focuses these efforts. We vote on three charities to support each year, and everyone is encouraged to participate, even earning days off to volunteer for other causes and groups. Proceeds from our office snack bar go to charities, and management provides a monthly pay-it-forward allowance, which we vote to distribute to local worthy causes.

ECBM Insurance Brokers & Consultants

President: Charles Bernier
Media, PA

There are great opportunities for all stages of your career within the organization. Many people who may leave for other opportunities often return to ECBM because of the flexibility in work schedule, benefits, and comradery. At ECBM, you are surrounded by some of the top insurance minds in the area. Great Company Culture, with an emphasis on continuing education and career development.

Euler Hermes

President and CEO: James Daly
Owings Mills, MD

What we do is actually pretty cool! Euler Hermes helps companies optimize credit management, enhance working capital, accelerate growth and protect against bad debt. We do this by offering trade credit insurance, which protects the accounts receivable of our customers against unexpected losses. By giving companies the confidence to trade and be paid, we play a key role in keeping the supply chain moving. Not only do we make a difference for businesses around the world, we make a difference in the lives of our associates. Surveys are a great way for us gather input from employees. We continually seek new ways to recognize and reward our teams, and many of our enhanced benefits and policy changes were born from listening to our associates. These include our paid parental leave program, liberal telecommuting and flexible working options, and casual dress five days per week. Some of our longer-term, generous benefits include a substantial 401K match of 9% and tuition reimbursement programs. A yearly bonus offering helps our associates become more invested in the company's success. We strive to foster a culture of lifelong learning, and our teams take advantage of top-notch training, continuing education, and development programs. We believe that our strong commitment to the employee experience makes us one of the best places to work!

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

President and CEO: Juan Andrade
Liberty Corner, NJ

"Everest Re Group Ltd. is a dynamic global reinsurance and P&C insurance organization, ranked within the top ten P&C insurers in the world. Highly diversified, Everest delivers innovative solutions to clients helping them achieve their goals and manage their risks while providing a stable portfolio for our shareholders. We can attribute much of our success for functioning more like a small company, in a disciplined environment with an entrepreneurial spirit. Combining the financial stability usually associated with large organizations with the creativity and flexibility of smaller ones, Everest creates the ideal blend. At Everest, we believe that our future is determined by the actions we take today. Actions that go beyond business strategy and encompass the values important to our employees and the communities in which we operate. Everest’s value commitments include: providing an inclusive work environment that offers employees the opportunity to further their development, supporting our communities through the donation of time and financial resources, maintaining our integrity across all aspects of the group, and being an industry innovator to solve global complex risks."

Frank Winston Crum Insurance

President: Matthew Crum
Clearwater, FL

Family owned company since 1981 living by our core values, our Brand Pillars, which are Integrity, Affinity, and Prosperity. Additionally, we have been recognized for Tampa Bay's Top Workplaces for 11 consecutive years,

Fred C. Church Insurance

President & Chairman: Michael S. Reilly
Lowell, MA

With ten office locations and more than 150 employees, Fred C. Church has been offering a full range of insurance services from Personal Lines to Commercial Lines and Employee Benefits. We are active in the communities we serve with staff members on many non-profit boards and commitment to local organizations through volunteer efforts. What really makes Fred C. Church a great place to work is our people. Management cares about us and our families as evidenced by the generous time off policies, early closings, flexible hours, active Wellness initiatives and employee benefits. We are all important players on our Team and every one of us can make a difference in our success and are rewarded when yearly department and agency goals are achieved.

Higginbotham

Chairman & CEO: Rusty Reid
Fort Worth, TX

Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance and financial services that brokers business insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans, executive benefits, life insurance and home/auto insurance from more than 250 regional and national carriers. It supplements coverage with in-house risk management and benefit plan administration services. The firm opened in 1948 in Fort Worth, Texas, where it is headquartered. It operates nearly 40 offices across Texas and in Oklahoma, Georgia and California. Higginbotham ranks by revenue as the nation's 24th largest independent insurance brokerage firm, making it the largest Texas-based broker (Business Insurance, July 2019). The firm's vision is to be the "Best in Texas & Beyond." That means being the best company for employees, the best advocate for clients, the best partner for insurance carriers and the best value for employee shareholders. Chairman/CEO Rusty Reid incorporates the "Best in Texas & Beyond" mantra in everything he does because Higginbotham can't truly be the best if it's lacking in any one area. Whether it's emails to the workforce, testimonials in the employee newsletter, lighthearted videos shown at internal meetings, branded items given to employees or in everyday conversations, management infuses "Best in Texas & Beyond" in all communications to employees. There isn't an employee at Higginbotham who doesn't know and support Higginbotham's vision. To reinforce the vision, Higginbotham has a core values statement that says, "In our quest to be the best in Texas and beyond, we: Are family to our employees; Are accountable to our clients; Are teammates to our carriers; Are generous to our communities." These values were determined by a survey of the firm's managing directors and reflect the characteristics that have helped Higginbotham grow to more than 1,000 employees. The result of that growth is increased value to shareholders, and since every employee is a shareholder through its employee ownership plan, they all profit from and share in Higginbotham's success.

Holmes Murphy

Chairman and CEO: Dan Keough
Waukee, IA

At Holmes Murphy, we pride ourselves on selling “thinking”, not insurance. In a nutshell, we sell the cumulative knowledge and experience that make insurance and businesses work better. It’s a philosophy that’s worked for us since our inception in 1932. As an independent brokerage, we serve business and industry leaders across the nation in the areas of property casualty insurance, employee benefits, captive insurance, risk management and loss control. Holmes Murphy has offices in Des Moines, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids, IA; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO.; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO.; Minneapolis, MN.; Omaha, NE.; Madison, WI.; Peoria, IL.; Salt Lake City, UT; Scottsdale, AZ; Sioux Falls, SD; and St. Louis, MO.

Hylant

CEO: Michael Hylant
Toledo, OH

In 1935, Edward P. Hylant gave the company not only his name, but also his promise to offer exemplary service by treating his employees and clients with kindness, honesty and respect. In other words, like family. After 85 years in business, our core values haven’t changed. As a result, we have grown from a small agency to one of the country’s largest privately held brokerages, with 16 offices operating in seven states. We offer complete risk management services, employee benefits brokerage and consultation, loss control, healthcare management and insurance solutions for businesses and individuals locally, nationally and internationally. “Family” is what makes Hylant a best place to work. Employees are treated like family even before their first day on the job, receiving a welcome gift basket at home. As members of the Hylant work family, they are supported in realizing their professional aspirations and are recognized by colleagues, managers and the executive leadership team for milestone anniversaries and professional achievements. Hylant cares about what our employee family cares about. We demonstrate that support by providing flex time so that people can care for their families and giving associates time off during working hours to contribute their talents to the causes about which they are passionate. Hylant offices and The Hylant Family Foundation also provide major support for local organizations, a source of pride for our employees as together we contribute to the greater good. If someone’s goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of others, either through their insurance work or their charitable efforts, there’s no better place to start—or finish—a career than at Hylant

IMA Financial Group

Chairman & CEO: Robert L. Cohen
Denver, CO

Many things make IMA a Best Place to Work. IMA's associates and its clients benefit daily from its award-winning culture. The greatest differentiator between IMA and its competitors is that IMA associates have the option to think and benefit as employee owners. Associates are given the ability to always act within the best interest of their clients, not Wall Street earnings reports or third-party stakeholders. The result is an industry-leading growth rate that more than doubles the industry average. A second key reason IMA is a great place to work is because of its commitment to community. "Protecting assets is what we do. Making a difference is who we are," has become a "tagline" for our associates and was originally coined by IMA Chairman and CEO Robert Cohen. It represents a significant part of IMA's mission: to make a difference in the communities where we serve. The company has a dedicated foundation primarily funded by IMA, offers unlimited paid volunteer time off during work hours, has an annual corporate day of service, as well as committees in each office dedicated to organizing volunteer opportunities. The dedication to the communities where IMA associates live, work and play is truly extraordinary and exemplifies a company with a purpose, making it a Best Place to Work.

INSURICA

President and CEO: Mike Ross
Oklahoma City, OK

Placing nearly $1 billion in annual premiums for our clients, Oklahoma-based INSURICA is among the 50 largest insurance brokers in the United States and is currently the 23rd largest privately-held independent agency in the country. Specializing in core industries, INSURICA clients enjoy the coverage and risk management programs typically found with a national broker, all delivered through a local agent relationship. INSURICA employs more than 570 colleagues in 30 offices located throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, and California. Our colleagues consistently strive to uphold the agency’s core values of Integrity, Attitude, and Purpose. By creating a corporate culture based on ethical behavior in the marketplace and fun in the workplace, INSURICA is an employer of choice. INSURICA is also deeply committed to serving in our local communities, and we believe the character of our agency is enhanced when we choose to openly display concern for humanity. We developed a community outreach program called U-Serve, designed to positively impact the lives of others by serving to the best of our abilities. By giving our colleagues the opportunity to serve with their time, talents, and funds, we are able to make a difference in our local communities and empower our people to be servants of hope and change. Whether speaking to clients or our own colleagues, the INSURICA brand promise of “Specializing in You” applies to all.

