Why ‘People First’ Values Matter

The success at Morris & Garritano is a simple case of pairing what people are doing with their strongest skills.

“People first” is a phrase that frequently popped up in employee compliments about the firm when nominating it for the annual Best Agency to Work For award.

The San Luis Obispo, California, agency was nominated by dozens of employees. It won the Best Agencies to Work For Bronze Award in the West. It’s not the first time M&G made the list. The firm won Silver last year, after winning Gold in 2024.

“I love to hear that,” said Brandon Morris, CEO, risk advisor and principal of the firm, when he was read some of the employee comments during an interview. “I would say that it’s definitely people first, because it’s really one of our pillars. We want people to come here and feel like they can build a career out of it–it’s not just a job.”

He said the firm put an emphasis in the last several years on constant learning and development.

“People can see that career path, whatever that may be, and I think that’s really made a difference,” he said.

The firm reports annual revenue of $34.4 million, with a workforce that now numbers 160. It specializes in construction, manufacturing, wine and agribusiness, hospitality, residential care and social services, retail, and real estate.

Employees offered praise for the firm in numerous areas, but many of them highlighted the emphasis on constant learning and development.

“What stands out most to me is how genuinely invested the agency is in people’s success. There’s a real effort to help employees grow, build meaningful career paths, and find opportunities that align with their strengths and goals,” one employee wrote. “You can see it in how people are supported and how enthusiastically their accomplishments are celebrated. My own position was created to pair the needs of the agency with my own strength and career goals. That same level of care extends to our clients. We want to do great work, but we also want to do what is genuinely right for the people and businesses we serve.”

Another employee nominated M&G because of its “people-first culture, collaborative environment, and commitment to employee growth.”

Another wrote that the firm “combines a strong, people-first culture with meaningful opportunities to grow.”

“The company genuinely invests in employees through professional development, leadership training, coaching programs, and clear career paths,” the employee wrote. “Employees are encouraged to build their skills, take on new challenges, and contribute to the future of the organization.”

Employees also echoed the “core values” Morris mentioned often in their remarks.

“Our agency lives our core values every day; love what you do, do the right thing, always be improving, go the extra mile, and build collaborative relationships,” an employee wrote. “They make employees feel valued and heard by welcoming innovative ideas. We encourage coming to the table with recommendations when improvement or adjustments are needed. They invest in us, and we are proud to do the best job possible for them, which translates to excellent service and positive relationships with our clients.”