Moreton & Company Blog

As part of our centennial celebrations, throughout 2010 we will be posting monthly spotlights on our 12 longest-tenured employees—the people who have the most insights on Moreton & Company’s history.

Craig Smith is Moreton & Company’s second in command—the Executive Vice President and President of Moreton’s Utah office.

1. When did you start working for the firm?
   I started at Fred A. Moreton & Company in April 1985.
2. What was the company like when you started?
   When I started, Moreton & Company only had 37 employees and only $3.7 million in revenue.
3. In what ways has the company changed since you started?
   Obviously, we’ve grown a good deal. We’ve also diversified the types of products we offer—from surety bonds and commercial policies to a wide range of employee benefits programs, individual health insurance, and financial and business planning.
4. What’s been one of the best things about working at Moreton & Company?
   Without doubt, my experiences with the Olympics were some of the best moments of my career. We worked so hard throughout the entire bid process, and it was so gratifying to be awarded the account based entirely on our own merit. The Olympic experience allowed us to associate with local and industry leaders across the country, through our Assurex partnership. It was a great experience.
5. Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences with a client.
   Our first major win against a national broker was when ICON Health & Fitness trusted us with their account. We truly appreciate their business and our relationships with them. This trust has since led to numerous other wins against national brokers.
6. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
   I truly value the close working relationship I’ve had with Ed Moreton, working 15 years with him as the Chief Operations Officer. This is one of the highlights of my business career.I also value the associations and relationships I’ve had with Moreton employees, clients, and insurance industry executives throughout the year.

As part of our centennial celebrations, throughout 2010 we will be posting monthly spotlights on our 12 longest-tenured employees—the people who have the most insights on Moreton & Company’s history.

Pete Gloeckner is one of Moreton & Company’s Property & Casualty producers. He works closely with Carrie Adams, another long-time Moreton employee.

1. When did you start working for the firm?
   I started at Fred A. Moreton & Company in April 1978.
2. What was the company like when you started?
   When I started, Moreton & Company occupied all of the 645 South building. All of the producers and staff fit around the table that is now in our small conference room. There was an outside service that had just been employed to provide computer runs of our individual production, a novel idea for the time.
3. In what ways has the company changed since you started?
   We have obviously gotten bigger in 30+ years. (I really can’t believe it has been that long. Will you all come to my funeral?) I really think that we have all become much more professional in what we do. We used to sell a policy, deliver a couple of certificates, and see our clients the next year. Things certainly have changed since then.
4. What’s been one of the best things about working at Moreton & Company?
   I really like the people I work with.
5. Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences with a client.
   When Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) recognized me for having served them for 25 years. In fact, working with the Youngs is the highest point in my career—I feel like I am flying with eagles when I work with them. They have become some of my best friends, and I respect them highly.
6. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
   Working with my clients, most of whom have become good friends over the years.

Moreton & Company’s three offices will be celebrating its anniversary with a Centennial Celebration. The Boise event was held June 9th at the Steuckle Sky Center. We invited a number of current and past employees, long-time clients, and carriers to share this milestone with us.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this celebration.

Moreton & Company is honored to have been selected as one of Utah Business magazine’s 2010 Trailblazer companies. This is annual an honor that goes to “enduring companies” who have made an impact in the state of Utah.

Moreton previously received this honor in 2005 in recognition of our work for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

We are thrilled to receive this honor. Thank you Utah Business!

Each of Moreton & Company’s three offices will be celebrating its anniversary with a Centennial Celebration. The Salt Lake City event was held May 5th at Rice Eccles Stadium Tower. We invited a number of current and past employees, long-time clients, and carriers to share this milestone with us.

While  Governor Gary Herbert was unable to attend, he sent the  above letter.

Company President, Bill Moreton, and Executive Vice President, Craig Smith, said a few words to thank our clients and carriers for their attendance.

Again, we would like to thank everyone who attended—there’s no way we’d be able to celebrate this milestone without the support from our clients and the tremendous effort from our current and past employees.

Moreton & Company’s Centennial featured in the UB Daily Business Briefing.

Here’s an excerpt:

“We’ve been very fortunate to have great relationships with our clients, which has been the lynchpin of our business for all these years,” president Bill Moreton said. “Our clients know we will be there to help them through their most difficult times.”

“Our clients have come to rely on our integrity and our ability to provide relief when something goes wrong,” Bill Moreton said. “We’ve been keeping our promises for 100 years.”

As part of our centennial celebrations, throughout 2010 we will be posting monthly spotlights on our 12 longest-tenured employees—the people who have the most insights on Moreton & Company’s history.

Carrie Adams is one of Moreton & Company’s Property & Casualty Vice Presidents. She works closely with Pete Gloeckner, another long-time Moreton employee.

