BRONZE Best Agency to Work for 2016: Southeast The Crichton Group

Nashville, Tenn.-based The Crichton Group employees say they aren’t just part of a large agency – they are all important members of a team.

This year’s Bronze winner of Insurance Journal’s Best Agency to Work For in the Southeast has created a culture of fairness, respect, and most of all teamwork, according to its employees that nominated the agency.

“Everyone is treated fairly. They respect the employees and you actually feel important here and not just a number but an actual person that they care about,” wrote one respondent. “I love my job and didn’t ever think it would be possible to have a job you love and look forward to coming into every day. This place is exceptional and you would be a fool to not want to work here.”

Employees said The Crichton Group, which was started in 1979 and offers personal, commercial and employee benefits coverage, goes out of its way to encourage a community, team-oriented feeling at the office.

Those efforts, according to respondents, include “popcorn Friday,” massages, birthday’s off, and events throughout the year for the company to get together outside of the office and “enjoy each other’s company.”

There is also an employee appreciation day once a year.

Said one respondent of the event:

“We are recognized throughout the entire day – lunch provided, games, raffles, etc. What other agency does that for their employees?”

Jimmy Ward, CEO of The Crichton Group, said being nominated by the staff is very humbling and gives him a tremendous sense of pride.

He said the company is very intentional in the engagement and empowerment of its employees and works for a culture of “transparency, open communication and trust.”

“While we have become a large agency, we maintain the smaller and more family type of atmosphere,” Ward said. “We solicit and listen to [employee] feedback, and we give them a real voice. We are very successful at recruiting others to our agency because they know of our atmosphere and how our employees are genuinely happy. They want to be at the Crichton Group!”

Ward said he started in insurance right after college and instantly liked the industry and being able to make a difference for clients.

He said he feels the same way today.

“It’s still a people business and I like that.”

Employees of The Crichton Group agree.

“The Crichton Group takes its role in the community seriously. Leadership demonstrates a vision for the agency and communicates that well to employees. The company is committed to taking care of its clients and puts their interests first,” said one employee.

“Our renewal review is like no other, we go out of our way to provide our clients detailed renewal summaries and make sure they understand and are comfortable with their insurance policies,” said another.

The company’s activities in the community also help to cultivate its team culture.

Employees said they appreciate being able to take time during the work day to volunteer for numerous causes like the National Heart Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“All of the employee related events solidify the feeling that you are a part of a big family. The outreach programs and the encouragement to volunteer for local organizations with pay show that they really care about the community that they service,” one employee wrote.