IPMG

CEO/President: Gregg Peterson
St. Charles, IL

IPMG offers an expansive, integrated selection of services housed under one roof, and these services are constantly reevaluated in order to evolve with the ever-changing business climate. IPMG's scope includes developing self-funded programs for specific industries, including public entities and senior care services; providing exceptional cost containment strategies and controls via claims management and employee benefits TPA services; reducing the potential for loss through highly specialized risk management and wellness programs; and accessing leading admitted and excess/surplus lines carriers for all lines of coverage. We are a “best” place to work because we put our employee owners first. We are a small organization, and each of our employee owners is a person with a face and name, not a number. We want them to know how important they are to the company, and that no matter the scope of their duties, they have the power to affect our bottom line and reach our clients. We engage in a wide range of outlets in order to promote these senses of pride, accomplishment, and potential. Providing industry-leading service to our clients is not easy, but employee owners know their hard work is noticed, appreciated, and compensated well. From an engaging well-being program to a generous PTO package to small everyday treats like a cupcake truck, we are always looking for new ways to promote fun and a healthy work-life balance. Our genuine dedication to our employee owners has established equal dedication to the company on their part, and the result is a healthy and happy organization with satisfied clients.

Kapnick Insurance Group

CEO: Jim Kapnick
Adrian, MI

Kapnick Insurance Group, under third-generation ownership by brothers Jim and Mike Kapnick, is a premier Michigan-based, privately-held professional service firm providing business insurance, employee benefits, personal insurance, risk management and financial strategies to a vast and diverse base of clients worldwide. We have an integrated team with an impressive range of resources at their fingertips. These insurance professionals have earned a national reputation for anticipating clients's problems and creating innovative solutions. Kapnick continues to grow as a family-centric organization whose integrity, respect, stewardship and innovation makes us one of the strongest brokers in the US. This paired with the exceptional culture that has been built since it's origination, makes Kapnick Insurance Group one of the "best" places to work. Kapnick Insurance Group is a partner of Assurex Global.

Liberty Insurance Associates, Inc.

CEO: Andrew C. Harris
Millstone Twp., NJ

  Liberty is dedicated to helping their clients insure their risk while still maintaining a personal touch to help build lasting relationships. As a family run business, the leadership, at Liberty, understands that the employees are one of their best assets. The company also understand that employees need time to decompress and allow for a work life balance so they provide each full time employee with 16 days of accrued PTO time staring from day one. In addition, this year the company has offered work from home options to the employees allowing more work-life balance. The remote policy is still a work in process but it already gives the staff the freedom to feel safe by working from home if inclement weather is expected. In addition, the company workweek is only 37 hours with Friday closings at 4:30 to allow the employees to start their weekend a bit early. The company offers all of their employees the opportunity to sit on committees and/or form a committee. Currently, we have three committees in place which include a Culture Committee, a Digital Footprint Committee and a Power User Committee. Many employees are engaged in these committees which allows them opportunities to learn and grow both personally and professionally. The company also provides a large stipend toward the employees health care and they pay up to $1800 to help alleviate the cost of those high deductibles that are common on today's health plans. Each year, around the Christmas holiday, the company pays each employee an annual bonus to say "Thank You" for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. They insure the money is paid before the holiday to help eliminate some the stress that so often comes around that time of the year. Liberty also has an annual summer picnic on the company grounds and and annual Holiday Party at a local country club. Both are during the workday and include, food and drinks. The holiday party also includes a gift exchange and they provide company paid additional gifts to be raffled off throughout the event so each person will have the opportunity to walk away with something before the evening is over. All of these make Liberty a best place to work.

Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance LLC

Co-CEO: Johnny Pitts
Memphis, TN

Lipscomb & Pitts is an independent insurance agency that provides business, personal and group health insurance to clients across the nation. We are also deeply involved in the community, giving back and supporting local non-profits. We work hard, play hard and have the best employees in the industry!

Lockton Companies

President: Ron Lockton
Kansas City, MO

"Lockton is the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker and consultant. As a global professional services firm, we specialize in risk management, employee benefits and retirement services. Through this expertise, we help clients protect their most valuable assets – their people, property and reputations.During the past 50-plus years, Lockton has built its reputation and culture by providing excellent service to our three key stakeholders: clients, Associates and communities. Lockton strongly believes that our success is a result of the strength of our Associates. We attract great talent and provide them with development opportunities and the freedom, resources and personal responsibility to meet clients’ needs all while addressing personal needs as well. This entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to high performance motivates our Associates and drives client loyalty. This is evident by our 96 percent client retention rate which is well above the 85 percent average in our industry. In addition, much of our growth is organic. For fiscal year 2019, Lockton grew by 10.3% which is also well above many of our competitors. We believe that our strong growth and client retention rates are a sign of healthy client relationships that are driven by our dedicated Associates. Our commitment to our Associates means creating an environment where they feel welcome, valued and are excited to come to work. Our goal is to be the best place to do business and to work. Starting with the CEO, there is an intense focus on making every aspect of the Associate lifecycle, known as LocktonLife, the best it can be. Associates are asked to share ideas with their local LocktonLife committee about how to make LocktonLife the best it can be. We want people to choose to build their career at Lockton. With great benefits, development opportunities, rewarding work, strong rewards and recognition, community involvement, family engagement and positive work-life fit, our Associates have the opportunity to build their best LocktonLife."

Lyons Companies

President and CEO: Catharine N. Lyons
Wilmington, DE

Lyons Companies is Delaware’s largest independent risk management and insurance brokerage firm. Founded in 1984 by David F. Lyons, Sr., the firm is owned and led by Catharine N. Lyons, President and CEO. Lyons Companies is one of the largest women-owned insurance brokerages in the region. Headquartered in Wilmington, the firm employs over 50 insurance professionals and has an additional location in Rehoboth Beach. Lyons Companies provides property & casualty, employee benefits and human capital management consulting services to commercial, municipal, non-profit, and private clients throughout the United States and abroad. In 2004, Lyons Companies was invited to become an Assurex Global Partner; an exclusive partnership of the top independent brokers worldwide. Assurex partners are selected for their ability to provide innovative, customer-driven insurance, risk management and employee benefits services. Our Assurex Global partnership ensures that Lyons serves client interests throughout the world. Lyons Companies has earned a valued reputation for industry expertise and client focus. This attracts highly experienced professionals with regional and national experience. As a family-owned business, Lyons Companies is supportive of the reality that our employees are people that have lives outside of the office. We strive to provide employees with the adequate level of flexibility needed to manage their work-life balance. For over 35 years, Lyons Companies has built a client-first reputation, based on a consultative process to meet our clients’ needs. Our success is due to having invested in the expertise and intellectual capital of in-house risk control, claims management, workers’ compensation, employee benefits, alternative risk financing and human capital management professionals. This is our brand. “The people that make up Lyons Companies faced the challenges of 2020 with expertise and professionalism. We are in the business of consulting with clients to manage risk—that takes talent, resources and capital. When we do the right thing, the relationship grows. I’m proud to say that our employees took their commitment to an even higher level this year.” – Catharine N. Lyons

MarketScout

CEO: Richard Kerr
Dallas, TX

MarketScout is not your typical workplace. We are serial entrepreneurs. We work hard and play hard. When one person wins, the entire team wins. For instance, when we are on target, we have “Flip Flop Fridays” and special treats like ice cream or a happy hour. The support for innovation and creativity allows any employee to walk into the CEOs office with a new idea, be it a better way to do something or a brand new product offering. One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of our work force. All are welcome.

MassMutual Arizona

CEO: Jeffrey C Dollarhide
Scottsdale, AZ

We are a holistic wealth management organization focused on helping people plan for their future and feel confident that they can enjoy each day knowing that aspect is handled. We are a TEAM! The energy of teaming and being around people who have the same goals and desire to help people is contagious. It doesn't feel like a job. The icing on the cake is the benefits, recognition that is offered

McConkey Insurance & Benefits

President & CEO: Steven Buterbaugh
York, PA

McConkey has consistently been recognized as a Best Place to Work, and that was before any of us thought about the current pandemic. There are many great things we love about McConkey, like a 37.5-hour work week with flexibility, continuing education and profit sharing. Our culture, however, is what has always kept us a step (probably several steps) above other workplaces, in our humble opinions. Our unique compensation structure is salary-based, meaning our entire team from owners to admin to account executives work as a team, not competing with each other. Our genuine focus on our core values fosters an environment where everyone is approachable, involved and accessible. Everyone knows one another by name, and we work side-by-side to provide innovative solutions we are proud of for our clients. At McConkey, we work hard and we play hard. From company outings to Escape Rooms, family snow tubing to parking lot cookouts, Christmas parties to First Friday breakfasts, McConkey likes to bring fun and show appreciation for everyone’s hard work and effort. All of that has remained true during the global COVID-19 crisis. And guess what? Every single employee has remained fully employed. Not one employee has been laid off or had their hours reduced. Leadership chose to take the safest approach and within a relatively short time frame, arranged to have every single employee to work remotely. For an infrastructure that wasn’t designed that way, they quickly found a way to make it work. In the interest of maintaining the culture that we’ve all come to know and love, McConkey has offered virtual happy hours, Bingo games, caricature contests, lunchtime cooking shows, a surprise musical performance and more. Every employee was given an Amazon gift card as a thank you for our efforts in taking our work completely virtual. Every week we are offered honest, transparent updates about the status of our jobs, our company. Every week, we have company-wide trainings to help us be as efficient, if not more efficient, as we continue to work from home. McConkey is the Best Place to Work because we don’t know of one other company who has gone the distance to prevent layoffs, foster workplace culture and grow our team.

