Cavignac & Associates Named Top “Best Company to Work For” Firm by Business Insurance

SAN DIEGO - Oct. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Cavignac & Associates, a San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, recently was named as one of the “Best Places to Work in Insurance” as part of the sixth annual awards program created by Business Insurance magazine in collaboration with the Best Companies Group.

         The exact ranking of the sixth annual Best Places to Work in Insurance was unveiled in the September 29 issue of Business Insurance.  Cavignac & Associates ranked Number 5 in the entire country.

         The survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the nation’s insurance industry. To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

- Be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity;

- be a publicly or privately-held business;

- have a facility in the United States;

- have at least 25 employees;

- be in business a minimum of one year; and

- be one of eight options, according to size and business model.

         Cavignac & Associates scored high based on its desirable social environment and staff camaraderie. Picnics, baby showers, holiday gatherings, group tickets to Padres baseball games, company softball games, sushi-making classes, kayaking, hosted happy hours, beer and wine tastings, weekly catered lunches and more is what helped the firm snag a top slot on Business Insurance's “2014 Best Places to Work in Insurance” list.

         “We realize that the people who work here are going to spend a lot of time together, so we try to create a lot of opportunities to do things together to make it fun,” said Jeffrey Cavignac, president and managing principal.

         In addition to regular outings and events, the firm holds fast to the belief that if the company does well, everybody does well; a major motivator is a robust bonus lineup.

         “For bonuses, we use metrics that consider new business, retention and productivity,” said Cavignac.

         In addition to the semiannual bonuses, Cavignac provides monthly $15 bonus meal allowances and quarterly $50 bonus meal allowances when on budget, as well as years-of-service bonuses between $500 and $2,500.

         Companies from across the country entered the two-part survey process to determine the “Best Places to Work in Insurance.” The first part involved evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation.

         The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and determined the final rankings.

         Celia Mondfrans, senior account manager, said performance and flexibility are key to a balance that makes Cavignac & Associates a place people never want to leave.

         “They understand, for example, that if you are a working mother, they'll work with you,” said  Mondfrans.

         “When my daughter was in after-school activities that entailed a week where she had two practices a day — meaning she had to be driven twice a day for a week in San Diego traffic — I was given the flexibility to work online remotely and still get my work done,” she said.

         Professional development is another perk. Cavignac & Associates pays 100 percent of education classes, seminars and materials, and offers five paid days off for education and cash bonuses of between $250 and $2,500 for achieving designations or certifications.

         “We try to provide each employee a clear path toward what's possible and how to get there,” said Cavignac. “We grow internally, we grow by acquiring young talent that is committed, and we really want to have brokers who understand insurance.”

         For more information on the “Best Places to Work in Insurance” award program, visit wwwbestplacestoworkINS.com.

About Cavignac & Associates:

         Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and commercial insurance brokerage firm providing a broad range of insurance and expertise to design and construction firms, as well as to law firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies and the general business community. Company principals are Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; and Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS. The firm employs a staff of 45 at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101.  More information about the company can be found on the Web at www.cavignac.com