At McGraw Wentworth, the company's focus on client service has a flip side—providing an excellent workplace for top-quality employees.

Troy, Mich.-based McGraw Wentworth, 2009's top-ranked small agent/broker in the Business Insurance Best Places to Work in Insurance ranking, serves the group benefit needs of Michigan-based organizations with 100 to 10,000 employees.

The company's core competencies include innovative and individually tailored cost-reduction strategies for clients, benchmarking, utilization analysis, financial analysis, health and productivity management programs, regulatory compliance consulting, employee communications, voluntary group benefits design and implementation, and billing and claim problem solving.

McGraw Wentworth provides those services from a perspective that the company doesn't sell insurance. Instead, it provides exceptional service, knowledge and judgment. The company “markets like heck” to its sweet spot—middle-market companies, particularly those with 150 to 3,000 employees—said Thomas P. McGraw, principal and president at McGraw Wentworth. And its culture is seen as a major differentiator in that marketplace.

“We are relentless about our culture,” Mr. McGraw said. “Excellence is a habit and superb service is a way of life,” he said. “In turn, we are explicit about how we, as an employer, we need to treat our people the right way.”

Mr. McGraw said his company recognizes that if it treats its employees well, they, in turn, will treat their clients well.

“We tell our people we are very focused about having the right people,” he said. “We are very focused on having the right people, best and the brightest, and keeping them happy.”

McGraw Wentworth makes a point of getting employees together at least once a year offsite, and constantly makes it clear to them that they are a key component of the company's business strategy.

“We talk to our people about how proud we are to have them on our team,” Mr. McGraw said.

2

SEUBERT & ASSOCIATES INC.
PITTSBURGH
EMPLOYEES: 66

Seubert & Associates is a full-service insurance agency with a passion for service. Its insurance professionals generate premiums in excess of $150 million annually. The company is known for its financial strength, stability and progressive client service. Products and services include commercial, trucking, health care practices, group benefits, life, personal and surety bonding. Seubert & Associates specializes in alternative risk solutions, captive services, and claims management and assessment.

What makes the company a great place to work? “The emphasis that management puts on the importance of its employees. We encourage and provide the tools for everyone to be successful, both professionally and personally.”

3

ASSURANCE AGENCY LTD.

SCHAUMBURG, ILL.

EMPLOYEES: 205

Assurance Agency specializes in providing property/casualty insurance solutions and designing and administering employee benefit programs for individuals and businesses across the country. The company contracts with more than 300 top insurance companies to provide the greatest breadth of insurance solutions available. Assurance's differentiating factor is a corporate culture that boasts fun and camaraderie.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Assurance understands the best way to create real value for clients is to create real opportunities for employees. We attract, develop and retain exceptional individuals who deliver superior client solutions.”

4

SCOTT INSURANCE

LYNCHBURG, VA.

EMPLOYEES: 227

Scott Insurance offers a full array of risk management services, including commercial insurance, employee benefits, financial management, and bonds through eight offices in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and captive insurance operations in the Cayman Islands. Scott also has industry specialists in the construction, transportation and health care industries, and has a dedicated risk performance group and professional development team.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Our company is a great place to work because we are fiercely devoted to our culture, our clients and each other.”

5

HOFFMAN BROWN CO.

SHERMAN OAKS, CALIF.

EMPLOYEES: 44

Hoffman Brown Co. is a full-service insurance agency established in 1961 with 44 dedicated people providing large and small companies, and individuals, with the best possible insurance programs. The company offers commercial, personal, life, group/ individual medical, and long-term care and disability insurance products, combining expertise in underwriting, claims and loss control to provide clients with superior professional service in all areas of insurance.

What makes the company a great place to work? “We treat our teammates with respect. HBC's commitment to delivering exceptional service extends to our employees. Our success derives from a tradition of staff appreciation, engagement, participation and support.”

6

RUE INSURANCE

HAMILTON, N.J.

EMPLOYEES: 58

Charles E. Rue founded Rue Insurance in 1917 in Windsor, N.J., to help local farmers protect themselves from the devastating losses caused by fire. Under the direction of four generations of the Rue family, Rue Insurance has grown from this single coverage operation into a regional leader in risk and asset protection. Rue now serves the insurance, employee benefit and financial services needs of more than 7,000 clients in 44 states.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Our professional atmosphere instills pride in our work and a passion to serve clients. Our family-like culture encourages employee participation and fosters an environment of mutual appreciation and respect.”

7

CAPSTONE BROKERAGE INC.

LAS VEGAS

EMPLOYEES: 26

Capstone Brokerage Inc. is a risk management, insurance and employee benefits brokerage specializing in workers compensation, workplace safety programs, commercial property/casualty insurance, surety bonding, employee benefits as well as all other types of commercial and personal insurance.

What makes the company a great place to work? “People join our company for the respect and the opportunity to be part of something that is exciting and fun. Our employees couldn't imagine working somewhere else.”

8

THOITS INSURANCE SERVICE INC.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.

EMPLOYEES: 70

Thoits Insurance is a full-service, regional, employee-owned insurance brokerage located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Thoits has been providing insurance, employee benefits and risk management programs for more than 110 years.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Thoits has 70 professional, ethical, well-trained staff who are committed to excellence in client service. As an employee-owned company, we have the commitment and skills to do it right.”

9

OVATION BENEFITS GROUP

FARMINGTON, CONN.

EMPLOYEES: 56

Ovation Benefits Group is the largest independently owned employee benefit broker/consultant in Connecticut. The company is a leader in the design, negotiation and communication of consumer-driven health plans, with a particular emphasis on wellness initiatives and member-level support. Ovation Benefits offers an array of services, with a mission to deliver lower costs, better benefits, and healthy people to all of its clients.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Ovation Benefits Group is a caring, considerate and community-minded organization. From our employees to our office space, we are an energetic, innovative organization.”

10

SCIROCCO GROUP

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J.

EMPLOYEES: 114

Scirocco Group credits its 60 years of success to a commitment to establishing and nurturing long-standing relationships with clients and insurers. Advanced technology helps the company share knowledge in specific areas of focused expertise—construction, real estate, manufacturing, retail/wholesale, distribution, public entities, transportation—and full-service risk analysis and management to assist clients in remaining viable and profitable.

What makes the company a great place to work? “Scirocco Group is a great place to work because of our people and their commitment to Scirocco Group's success, each other's well-being and our environment's viability.”