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Want a simple, yet effective agency management tip for making your employees happy? Treat them like customers.

That mindset stood out among comments from employees who nominated Morris & Garritano in Insurance Journal’s 2024 Best Agency to Work For survey. M&G took home Gold — Best Agency West.

The San Luis Obispo, California-based agency employs 153 people, and it anticipates revenue for 2024 will hit $31.6 million, up from $29.3 million a year ago. The firm’s specialties include construction, wine and agriculture, hospitality and food service, real estate/rental/lending, social services and healthcare, manufacturing, and retail and wholesale.

“Our agency stands out as one of the best places to work because of its deep commitment to both its employees and clients,” wrote one employee.

“As one of California’s largest privately held insurance firms, we prioritize a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth. Employees are empowered with the resources and support needed to excel in their roles, fostering a strong sense of ownership and pride in their work.”

The employee described an “open-door policy” from leaders, as well as their dedication to professional development.

“We treat our employees like we treat clients,” said Kerry Morris, M&G’s chief operating officer. “We make their learning, their development a priority. Engagement’s a big deal. We try to understand what drives people, what brings people into work is different for everybody. They want different things. We make our employees feel as if they are our clients.”

She said the firm invests a lot of its resources on learning and development, and leaders regularly sit down with employees to do “career-pathing” to find out where they’re headed and where they want to go. “We try to make sure our employees have the resources that they need, that they’re learning,” she said.

Brendan Morris, who joined M&G in 1994, working alongside his dad, Greg Morris,

explained the firm’s five core values: Do the right thing, love what you do, always be improving, go the extra mile and build collaborative relationships. “We also embrace flexibility, offering remote work options and flexible schedules to help our employees balance their professional and personal lives,” he added.

“M&G cares about its people — from the business side and the personal side,” one employee wrote. “They put a focus on career development and are constantly encouraging people to learn and grow in a direction that fits both the agency and the employee. It is common to promote from within for roles within the agency, myself included. I started as a receptionist and now lead our marketing and communications teams. They provide opportunities for training and advancement, a forum to voice an opinion or recommendation and are truly committed to my professional growth.”

Being part of a “family” was another common theme. “M&G is the only employer that I’ve worked for in my 20-plus years in the industry who actually cares about their employees,” an employee wrote. “Their commitment to excellence is unrivaled, and they truly believe that all of us at M&G are what makes the company successful. The owners know you by name, and make you feel comfortable and welcomed no matter what the occasion. We are a family here at M&G and it’s truly an amazing place to work.”

Said another long-time insurance professional:

“I’ve worked for many agencies during my 30-year career in insurance. … This is by far the best agency I’ve worked for. The leaders in our company are invested in their employees and clients. I have learned so much from them and continue to be inspired by them daily.”