Cavignac & Associates Ranked Third in Country as "Best Place to Work in Insurance"

SAN DIEGO - Dec. 3, 2018 - PRLog -- Cavignac & Associates, a downtown San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, recently placed third in the country in Business Insurance magazine's "Best Places to Work in Insurance" awards program.

The rankings were unveiled in the November 2018 issue of Business Insurance.  As the third ranking insurance agency in the country, Cavignac & Associates outshined hundreds of other insurance companies, from small, privately owned agencies with as few as 26 employees to national firms with as many as 4,400 employees.

"Being a great place to work has always been a top priority for us, and recognition like this tells us we're hitting the mark," said Jeff Cavignac, company founder and managing principal.  "What all the ranking companies have in common is a commitment to attracting, developing and retaining great talent through a combination of benefits and other programs that their employees value."

The survey and awards program are designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the nation's insurance industry. Through an employer questionnaire on policies, practices and demographics and a confidential employee survey, Best Companies Group assembles the data points and analyzes them according to eight core focus areas:

·       Leadership and planning

·       Corporate culture and communication

·       Role satisfaction

·       Work environment

·       Relationship with supervisor

·       Training, development and resources

·       Pay and benefits

·       Overall engagement

Cavignac & Associates scored high in all areas, particularly 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, regularly catered lunches and more are what helped the firm rank so high.

"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 Cavignac.

In addition to regular outings and events, the firm holds fast to the belief that, if the company does well, everybody does well.  Cavignac & Associates' agency-wide bonus program is based on metrics that measure the agency's success, specifically new business, client retention and productivity.  If the bonus program is maxed, employees can receive 12 percent additional compensation.

Coupled with the bonus program, the firm buys lunch for everyone if monthly goals are hit and dinners if quarterly goals are exceeded.  "Years of Service" bonuses are also provided.

Together with 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.

Professional development is also critical to Cavignac & Associates.  The firm pays 100 percent of education classes, seminars and materials, and also provides five paid days off for education, as well as cash bonuses of between $250 and $2,500 for achieving designations or certifications.

"We try to provide each employee with a clear path toward their goals," said Cavignac. "We consider our company a "Knowledge" business first and a "Service" business second.  While each are critically important, without the knowledge, we wouldn't have anyone to service."

Insurance 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.

"I'm exceptionally proud of our entire staff for upholding our vision and mission and contributing to the company's desirable work culture," said Cavignac.  "Their positive input on how management is doing in its effort to keep them happy and professionally fulfilled means a great deal."

For more information on the "Best Places to Work in Insurance" award program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkINS.com

About Cavignac & Associates:

Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and insurance brokerage firm located in San Diego's downtown.  The firm caters to a broad range of clients including developers, real estate owners, design professionals, manufacturers, construction firms, non-profit organizations and other industries. 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; Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS; and Matthew Noonan, RHU, CIC, CHRS, CCWS. The firm employs a staff of 55 people at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101.  More information about the company can be found at www.cavignac.com.