1. When did you start working for the firm?
   I started at Fred A. Moreton & Company in 1982. It was an eventful year for me—I was married in June, turned 21 in October, and started my life long career at Moreton on November 29.
2. What was the company like when you started?
   There were 40–45 employees when I started, and we were still in one building on 649 East South Temple. Ed Moreton was the President and Fred A. Moreton, Ed’s father, still came in the office from time to time. Our Idaho branch employed one producer and an account manager. In the Salt Lake office, there were two producers and two account managers in the benefits dept. (Yes, Monte was one of those producers). When I was hired, we had just started invoicing through our new computer system. We used telefax machines to send immediate messages as we didn’t have fax machines, e-mail or scanners. Most everything (certificates of insurance, memos, letters, policies, and bonds) was hand-typed with carbon paper—we used exacto knives and white out to correct our mistakes.

   I can still remember when Mountain Fuel had requested a surety bond and it needed to be back east that same day. I issued the bond and delivered it over to their office to use their new fax machine. We stood there and waited 20 or 30 minutes while the fax went through. I was amazed to think that a machine could send something across country that fast. Now it only takes seconds to send a fax.

3. In what ways has the company changed since you started?
   Now we have 160+ employees and four locations and there are more female employees then males. Technology has made our lives and our jobs run at a much faster pace. As we have grown, our clients’ expectations have also grown—they don’t just expect insurance policies, bonds or certificates of insurance anymore, but look to us and to help their businesses grow. We have so many additional services we can offer to our clients than we didn’t have when I started—specialists that assist our clients with safety, loss control, HR, legal matters, financial services, contract reviews, worker’s compensation, and executive risk.

   However, though we have grown so much since I started 27 years ago, we have not changed the way we treat our clients. We earn our wings each day by having hard-working, ethical, caring, and knowledgeable employees. They keep our agency successful.

4. What have been some of the highlights of your career here?
   Working with Pete Gloeckner for the past 22+ years has been a joy. We are a great team and he always keeps me amused. I have also had the pleasure of working with Duane Wardle and the team at Young Electric Sign Company for the past 27 years, which has led to several visits to see how neon, electronic, and LED signs are made. What a fascinating business!

   I have also enjoyed working with Cazier Excavating and Broken Arrow for over 20 years and working with both of these fine contractors in growing from a small operation to hundreds of employees and projects.

5. What’s been one of the best things about working at Moreton?
   Moreton has been stable ever since I started—it gives me a sense of comfort knowing they could be around for another 100 years. They are respected by other industry leaders, businesses, and individuals in the community. Ed and Bill are loyal to their employees and treat us better than I could ever expect an employer to treat its employees. I couldn’t have asked to have better coworkers to work with all these years. We have so many people here that care about one another. We are one big family.
6. Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences with a client.
   One day, 15 or 20 years ago, Ed Moreton called me into his office and asked me to sit down. I was shaking inside but I didn’t want him to know that I was nervous. He opened up a letter that was sent to him by Duane Wardle, CFO of Young Electric Sign Company. Ed proceeded to read the letter to me. This past August, Duane sent a similar letter to Bill Moreton stating “Many female executives I have worked with are easily intimidated and reluctant to ‘dive in’ on our critical issues. Not Carrie. She gives her opinion and is not reluctant to get involved and share her expertise and grit. Carrie has earned the respect and trust of all the members of our management team.”

   What a great honor to have a client think about you this way!

7. What positions have you held at Moreton? What is your current position?
   In 1982, Kent Bills hired me to work as a Surety Account Manager in the bond department. In 1987, I transferred to the P&C department to work with Pete Gloeckner as an Account Manager. I currently manage Pete Gloeckner’s book of business as an Account Executive/Vice President. I work with Pete on new prospect leads, educate our clients, and help solve our client’s problems. In my spare time, I assist other P&C producers on accounts.
8. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
   There is nothing like the feeling of a phone ringing and it is a prospect on the other end of the line instructing me to BIND COVERAGE! I relish working with our clients and making their lives less painful. My goal is to earn their confidence and trust so they can be at ease knowing we are taking care of their needs. I have an ownership in each of our clients’ businesses. They become my friends!
9. What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
   When I was in fourth grade my parents purchased a ranch down by Fillmore, Utah, with my Dad’s brothers and parents. We would travel back and forth from our home in Hunter to Fillmore to help with the crops and animals. I was a regular cowgirl! I drove large tractors and trucks all over the ranch at a very young age. I learned how to plant and harvest crops, feed the animals, and collect the eggs from the chickens. I also had the pleasure of branding and de-horning cattle. Most of all I just played, swam, shot my gun and rode horses with my cousins while my dad did most of the work.