MGIS

President: Jeffrey D Brunken
Salt Lake City, UT

We provide physicians and other medical professionals with ~ Short- and Long-term disability insurance ~ Options for supplementing individual disability coverage with group coverage that provides no offset of the individual policy benefit or medical questions ~ Specialty or subspecialty-specific coverage ~ Additional benefits and riders tailored to the unique practice arrangements, income earning and retirement needs of medical professionals ~ Medical professional liability coverage Our employees love our medical plan. We have a low employee contribution and a low deductible. They love the Alternative Treatment and Nutritional Supplements that cover things like monthly massages and vitamins. They love the 4-day work week every other week, and their bonus program, they really like our new identity guard coverage, the Telemedicine plan, and the incidental coverage options (Critical Care with Cancer, and Accident). They like the culture of a small company where everybody knows everybody. We don't have cliques here. Employees really like working with one another. They care about each other an individuals, not just as co-workers. They also know that the company executives really care about them. They are not just a warm body in a chair. They matter. That feeling resonates here.

Networked Insurance Agents, LLC

COO, Support Operations: Kelly McRae
Grass Valley, CA

Networked Insurance Agents, an AmWINS Group company, connects independent property and casualty agencies to leading markets and service resources to help them reach their full business potential. Networked offers agents and brokers a choice of membership options which include new account placement, back office support from experienced service professionals, and online tools. With offices nationwide, Networked staff serves more than 1,300 affiliate members in 35 states and is appointed by more than 50 national and regional insurance carriers. The culture at Networked is one of giving and teamwork both within our professional roles and within our community. Staff members regularly take it upon themselves to get involved and provide support for local nonprofits that are in need. It's a culture of giving back. Meanwhile the company continues to evolve ways to recognize outstanding staff members through formal award programs giving both peers and senior leadership ways to nominate deserving individuals. Finally, time for fun company wide activities is always on the calendar. Our Spirit Committee hosts parties, barbecues and fundraisers frequently.

NFP Corp

Chairman and CEO of NFP: Douglas Hammond
New York, NY

We believe that a strong company comes from strong relationships. Our successes emerge from every member of the NFP family — employees at all levels, clients across the country and beyond, vendors and partners, and the local communities we live and work in. 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. When hit with the challenges of COVID-19, the level of trust and collaborative spirit throughout NFP allowed a relatively seamless transition to the new normal. We equipped our workforce with the support necessary to move forward quickly with companywide work from home protocols. Employees worked together to create the resources necessary to keep us up to date as the situation evolves, and provide tools to support our clients, all the while striving to keep our community connected through virtual meet-ups and collaborative work spaces. As the US and world grapple with fresh outrage in the face of racial violence and social injustice, we have recommitted to our ethos of “PeopleFirst.” We are seeking ways to promote and engage in anti-racism within NFP and in our communities, starting with making Juneteenth a companywide holiday for celebration, recuperation and reflection as well as developing allyship resources to support employee learning. Internally, NFP focuses on a culture of support, recognition and inclusion. Initiatives such as our Brightidea campaign, which gives employees a platform to bring up challenges and workshop potential solutions, support and foster the ideation that positively impacts people in our business, in our communities and with our clients. Meanwhile, our diversity and inclusion efforts continue to grow. We aim to improve diversity in our suppliers and hires through conscientious sourcing programs. Our inclusion work includes online resource groups that give people of various identities and their allies a place to connect and share insights and support, with several more learning opportunities available, and a mentorship program aimed at creating diverse leadership. We remain focused on keeping people, and their experiences, at the forefront of what we do, and that means we’re able to drive meaningful and sustainable change that serves people where they are.

Odell Studner

CEO: Steve Odell
King of Prussia, PA

Odell Studner has a Leadership team that cares about its employees. We have a wonderful work life balance, a generous compensation and benefits package, and we take time to celebrate our company milestones and the personal ones too. The C3 committee (our culture club) creates fun and exciting events to keep everyone engaged. Our office location is newer and provides all the latest technologies. Odell Studner also believes in promoting from within and putting training in place to help each person's needs.

One Agents Alliance (OAA)

CEO: Warren "Tony" Caldwell
Oklahoma City, OK

Growing through the last twenty years of business has taught the founder and team the importance of staying true to their core values: Team First, Committed to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Passionate. A lean and efficient team, all are proud of the driving statement that they can 'guarantee their members make more money per premium dollar than any other agency in the industry' - helping independent insurance agents improve their agencies in order to see their dreams come true. One Agents Alliance (OAA) considers themselves a 'dream factory' and each employee is dedicated to developing their unique contribution in making dreams come true for their members and one another. OAA even provides a 'dream coach' to help each employee identify what their life goals are, steps to take to achieving them, any resources that might be needed, and helping to make those plans a reality to reach their dreams. OAA has a growing network of independent insurance agencies in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and California. The company offers growth opportunities to insurance agencies wanting to remain independent while being able to compete with larger local and regional agencies. OAA is a member of SIAA, a national organization that writes in excess of $9 billion in total written premium. In addition to celebrating their 20th Anniversary, its collaborative environment and values-based work culture led OAA to receive the honor of being named SIAA's No. 1 Master Agency for the fifth consecutive year, a feat not accomplished by any other in the SIAA network. OAA embraces a culture that values each team member's Unique Ability, a concept of Strategic Coach which is by definition the 'essence of what you love to do and do best'. OAA supports the whole employee by providing an in-house gym as well as paying 100% of premiums for an employee's health care plan after 30 days. The company encourages philanthropy and participation which contributes to community throughout all states in their network. From having paid time provided for participation in service activities to raising money each Friday by having employees wearing jeans donate to an “it’s in our jeans” fund that presents the money raised to grant recipients.

One General Agency

President/CEO: Jennifer Dotter
Oklahoma City, OK

One General Agency (OGA) is a Managing General Agency and Surplus Lines Broker that has been serving the specialty needs of independent insurance agents since 1951. OGA is a local, family-owned and operated company centered on strong relationships and trust. The key to our success is our people and our relationships, a principle established by the company's founder, Marie Welch, in 1951. President & CEO, Jennifer Dotter, took over the company in 2008. Jennifer is proud of the company's history and committed to an even brighter future. We celebrate and reward employees for behavior that embodies our corporate values. Jenny Dotter consistently sends a powerful message that performance is noticed and appreciated and that she cares about each individuals job satisfaction, health and overall happiness. As a result employees feel more enabled and empowered to succeed, as well as more committed to the organization. OGA has several employees that have been with the company from 10-25 years.

Origami Risk

CEO: Robert G. Petrie III
Chicago, IL

Origami Risk is an industry-leading provider of integrated SaaS solutions for the risk and insurance industry—from insured corporate and public entities to brokers and risk consultants, insurers, third party claims administrators (TPAs), and risk pools. Origami Risk delivers a full suite of risk management and insurance core system solutions from a single, secure, cloud-based platform. A singular focus on helping clients achieve their business objectives underlies Origami Risk’s approach to developing, implementing, and supporting our technology solutions. Founded in 2009 by Risk Management Information System (RMIS) industry veterans, over the past decade Origami Risk has received more than two dozen awards for service excellence, technology innovation, and workplace culture. In addition to inclusion in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing tech companies in North America, Origami Risk also has been repeatedly recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the “Best Places to Work” and Best and Brightest® Companies To Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR).

Pathpoint (formerly Outline Risk)

CEO: Bobby Touran
San Francisco, CA

Pathpoint is the world's first digital wholesale brokerage. Agents are able to get quotes and bind business on our platform, instantly. We partner with several carriers and are constantly working to add new products. While Pathpoint is a technology-driven distribution channel, we are practitioners of high quality service. You’ll always be just a phone call or email away from our team of surplus lines agents who possess deep knowledge of the product and have a passion for improving how insurance is bought and sold. Our company contains a mix of technology experts and insurance experts, who work together on the same teams to produce a product that is incredibly useful to agents and carriers, with easy to use, advanced, and secure technology. Our team is fast growing, but close knit, with an emphasis on making a collaborative, transparent, and friendly work environment. Joining Pathpoint means joining a group of intelligent, dedicated, and cheerful people. Each individual is kind, caring, and open, and ready to teach each other about tech, insurance, and more. The company's response to current events, has been swift and empathetic. Virtual onboarding and work from home are new to many team members, but swift and clear communication has left employees with few to no complaints. Pathpoint is the 'best' place to work, because employees are happy to work here. They enjoy their coworkers, believe in what they are doing and the value of the product they are creating, and trust their management. Pathpoint works to create fun, from virtual happy hours to virtual escape rooms.

