A Focus on Tech, People … and Honey

This article has been revised and corrected from the original version.

Founded in 1950 by Gil Grosslight, Grosslight Insurance is a division of PCF Insurance Services. The firm still operates its own business and is led by team members including Commercial Lines Manager Morgan White, who has 18 years of industry experience under her belt.

How long have you worked in the insurance industry, and what did you do before working at your current firm?  

I have been in the insurance industry for 18 years, and prior to working for Grosslight/PCF I was in a similar role for an agency in Orange County.

Tell me about your role at your firm. What are your main responsibilities? 

 I oversee operations of the agency. Primarily it’s attempting to solve problems in any area they could arise — this includes customer service, sales, system issues, personnel issues, accounting, marketing, etc. I like the opportunity to wear different hats, as it ensures most days are never boring.  

What is one of the most important professional lessons you’ve learned from your time in the industry?  

Many times, the adage of “you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar” still applies. 

What do people get wrong about the insurance industry?  

I think people generally assume insurance is about the most boring profession anyone could choose, but I find each day to be different and my role allows me to touch a lot of different parts in the day-to-day operations, which allows for each day to bring new challenges. 

What is a trend in the insurance industry that more people should be paying attention to? Why is it important?  

Technology is changing the way agencies are having to do business because clients can interface with their agent the way they want to now, so agencies have to begin to meet clients how they want to be met.  

How can an insurance firm best empower their employees?  

Foster and encourage employees to push themselves to keep learning. Ten years of experience from one employee to the next can look vastly different, all depending on how much that employee has taken the opportunity to learn and glean from their experiences. We are in an industry that allows you to take the reins on your own career. Growth is really in the hands of the employee. The more the employee invests in their own learning, the more rewarding it will typically be for them.  

 What are some of the notable trends regarding one of your firm’s insurance specializations? 

We specialize in real estate investment properties, manufacturing, and construction. The California marketplace is definitely keeping us on our toes, as more and more carriers are non-renewing business they may have had on the books for decades and that’s not an easy thing to explain to clients who have been loyal to the same insurance company for years. 

What is next for your firm?

We want to operate as efficiently as possible while keeping our team happy and engaged. We know that clients prefer the service they receive when an employee is happy to be helping them.