(Clockwise from top left) Morris & Garritano's staff in front of their San Luis Obispo office; CEO and CL Risk Advisor Brendan Morris; Claims Advocate Heather Ross is pictured with Workers' Compensation Claims Analyst Mary Jean Collins; The agency's No-Shave November campaign raised funds for the Hearst Cancer Resource Center.
Given Morris & Garritano's 133-year history operating in California's Central Coast region, this firm was doing something right long before it landed National Underwriter's 2018 Agency of the Year Award.
Morris & Garritano employs about 130 people in two locations (San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria, Calif.). The agency's book of business includes personal, commercial and employee benefits packages, and its annual revenue for 2017 was $18,570,309. In addition to writing traditional policies, the agency must negotiate the unique risks associated with California's agricultural, tourism, hospitality and wine industries, not to mention remaining alert in the face of seemingly incessant wildfire danger. "We're very dedicated and passionate about making sure people have their property insured to value," says CEO Brendan Morris.
These days, the biggest hurdle for Morris & Garritano involves honoring its deep community roots while meeting rising client expectations — and having a good time doing it. "You have to make it about more than insurance," says Morris, who is the third generation in his family to head up the agency. Morris wasn't always certain that he'd follow his father and grandfather into the insurance business. He subsequently spent a few years out of college working in banks before coming home to San Luis Obispo. Now, he says, his business is "really all about trying to provide peace of mind, building relationships, and taking care of people."
What gets Morris motivated each day is the feeling that his agency maintains an important place in the communities it serves as well as the lives of the people who live in those communities, so it's not surprising to learn
Morris & Garritano remains active in chambers of commerce. The agency also supports youth sports leagues and contributes to community causes in dollars as well as in volunteer hours.
Legacy building
Since its founding in 1885, Morris & Garritano has continually marked its place as a cornerstone of Central California life. Its notable history includes being founded by an insurance man who went on to become a mayor in San Luis Obispo and who helped establish California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly).
During World War II, Morris & Garritano insured and physically watched over land and homes for members of Central California's Japanese-American communities who were whisked away to internment camps. "We've had clients for generations because of that," Morris says.
He believes that Morris & Garritano's ability to forge lasting relationships sets his agency apart. "If you can provide value and assist people, then you're going to be successful," he says.
Many of the agency's commercial clients now struggle to operate in a highly regulated and litigious state. To assist these clients in compliance and employee relations issues, Morris & Garritano recently invested in the online management platform ThinkHR. "Already several hundred clients are enrolled," says Morris, who adds that his board of directors is keenly aware that technology should not only enhance customer relationships but also make it easier for producers to do their jobs.
The agency's technology strategy revolves around solutions that save time, reduce costs and eliminate redundancies. Morris & Garritano now has automated client information and uses an agency management system that easily integrates with carrier platforms. Agency leadership also embraced a telecommuting culture that includes using teleconferencing to quickly connect producers and clients in disparate locations.
It follows that the idea of constantly striving to do better is among the five core values that guide business at Morris & Garritano. These core values are:
- Do the right thing.
- Love what you do.
- Always be improving.
- Go the extra mile.
- Build collaborative relationships.
But there's one more tenet behind Morris & Garritano that is palpable to the people who work there, even if it's not written down. "I'm passionate about remaining independently owned," Morris says.
Putting people first
One of Morris' personal heroes is the English business magnate Richard Branson, who's known for saying: 'Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.'
This notion has long resonated with Morris, which is why he strives to promote steady growth at Morris & Garritano by re-investing in staff and technology. "We want happy people here," he says.
To that end, the firm encourages ongoing employee education, fosters teamwork among employees, and supports flexible schedules to accommodate employees' personal lives. Morris & Garritano also hosts an annual Employee Appreciation Week, and says his board of directors tries to include employees in major business decisions.
"I do think that a big part of our success," Morris says, "is having the right culture."
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