Paychex Insurance Agency

President & CEO: Martin Mucci
Rochester, NY

What makes Paychex Insurance Agency a great place to work is our values-based culture, high level of employee engagement, and our commitment to providing employees with the tools they need to be successful. Our values and guiding behaviors at Paychex are more than just words on a poster. Taken together and championed, they offer a perspective that empowers us and guides the way we speak, act, make decisions, and treat people. Our six values (Integrity, Service, Innovation, Partnership, Accountability, and Respect) serve as the foundation for a Culture Shaping program that all employees participate in. On a monthly basis, teams get together and engage in discussion and team-building activities that illuminate one of the values and associated guiding behaviors. These sessions help keep our values top-of-mind and make it easy for employees to envision what it looks and sounds like to “Be Paychex." We administer regular pulse surveys throughout the year – targeting specific areas of the business – to help us measure employee engagement. An all-employee pulse survey in fall 2019 revealed an engagement rate of 77%, indicating that 77% of employees feel positively about working here and are committed to their work and Paychex. A companywide COVID-era survey in May 2020 asked employees about the pandemic and their thoughts about a potential return to the office. An engagement score from this survey showed that 92% of employees are engaged, feel positively about working here, and are committed to their work and Paychex – and appreciate the steps we’ve taken as a company to keep them safe. We also stay attuned to what our employees need to be successful, whether that's new technology, flexible scheduling, training opportunities, career planning, or something else. Examples include: 1) the agency's Women in Leadership program which brings aspiring female leaders together to build camaraderie, grow their skills, and share best practices, 2) the Agency Leadership Forum, which gives employees the opportunity to network with other aspiring leaders and address topics such as emotional intelligence, straight talk, and interviewing, and 3) a Toastmasters chapter to help employees improve their public speaking skills.

PayneWest Insurance

CEO: Kyle Lingscheit
Missoula, MT

PaynWest Insurance in an employee owned, independent company. We base all of our decision making on our 3C's; Clients, Colleagues and Communities. If our actions don't create value or benefit one of our 3C's it's most likely not something we will do. With almost 30 locations, spread across four states in the Pacific Northwest, we serve people from all walks of life. PayneWest has developed a set of Core Values that each of us, regardless of our role in the company, bring into our daily activities. These values include: Respect - encourage openness, honesty and give each other the benefit of the doubt, Accountability - we are accountable to every entity and individual that we interact with – including each other, Excellence - constantly strive for continuous improvement, Balance - when you get one of us, you get all of us – we respect quality of life and nurture a balanced professional and personal environment.Integrity - trust is earned – we earn trust through professionalism, doing what is right and always being honest, Our claims advocacy group has fought on behalf of our clients to save millions of dollars in potential claims loss. It's a responsibility they have entrusted us with, and we are continually working to bring our clients the best service, coverage and affordability available. Just as important as the business side is our colleagues personal lives. Work life balance is a foundation of our culture. Flexible schedules, telecommuting, generous holiday and PTO programs and an extended illness account to assist us when we are facing difficult life events ensure each of us the balance we need. We encourage colleagues to take advantage of opportunities to improve the communities they live in. We are proud to serve the Pacific Northwest region and look forward to continuing our commitment to being a meaningful, contributing partner in the communities we call home.

Philadelphia Insurance Companies

President & CEO: Robert ("Bob") O' Leary
Bala Cynwyd, PA

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is a member of the Tokio Marine Group (Japan’s oldest and leading Property/Casualty insurer). Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, PA, PHLY designs, markets, and underwrites commercial Property/Casualty and Professional Liability insurance products, incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. By maintaining a disciplined approach to business, we provide greater security for our policyholders and superior value for our shareholder. PHLY operates 50 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service—Raated "A++" (Superior) by the A.M. Best Company and Rated "A+" by Standard & Poor's. PHLY is a best place to work because we continue to conduct our business practices based on the core principles our founder James Maguire established. The PHLY core values are: Strive to exceed all expectations. At PHLY, good just isn't good enough. Be passionate. At PHLY, we believe that our passion drives our success and makes work more enjoyable. Be accountable. At PHLY, we believe being individually accountable for results helps us achieve critical objectives. Act with integrity. At PHLY, we do the right thing regardless of the outcome. Embrace new and better ideas. At PHLY, we believe innovation comes from everyone. Commit to growth and learning. At PHLY, we believe there is more potential inside every person than he or she realizes. Develop positive relationships. At PHLY, we believe our people are our greatest assets. Practice "work/life" balance. At PHLY, we believe to be at our best, there must be balance in our lives. Have Fun! At PHLY, we believe that fun and work aren't mutually exclusive. At PHLY, we believe that our success is directly tied to how we treat our customer, our employees, and our communities. Our Customer Service team continues to find ways to improve the Net Promoter Score. PHLY looks for innovative ways to drive employee engagement. Volunteering in our local communities is an important responsibility for our workforce.

Plastridge Insurance

COO/CEO: Connor Lynch
Delray Beach, FL

The culture. We have a family feel like culture. Once an employee become part of our organization, he/she does not want to leave.

Prime insurance Company

President, CEO + Chairman: Rick J. Lindsey
Salt Lake City, UT

Prime is the best place to work because it doesn't just provide what on face value looks like a good company but it actually puts it into play. Prime is generous, comfortable, safe, accommodating, and employee supportive. Our CEO Rick J. Lindsey is always hands-on with development and growth and knows that it starts with his employees. Rick provides an environment that encourages room for growth and development and he is always a phone call away. Prime believes if you are truly happy with all of the tools they give you, you will come to work with the right attitude and do your best work.

Pritchard & Jerden

President: James Bailey
Atlanta, GA

Pritchard & Jerden is a full service retail insurance brokerage. We were founded in 1960 and are independently owned by our employees. Our organization is built on six Corporate Values: Integrity, Accountability, Excellence, Collaboration, Community and Independence. We believe that our values shape our behaviors, our behaviors drive our culture, and our culture influences our success. Our company practices work/life balance for our employees by offering flexible schedules. We allow two work from home days for Account Managers and Summer Flex schedule for all other non-exempt employees. We have healthy snack days every other month, fruit water daily and on-site free gym. We participate in 1-2 5K's each year and have an annual Field Day where all employees participate in team oriented sports and mind games. We have community service projects 2-3 times a year where employees are paid to volunteer. We have onsite happy hours periodically which includes a ping pong table so employees can relax and enjoy social time. Every month, employees can participate in onsite chair massages at a very reasonable price. We sponsor lunch and learns which encompass healthy eating, cooking demos and exercise and diet information free of charge. We promote from within whenever possible. Paid licensing and other designation classes are offered and encouraged. Our company provides an annual paid trip for non production employees who meet and exceed goals, includes spouse. Production employees who meet or exceed goals also qualify for an annual President's trip which includes spouses.

Propel Insurance

President & CEO: Kurt Carlson
Tacoma, WA

  At Propel, we make it our business to know your world inside and out. With decades of industry-specific experience, we bring our clients a real-world understanding of the challenges they face. We’re recognized as a leader in providing innovative insurance solutions, and are proud of the long-standing partnerships we’ve developed with many of the nation’s leading carriers. That translates into a competitive edge for our clients. Our employees are devoted to serving our customers and knowing insurance.

QEO Insurance Group

CEO: David Disiere
Irving, TX

QEO is a commercial transportation MGA focusing on local to intermediate radius transportation risks. Our turnkey operation provides commercial transportation-focused Underwriting, Loss Control and Claims Management services. We pride ourselves on understanding the individual needs of our clients and providing outstanding service to ensure our customers receive the right insurance for their business needs, at the right price. We work with Independent Insurance Agencies to assist them in providing insurance coverage to their customers. It is the goal of QEO to create a maintain a positive company culture. First, our primary goal is to give our employees continuing opportunities to develop and grow. We do this to give them ownership over their position and allow them to see firsthand how their contributions help the company. Second, we have built our company with a team mentality in mind. Each of the employees work together to collectively contribute to the company's success. Finally, we strive to provide our employees with all of the necessary tools that they will need to be successful, both personally and professionally. We recognize that the company's strength rests in the people working for it, and we take great pride in making sure that all of these elements are in place to create the best workplace culture.

Rathbone Group, LLC.

Managing Partner : Kimberly Rathbone
Cleveland, OH

Rathbone Group is a law firm of more than 80 employees covering the US and Canada who are dedicated to subrogation. We operate largely within the framework of clear communication and expectations, teamwork and fun! This starts with our cross-functional leadership team, who meets weekly to review the events of the previous week and discuss the goals for the coming week. We use this time together to celebrate our successes, collaborate on our challenges and clarify the expectations and priorities for the week. RG employees are the true lifeblood of our organization. We appreciate their unfettered focus on the large volume of work that needs to be accomplished for our clients, and their leadership team does all they can to ensure they have the tools and support needed to succeed. Throughout the year, RG offers trainings, lunchtime learnings, education on wellness initiatives, benefits information and other employee gatherings, all of which foster an open environment where employees can learn and thrive in their roles. RG recognizes how hard everyone works for our clients and shares the belief that a workplace rooted in fun and wellness makes for a more enjoyable and well-rounded employment experience. Every Friday at RG is a “Fun-Friday” for our employees! It is a day where something extra is planned to encourage employees to relax, mingle and laugh. Enjoying these events is the common thread throughout the office, no matter the background of the employee or the stresses we encounter throughout the week. Outside of the office, employees can participate in philanthropic opportunities for Tools for Schools and fun team events like Cleveland Corporate Challenge. All of these things deepen connections and foster a true sense of teamwork amongst the RG family!

RBN Insurance Services

Founder & CEO: Bruce Scodro
Chicago, IL

As a family run agency we deeply value our colleagues. We approach our work with a shared focus on supporting each other, creating opportunities for success, and delivering outstanding client service.

Reliance Partners LLC

CEO: Andrew Ladebauche
Chattanooga, TN

Reliance Partners brings young, energetic startup culture to an old-school industry—a competitive advantage in an evolving market. Building upon this foundation, Reliance places considerable effort into stitching together a workplace that is both challenging and supportive where people come to celebrate work every day. As a credit to our approach, we've grown fervently, nearly doubling our team from last year, and we’re continuing to invest in who we are in order to attract top-tier candidates. Our mantra has always been 'people, not employees,' so the human experience is a priority for us. This way of thinking allows us to not only cultivate a workforce that is culturally diverse and multi-generational but one that is forward-thinking and driven by excellence. Our Culture First focus prioritizes the human experience within the workplace in order to support, engage, and empower the people that work with us. From day one of the new hire experience to year-end town halls, we emphasize the values most crucial to our success—trust and belonging, dedication to teamwork and customer success, and overall pride in the company’s purpose. We are committed to meeting the challenges of our employees regardless of their phase in life. We promote transparency in decision-making. We nurture personal & professional success. We #GoTheExtraMile by incubating leaders from within and by turning traditional boardroom conversations inside out.

Risk Placement Services

President: Joel D. Cavaness
Rolling Meadows, IL

"In every community where it does business, the more than 3,000 employees of Risk Placement Services (RPS) nurture a corporate culture based on creativity, expertise, collaboration and professional ethics. It’s a culture that comes from the company’s beginnings as a four-person scratch operation. Within two decades, RPS grew to rank as one of the leading specialty insurance distributors and the largest MGA in the country, delivering product expertise and value to thousands of agents and brokers nationwide. One of the truly unique things about RPS is that, despite our size, we still have a family atmosphere. A lot of our growth has come from mergers and acquisitions. The fact that selling owners have remained with RPS after a merger and the fact that family members joined with them is a reflection of the great culture we have created here. Nearly all of them are still here or have retired from here. It is because of this that we have maintained an entrepreneurial attitude in all of our branches. We encourage our employees to recommend new hires. That’s why we have a 3,000-member family that is spread across the country but held together by a desire to help our business grow by helping other businesses and families meet their risk transfer needs. In addition to acquiring talent as it expands its footprint, RPS also develops leaders from within. The firm’s talent development program provides resources, guidance and mentorship opportunities. We encourage our employees to try different jobs and roles, even in different territories. RPS is one company with many divisions, across binding/MGA, brokerage, program administration, standard lines, digital products and platforms, and non-standard auto. This creates unique opportunities for employees to grow and develop robust career experiences while staying within the same company. Our leaders are well-rounded in this business, having taken advantage of the development opportunities, and they are very successful as a result. With robust programs for employee development, employee giving and volunteerism, diversity and inclusion, and an on-going focus on encouraging employee innovation, RPS demonstrates why it deserves a best places to work recognition."

Risk Strategies

CEO: John Mina
Boston, MA

Risk Strategies takes pride in what we do and how we do it and in providing unique solutions. A true consultancy with deeply experienced risk advisers and exceptional client focus, Risk Strategies operates in a flat, national structure, assembling teams of experts to best meet our clients’ needs no matter where they’re located. Our retail and wholesale specialists blend an understanding of our clients’ businesses and goals with smart risk management advice to craft a customized insurance program to help our clients protect what matters most. While we’re a Top 15 brokerage with national scope, our value lies in the small company feel and the commitment of our people. We take pride in being truly collaborative and encouraging diversity of perspective. We believe fostering an entrepreneurial approach that empowers our teams to drive creative solutions and be innovative. This ensures our clients get industry-best partnership and a high-quality experience. We value curiosity, passion, transparency, respect and being authentic. Our thoughtful build-out has included non-traditional businesses like actuaries, health plan auditing, claims advocacy, captives, so that we can offer an even more holistic partnership to our clients and more career options for our people. Risk Strategies provides a career destination with a path for professional growth; providing easy access to expertise, resources, and a committed leadership team. People who come to Risk Strategies choose to stay. Our voluntary turnover rate tracks several percentage points below the industry average. Our employees can evolve and grow through broad exposure to different challenges and hands-on learning opportunities, leading to challenging client work and opportunity for advancement. Our national internship program builds our bench. Getting things done at Risk Strategies is easy because every decision is looked at with a bias toward being nimble and responsive. An atmosphere of local fun, support, and camaraderie, as well as a larger, national network of connection, creates a natural mentoring environment that nurtures learning while encouraging internal mobility: Many employees regularly move into new or expanded roles.

Rockingham Insurance Company

President & CEO: Robert Lyon
Harrisonburg, VA

Rockingham Insurance is a 'best' place to work because of the people. As an entire team, we celebrate accomplishments and milestones, care for those who need encouragement (clients and employees), make an impact in the community, and take ownership of our actions. The company's core values are evident in our daily culture - Be Caring, Embrace Change, Do the Right Thing, Results Matter, Own It, Be Engaged. Rockingham Insurance, a property and casualty insurance company started 150 years ago. The mutual company organized following the civil war, to meet the needs of farmers. Over the years, the company has grown to include personal, commercial, and specialty lines of business. The amazing team of employees at Rockingham Insurance is proven with this example: In August of 2018, the CEO discovered another insurance company was discontinuing operations in Virginia. Almost immediately, discussions began on bringing on this commercial line of business and employing the team. The endeavor included multiple departments collaborating with a positive, 'can-do' attitude throughout 2019. In just a few short months, the Information Technology department set up a system to operationalize the new commercial segment. Meanwhile, the Operations teams (underwriting and claims) quickly adopted the new processes required for a successful launch of the new line of business. Also, the Compliance, Marketing, and Administrative teams immediately supported with licensing, agent tools, and office space. This year, employees continue the winning attitude by eagerly prioritizing new products and systems. In 2020, we are mastering the new normal of working from home temporarily during the pandemic.

RogersGray

President & CEO: David Robinson
Kingston, MA

In March 2020, jobs changed or went away, employers were trying to figure out what was next, kids were home all of a sudden and the world shifted. During this time, RogersGray was there for all of their staff, quickly moving all employees to remote work, setting up weekly check-ins and RG Facebook group, coffee break zooms, sending meals to employees who were having a tough time and even sending hand written notes to every person from the president. When the government said employers had to pay 2/3's pay under the new FFCRA guidelines, RG made the decision to pay 100% so not on employee would suffer financial harm. This is honestly an every day occurrence here. RG ALWAYS does the right thing and is always looking our for their people. Every single time without fail. Maybe that's not quite as sexy as free beer Fridays, but it's a heck of a lot more impactful to our people.

Ryan Specialty Group

Founder, Chairman & CEO: Patrick G. Ryan
Chicago, IL

Ryan Specialty Group (RSG), a specialty insurance organization including a wholesale brokerage operation, RT Specialty, and a collection of managing general underwriting companies within RSG Underwriting Managers (RSGUM), is proud of the business it has built and the solutions it has created for retail agencies and insurance carriers since its founding in 2010. Moreover, it is proud of the workplace culture it has formed based on its seven foundational values: integrity, client-centricity, teamwork, innovation, empowerment, courage and inclusion. As the company has grown into an international network of brokers, underwriters and support staff, it has always placed these values first, making it a trusted partner to its clients, a valued member of its community and one of the best workplaces in insurance. As founder, chairman & CEO Patrick G. Ryan often says, RSG is in the talent industry. Acquiring and retaining the best and brightest is key to its business, and it has built a diverse team of knowledgeable and experienced staff. It has attracted them not just through its generous compensation, bonuses and benefits packages, but by offering significant opportunities for tangible growth. In its ten short years, RT Specialty has risen to become one of the top excess and specialty brokerages in the nation, growing at an unprecedented rate. RSGUM now encompasses twenty-two managing general underwriting companies, providing them with unparalleled actuarial resources and support teams that they would never have had access to on their own. It has been exciting to watch RSG’s employees grow along with the company, advancing in ability, title and business opportunities. As RSG celebrates its tenth anniversary, it is proud of all its employees have accomplished in such a short time. All of its successes are thanks to its team members, who consistently exceed expectations while upholding RSG’s foundational values. It has never been a better time to join RSG’s family.

SageSure

CEO: Terrence McLean
Jersey City, NJ

SageSure is an innovation-focused insurance and technology company specializing in underserved property markets and offering 40+ competitively priced insurance products to more than 300,000 policyholders in 14 coastal states. With eight offices nationwide, SageSure is modernizing property insurance through market-leading online quoting and binding platform and sophisticated modeling and scoring technology.

At SageSure, we’re pioneers who deliver innovative insurance products and technology solutions in places others won’t, daring to solve the challenges underserved markets face. The reward? Endless opportunities to learn and grow—all while sharing in the financial success of our organization. But that’s not all. The best part is that we get to do it among friends. Our team is more than a group of risk-takers, fast learners, and experts; we’re also supportive, collaborative, and determined. It’s not just our culture; it’s in our DNA … it’s who we are and who we’ve always been. We are thrilled that the rest of the industry now knows what our 330 employees know. SageSure is a Best Place to Work.

Sahouri Insurance

Chief Executive Officer: Michael Sahouri
McLean, VA

Our organization is built on three dimensions: our guests (stakeholders), our advocates (staff), and our a.i (tools and tech). We offer equal opportunities for employment/growth, we are tremendously diverse, we are an independent, stable and growing company in an industry being disrupted by hundreds of mergers and acquisitions of independent agencies every year and a technology boom intersecting with an aging work force. Our owners are empowering, genuine and caring. We are a successful, young, company with an average age below the industry median by approximately 20-30 years. Our culture starts with our leadership, who lead by example in their values, experience, eagerness to serve, and help others grow. Our founders refer to us as: “our second family.” While they are no longer directly involved in day-to-day operations, Mr. and Mrs. Sahouri are always around, stopping by your desk or office, helping with what you’re working on or sharing stories, jokes, etc. We have recruited industry veterans at the top of their game to lead the company into the next generation of insurance management and purchasing. We also have an environment that truly provides equal opportunity. What we all take the most pride in is our diversity, we speak more than 6 languages and even more ethnic backgrounds. Our company also invests in the most helpful technology that helps our advocates do their jobs conveniently/efficiently and technology that truly best serves the client’s needs.We have an environment that encourages personal and professional growth. The Sahouri Academy is developing a knowledge/training hub that provides advocates with a structured career roadmap that visualizes their path for growth. We have multiple interns that have grown into management and executive positions. All of them have worked for the company for at least five years, and they’re all still there. We also have a philanthropic program that supports local hospitals, children’s hospitals, veteran’s organizations, relief organizations, civil rights organizations, religious institutions, schools, and more. We also encourage social responsibility through volunteer programs, and leadership take part as well.

Scottish American

Chief Gopher: Paul Thomson
Grapevine, TX

Scottish American is unlike any other wholesaler in the Excess and Surplus Marketplace. This young, driven and energetic group of entrepreneurs is ahead of the pack when it comes to utilizing technology and the best talent in our field. Its driven and diverse group of underwriters makes this a perpetually competitive and amazing place to work. Whether it's bringing your dog to the office, playing a game of pool on one of our customized Scottish American pool tables (in most offices) or spending the weekend with your family at one of the annual Scottish American retreats, you're certain to find a reason to smile. But it's not all about fun and games. Scottish American is committed to improving our local communities as well our global impact through local volunteering as well as organizations like Kiva and 9 Hugs (9hugs.org). We love to give and find new ways to bless those that we work for and on behalf of day in and day out. Everyone in the Scottish American Family has an opportunity to succeed with pathways to even own part of the company. We are committed to continual growth and have developed a proprietary education platform to help our team members reach their maximum potential. We call it "Family" as we genuinely believe in that word and have a "family centric" approach to what we do and how we do it. We offer 4 months paid maternity/paternity leave, family parties and retreats throughout the year and a work schedule that shapes itself around the way you live. With 22 locations across the country we make it a priority to stay in contact. All of our producers are on chat forums that can be accessed day or night. Bi-weekly company calls, weekly online workouts and impromptu competitions make sure that you stay engaged and connected. Scottish American: Fast, Fun, Loyal

SET SEG

Executive Director: Timothy J. Averill
East Lansing, MI

SET SEG is a non-profit company that was created in 1971 to offer schools comprehensive and affordable employee benefit solutions for Michigan public schools and their employees. Since its creation, the needs of Michigan's public education community continued to change and SET SEG grew into an organization offering a spectrum of insurance service including not only employee benefits, but property/casualty and workers' compensation as well. Today, SET SEG continues to expand and find innovative ways to meet the specialized needs of its members. This, coupled with a superior member experience, is why SET SEG has maintained its position as an industry leader in the school insurance market. What makes SET SEG a "best" place to work is our employees. They are genuinely driven by the collective mission of the organization to deliver peace of mind to Michigan public schools. The company's exclusive products and services, astute receptivity to change, insatiable appetite for improvement and growth, and dedication to solving problems makes for an atypical insurance workplace experience. The culture at SET SEG values and rewards collaboration, ingenuity, anticipation, and curiosity. The company recognizes employees as whole individuals and demonstrates empathy and understanding through generous policies that offer ample flexibility, autonomy, and support. SET SEG is a great place of opportunity for those with a thirst for learning and discovery, and a desire to make positive changes within the educational community.

Shelter Insurance Companies

CEO: Matt Moore
Columbia, MO

Shelter Insurance® is a group of companies with four personal lines property and casualty companies, a reinsurance company, and a life insurance company. Shelter markets through Shelter Insurance®, AmShield Insurance®, Haulers Insurance, Say Insurance® and offers auto, home, life, farm and business insurance services to customers in 21 states. The firm’s corporate headquarters is in Columbia, Missouri and more information is available at ShelterInsurance.com. Shelter’s commitment to helping employees with work/life balance issues as well as our competitive pay ranges and retirement benefits make us one of the best places to work in insurance. Shelter's Employee Resource Groups continue to grow and enhance our corporate culture. In 2019 we added a new group, Ra11y, which focuses on accessibility for all employees. We also have EPN (Emerging Professionals Network), SWAG (Shelter Women's Advocacy Group), MCG (Multicultural Group), and HWT (The Happy Work Team). These groups allow our employees opportunities to become involved and connected with others. These resource groups are supported by the Inclusion and Engagement department. Shelter truly believes that supporting our employees so that they can be their best, is what makes us "Shelter Strong" and one of the best places to work!

SIG

Managing Partner: Richard Silberstein
Baltimore, MD

SIG truly cares about the wellbeing of each employee and has an engaged and accessible leadership team that supports and empowers everyone to be and do their best. The leaders are progressive, always pushing toward growth and improvement not just for better systems and client satisfaction but also for employees' personal growth and development. The focus on creating a dynamic, engaging culture is apparent. Our CEO regularly recognizes the contributions of his employees. Whether he is giving weekly "shout outs" or offering a variety of perks, like invitations to galas, sporting events and private chef table dinners, Richard consistently demonstrates that he cares about his people. SIG is filled with driven, honest, passionate, intelligent and hard-working people who truly care about one another. This is a rare find in any organization and a key reason we have so many long-term employees who describe coworkers as a community and a family. The nature of many of our jobs can be unpredictable and stressful, but the leaders of SIG are committed to doing what is needed to support employees, so we are healthy, happy and balanced. Below are all the benefits SIG employees enjoy on a professional and personal level: regular all staff meetings with updates about the status of the company, led by the President, including recognition of individual employees at each meeting; Flexible work environment for work/life balance; access to top notch industry experts; continuing education and training; latest technology both in and out of the office; opportunities for professional/financial promotion and growth; excellent compensation and benefits; monthly events organized by Social, Wellness and Community Services Committees - holiday party, pumpkin painting contest, Easter Egg Hunt, happy hours, bowling party, SIG Day of Service, onsite fitness classes, chair massages, cooking demos, smoothie happy hour, weekly fruit delivery, education seminars, Opening Day celebration, Orioles games, scavenger hunt, School Drives, Office Warriors with Junior Achievement, just to name a few.

Signal Administration, Inc.

President & Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Richard Wood
Wilton, CT

Signal is the largest provider of Longshore Workers Compensation Benefits in the USA. We are a small company and operate like a family, providing our employees with a very personalized approach to work and the benefit of being apart of a global leading edge environment. Employees are valued and we have a very low turnover rate, longevity of staff and a high employee satisfaction rate within our workforce as a result.

Simkiss & Block

CEO: Brian Block
Berwyn, PA

Simkiss & Block has always recognized that a firm like ours has no more important assets than the employees who serve our clients on a regular basis every day, so the concept of making our organization an attractive and comfortable place for the best of the best to thrive and grow is embedded into every decision we make. Our clients and their needs exist around the country and around the world, so our employees need both the facilities and technology infrastructure and management support to be able to respond efficiently and effectively to clients wherever and whenever they need us.

Simply Business

Group Chief Executive Officer: David Summers
Boston, MA

Simply Business is more than just our name. It's how we approach small business insurance: Make it clear. Make it simple. Make it affordable. Founded in 2005 (now with offices in Boston and London), Simply Business is an online small business insurance brokerage that specializes in one thing: Protecting the businesses that entrepreneurs have worked hard to build. Our goal is to improve the small business insurance market and make the already complicated process of buying insurance simple and accommodating, for all customers. With some of the brightest minds in the tech industry, along with a passionate group of marketers, insurance product experts and data mavens, we’re excited to continue to grow our business here in the US. To help us achieve these goals, we bring together teams of employees who are ambitious and want to challenge boundaries that will ultimately help the small business community. We’re product-focused and customer-obsessed, placing an emphasis on an employee-first mentality and an entrepreneurial culture. We empower our employees to do their best work - giving them flexibility, paid time off and programs for personal and professional development, helping ensure they love the work they do.

Socius Insurance Services, Inc.

President & CEO: Patrick Hanley
San Francisco, CA

Socius is the best place to work because we have created a great company culture. Across the country, we all are able to help each other out to create the best kind of business for our customers.

Sterling Seacrest Partners

CEO: John Miller
Atlanta, GA

I believe that we are a best place to work because of our people. Our people make up a great culure that spans multiple locations, yet has the same overall feel throughout. We have a talented, spririted, family oriented group that strive to make each other lives and our clients lives better daily.

Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool

Executive Director: Jeff Thompson
Austin, TX

The Pool is a unique organization whose mission is to serve local governments throughout the state of Texas. Members of the Pool partner to collectively self-insure their workers' compensation, property and liability risks. 98.5% of municipalities and over 2800 local governments participate. The Pool serves in a "fiduciary" role as administrator of the self-insurance partnership and thus is committed to always acting in the best interests of the membership, resulting in a culture of integrity and public service (two of the Pool's core values). Employees know they are a "partner" with these members, positively affecting the employees of member governments and their citizens. Employees are able to make a positive difference in communities throughout the state of Texas by helping them manage their risk; working for the Pool provides employees with a "why," or higher purpose.

The Ashley Group

President: Tim Paradiso
Huron, OH

The Ashley Group was founded in 2003 to provide employee benefits advise and guidance to companies across northern Ohio. Since that time, we’ve grown and diversified to offer expanded services to the benefit of our customers, but our core objective remains the same—helping our customers and their employees navigate the complex world of employee benefits and adding VALUE to every interaction. Our employees understand and embrace this core belief and derive satisfaction from knowing that they are an intrinsic part of meeting this objective. We VALUE our employees’ intellect and give them the space and tools to meet the clear goals put before them, in their own creative way. We VALUE our employees’ expertise in their chosen profession, and ability to clearly communicate the same to our clients. We VALUE our employees’ dedication to us and to our clients, their willingness to work hard and dive deep to exceed expectations and deliver value to our customers and their employees. Because we value our employees so highly, they in turn value The Ashley Group and take ownership of creating and maintaining a unique work culture that includes space for hard work and professionalism, but not at the expense of camaraderie and fun!

The Partners Group, Ltd.

CEO: Roderick B Cruickshank
Portland, OR

The Partners Group strives to be an employer of choice by providing unique and special benefits to our employees. In an effort to support healthy lifestyles, we have implemented a fresh fruit and healthy snack program in our offices. In support of our community leadership, we offer 8 hours of paid volunteer time per quarter for each employee and as a company, volunteer for a day during December at designated charities. We support our current and former military members by offering them a paid day off each Veteran's Day. In addition, we designate funds to match employee contributions to their favorite charity each year. To meet the needs of our employees and their families, we offer several options for telecommuting and flexible work schedules. The Partners Group loves to have fun! We provide coffee carts, lunches, desserts, smoothies and additional PTO time as perks. We have a dedicated fun committee that plans potlucks and hosts parties including costume contests at Halloween and secret Santa at Christmas. Our CEO suprises employees during the summer by arranging for an ice cream truck to deliver ice cream to each office. In the summer, we host happy hours at a local wine bar to allow our employees to leave work early and enjoy socializing outside of the office. We hold an all company overnight offsite at a resort where employees get to choose fun activities such as snow shoeing, painting, cookibg abd hiking. Emloyees and their spouses are treated to an evening of dinner and entertainment where they are presented with their annual profit-sharing checks. We plan an annual BBQ and a trip to the pumplin patch for our employees and their families. This is become a great tyradition! Employees earn gift cards and recognition at quarterly luncheons for going above and beyond for our customers. IN the spring and fall, we offer walking challenges during breaks and if a person completes the challenge, they earn gift cards and wellness points. Employees who are engaged in our wellness program receive their benefits paid at 95%. To encourage a healthy lifestyle, we offer reimbursement for a portion of the entry fee for walking and running events. Employees are offered onsite vaccinations in the fall.

The Plexus Groupe LLC

Chief Executive Officer: Walter R. Fawcett, III
Deer Park, IL

The Plexus Groupe is a best place to work because of our amazing culture, with an unmatched focus on professional development opportunities for our associates. Each individual here has a voice that is listened to. We offer a collaborative work environment and whether it be through the Continuous Improvement Committee or basic conversation, ideas are heard and action is taken. Plexus always takes an innovative and progressive approach to be the best, not just in the eyes of clients, but also the associates. From the benefit package to IT support and everything in between, Plexus strives to be as supportive to associates as possible. While the company continues to grow, it remains a priority to maintain its family values and continues to put people first. All combined, Plexus is able to create an employment experience that is second to none.

The WRC Group

President & CEO: Terry Wendorff
Madison, WI

The WRC Group includes WRC, 1st Auto, WRC Agency and WASI. It is based in Madison, Wisconsin and serves town mutual clients and agents in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin. WRC has been in business since 1931. The WRC Group is a best place to work because of the organization’s commitment to its employees. That commitment shines through in work-life balance, employee benefits and company culture. Many companies state that they support a work-life balance, but The WRC Group consistently delivers on that promise. It provides a 35-hour work week, generous paid time off and flexible work schedules. During non-pandemic times, the company provides an onsite fitness room and paid wellness time to exercise, go for a walk or help in the company garden. An employee who is a master gardener collaborates with co-workers to plan, plant and harvest the garden. Employees can keep all produce or share it with their colleagues. Benefits are well-received by employees, with competitive salaries and a 401K match of up to 10% of an employee’s salary. Employees can select health, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability and identify theft insurance. The company pays for an annual membership to Costco or Sam’s Club for each employee. The WRC Group’s culture is noteworthy. It includes cross-functional collaboration, employee development, fun company events, charitable giving and volunteerism. The company supports employee development by covering the cost of approved continuing education and professional and industry association memberships. A mentorship program is also offered. Examples of company events include a bags tournament, an ugly sweater contest, a Halloween costume contest, lunches and holiday parties. Charitable giving is an important element of the culture. The WRC Group donates $100 for each employee to an approved charity of their choice. Volunteerism is also supported. For example, the company organized a voluntary event for employees to give back by helping at a local food bank. Continued commitment to work-life balance, employee benefits and the corporate culture makes The WRC Group a best place to work. It provides an appealing environment to begin and build a career.

Tokio Marine America

CEO: Mr. Kiyoshi Wada
New York, NY

"For over 100 years, Tokio Marine America (TMA) has offered comprehensive commercial property and casualty insurance to some of the world’s largest and most distinguished organizations in the U.S. TMA is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, Japan's oldest and leading property/casualty insurer. With the highest financial strength rating from A.M. Best, TMA works with major brokers and leading independent insurance agents to create value for our customers by providing ANSHIN -safety, security and peace of mind. TMA follows Tokio Marine Group’s “Good Company” philosophy of looking beyond profit, delivering on commitments, and empowering our people. As an organization, our daily focus is on doing the right thing. Our employees are our greatest asset and we work very hard to create a culture of trust, respect, and empowerment. We aim to empower our people by supporting opportunities for continuing education, providing tuition assistance for professional designations, and offering leadership development programs. We know the importance of delivering on our commitments and look beyond profit while acting with the utmost integrity not only for our employees, but also for our business partners and society. We believe in being an active member of society and creating opportunities for our employees to use their skills to create a positive impact on the world around us. Each year our offices throughout the country have “Hands on Days” where employees volunteer together to support worthy organizations in our communities. We also aim to create a team-oriented atmosphere in all of our offices. In 2017, we moved into two new office spaces with bright open floor plans, high-tech infrastructures, and stylish ergonomic office furniture. These new, vibrant offices were designed with an eye toward increased collaboration and interaction among our staff. It’s important to us to maintain positive relationships not only with our business partners, but also with our employees."

Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.

President: Kenneth F. Palmer Jr.
Phoenix, AZ

Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc. is the best place to work because we have created a culture where our employees feel valued, and like they are part of our family; we invest in our employees education and teach them the skills to elevate them to higher positions within our company turning jobs into lifelong successful careers, we listen to our employees’ ideas and suggestions, and we implement new processes based on these suggestions because we trust in our employees’ knowledge and experience, we celebrate everyone’s life moments together, and we genuinely care about each and every employee.

USI Insurance Services

Chairman & CEO: Michael J. Sicard
Valhalla, NY

What makes USI a "best" place to work? A Strong History of Growth: Founded in 1994, USI started out with a single office of 40 associates and $6.5 million in revenue. Today, USI is approaching nearly $2 billion in revenue, with 7,500+ associates across approximately 200 offices. Since 2007, USI has more than quadrupled in size and has grown to become one of the world’s top 10 insurance brokerage and consulting firms. The USI ONE Advantage: The USI ONE Advantage is a proprietary, game-changing approach to risk management and employee benefits, integrating proprietary business analytics and technology, with a networked team of local and national experts in a consultative planning process that generates targeted program recommendations and customized results with positive, bottom-line impact for clients. USI offers employee programs that go above and beyond “standard benefits.” A few of our industry-leading employee programs include: USI Summit Awards: Rewarding USI’s top performing service associates; USI PEAK: National sales reward and recognition program; USI Wellness: Industry leading wellness program; USI Cares: Helping associates and their families in need; USI Green: Supporting the environment through nationwide green initiatives; USI Gives Back: Sharing our time, talent and treasure with the communities we serve; USI Educates: Providing associates with child scholarships for college education; USI University: In-depth educational training led by industry veterans; USI Fast Start: Monthly four-day sales training program that focuses on new business development processes. A Tradition of Giving Back: USI Gives Back is a corporate social responsibility platform where each year during the month of August, USI associates give back to their local communities. Since the program’s inception, USI associates have positively impacted more than two million lives through their generous volunteer efforts. In 2019 alone, our associates took part in more than 325 local community service events across the U.S. and Europe! The cumulative impact of these events touched more than 800,000 lives, totaling over 24,000 hours of volunteerism!

VAST

CEO: Scott M. White
Marquette, MI

At VAST, we have a one of a kind “blue culture” that attracts top talent in the marketplace. We are community driven and are proud to support the communities in which we work. We provide open, honest and transparent communication with our team and encourage and value feedback from each employee to continue evolving our culture. Our blue culture starts with our team and many of the items listed have been created by our employees for our employees: • Competitive pay, paid time off, flex, remote work, job share • Benefits package • Opportunities for additional employer paid training and professional development • Invests time and money into the community: Monetary donations | Scholarships |4 hours of volunteer time/month for each employee • Open and transparent communication • Employee Lead Internal committees • Young Professionals Committee • Wellness rewards/programs • Milestone celebrations (weddings, birthdays, baby showers) • Travel Incentives • Paid Parking • Core Values: Integrity, fun, innovative, empowered, communication, team, results, relationships, healthy

VGM Insurance & Financial Solutions Inc

CEO, VGM Group Inc: Mike Mallaro
Waterloo, IA

At VGM Insurance, we are proud to provide specialty programs for thousands of customers nationwide in the healthcare and golf industries. So proud in fact, that as employees, we own the company. But more than that, we take care of each other—we’re family. We live by a common set of values that we call our POWER of ONE PRINCIPLES. These behaviors guide how we work together, how we treat one another and how we serve others. We MAKE A DIFFERENCE by impacting our customers, making their lives better. We help our friends and neighbors in need by giving back to the community. We FIND THE FUN IN OUR DAY, making it a priority to connect with our colleagues, find enjoyment in our work, and enjoy a good laugh. We PROVIDE MEANINGFUL, MEMORABLE SERVICE by cherishing our customers and providing excellent service. We PROTECT OUR COMPANY, embracing the benefits of technology but always being proactive in managing threats. We WELCOME CHANGE, staying curious and being open to new ideas. We CHEER EACH OTHER ON by rooting for our fellow employee owners, supporting them and celebrating their successes. We OWN OUR OWNERSHIP, taking pride in our employee ownership, always putting our best foot forward, and working with purpose. Finally, we CREATE OUR FUTURE. We operate every day with the understanding that our future is in our hands. Every employee has equality of opportunity to learn, grow, and advance. Watch the video to learn more about what makes us special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVRFEe46Ywc&feature=youtu.be

Virtual Benefits Administrator

CEO: Michael Clayton
Germantown, WI

Virtual Benefits Administrator (VBA) is a proactive, leading edge software design company providing custom solutions to the insurance industry for nearly 20 years. Uniquely delivered on a secure, cloud-based architecture, VBA provides one-common-architecture for all Employee Benefit Administration. Our software development process focuses on continuous improvement to address the requirements of the ever-changing healthcare industry. This empowers our clients to focus on business strategy and growth while streamlining their operations. We bring over 150 years of combined experience in the design, development, and implementation of revolutionary solutions for a variety of clients covering a wide array of insurance offerings.

Virtus LLC

CEO: Andrew W. Gray
Overland Park, KS

Our organization is in constant growth mode which leads to a lot of opportunity. The collective group is made up of a great mix of young and old and is always looking for ways to include everyone in all processes.

VUMI Group

President & CEO: David Rendall
Dallas, TX

We are an international health insurance company offering employees the chance to excel at whatever they set out to do. We listen to their feedback and act on it to improve the workplace, which is a constant goal.

Wallace Welch & Willingham Inc.

President: Keith Gramling
St. Petersburg, FL

We have a culture of Integrity, Accountability, Success, and Passion. We operate as a team and we love what we do! We truly believe in our employees and encourage them to grow personally and professionally. We offer a competitive benefit package and a good work-life balance, allowing our employees to take care of what’s important to them in their personal lives. Our employees participate in internal committees that foster relationship building activities within the W3 family. Our employees also create fundraising and volunteer opportunities and activities to support the Tampa Bay community to improve the overall quality of life for those in need around us.

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

CEO/President: Kevin Steiner
West Bend, WI

For over 125 years, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company has been providing property/casualty insurance to families and businesses in the Midwest and beyond. As we began 2020, it started out like any other year. Then the pandemic hit. We were deemed an essential business, so we continued to operate with the majority of our 1400 associates working from home. It is through adversity that we continue to prove that “The Worst Brings Out Our Best". What makes us a best place to work is displayed through years of caring for our agents, associates and policyholders. Below are some examples of what sets us apart. First, an important part of our culture is supporting communities. In the midst of the pandemic, we partnered with our agencies to support organizations like food pantries, blood centers and free clinics. When an agency committed to donating $500, West Bend pledged an additional $2,000. Our Charitable Trust awarded grants to more than 20 nonprofit organizations. Two of the largest donations were awarded to Feeding America and Red Cross of SE WI, which each received $50,000 to aid their noble pursuits. Second, our company returned $50 to all Home & Highway policyholders. We also extended premium due dates for all policyholders impacted by the crisis and automatically provided coverage on personal vehicles used by employees of restaurants that now offer delivery services. Finally, associates under the director level received a $150 stimulus bonus. Also, all associates received a small gift each month from retail shops insured by West Bend. Our officers delivered weekly communication to address if/when we will return to the office buildings, company performance, and special days to bring a little fun (e.g. Fuzzy Slipper Friday). We also sewed "Silver Lining" face masks and sent them to field associates, along with hand sanitizer. Our success is strongly connected to our commitment to excellence for our communities, our agents, our policyholders and our associates. The spirit of helping others, which is so much a part of West Bend’s long heritage, is alive and well today.

White & Associates Insurance Agency

CEO: Larry S. White
Dyersburg, TN

Established in 1976, White & Associates Insurance is a locally owned and operated insurance agency with 11 locations in West Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. White & Associates strives to provide a “doing more” approach to all aspects of operation, including enhancing employee job satisfaction, providing clients with innovative insurance packages and improving the communities in which we serve.

WNC Insurance Services, Inc.

CEO: Patrick Blandford
Chicago, IL

From our founding in 1962 to becoming a wholly owned company of the Tokio Marine Group in 2018, WNC Insurance Services has strived to cultivate a culture where our employees lie at the heart of our organization. They are our foundation and the key drivers of all that we do in delivering on our commitments to our customers. While we have evolved from our roots as a family-run business, we have never forgotten what it means to be a family. That’s why we believe WNC is an ideal candidate for Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work 2020. WNC is a leading property and casualty underwriting agency, and our approximately 240 employees are located across the U.S. With a wide geographic reach, it is critically important that we find ways to engage and collaborate as an organization in building a One WNC culture. And for employees, that starts on day one. New employees are paired with veterans and benefit from hands-on training and mentorship. We want employees to not only develop their skills, we want to provide a rewarding path for growing their careers. WNC embraces the Tokio Marine philosophy “To Be a Good Company.” We do right by our customers, our communities and our colleagues. This is underpinned by our values (Empowerment, Fairness, Integrity, Excellence, Innovation and Collaboration). We don’t simply pay lip service, we meet monthly to discuss how we can best live our values daily – from our senior leadership to the hourly worker. We empower employees to make decisions and try new things, and we make sure they are recognized when they do, whether they succeed or not. We make sure all voices are heard and recognize that diversity of thought provides significant value – whether it’s a new idea to innovate a process, a suggestion on how to improve our culture, or new ways to service our customers. Most importantly, we make work fun. Whether that’s through regular team outings, costume contests, holiday parties or community service projects, we want our employees to look forward to coming to the office every day. And as we continue to grow, we will never lose sight of what matters most – creating an atmosphere of togetherness, passion and family, where all employees are a valued member of our team.