Collaborative, Entrepreneurial Environment Creates ‘Hidden Gem’ for Employees: Swingle Collins & Associates

Every employee at Swingle Collins & Associates brings something unique to the table–and every opinion is welcomed and valued.

“We want the entire team to want to come to work each day,” said President Dan Curtis. “The insurance industry can be hard, so we make our agency a place for all of our people to feel a deep sense of inclusion and belonging.”

The Dallas, Texas-based agency, founded in 1982, serves a growing roster of regional, national, and international clients. Its support of employee success across the board earned the title Best Agencies to Work For Silver Award in the South Central region.

“Insurance is a hidden gem of an industry,” said Frank Swingle, founder and CEO.

“In general, we find that folks who come into the industry with a company that prioritizes culture tend to stick around because it is so great.”

It all starts with hiring great team members, who often come from outside the insurance industry.

“We leverage that tailwind and primarily recruit talent from outside the industry and assimilate them in our culture at Swingle Collins–a place we know people love to be!” Curtis said.

“We also built our agency on ‘who a person is’ that we’re hiring, not on ‘what they can do for us,'” he added.

Employees said they feel valued for their unique perspectives and specific contributions. The agency kicks off each week by recognizing team members who exemplify the agency’s core values, boosting confidence and setting a positive tone for the week ahead.

The agency’s flat structure and dedication to open communication help create a supportive family atmosphere, where the owners know the name of every employee–no matter the title–and welcome opinions, input, and feedback. Leadership takes the time to think about how their decisions impact not only the bottom line but also the people who make everything work.

“We’re very horizontal,” one nominating employee said. “Anyone can walk into anyone’s office at any given time about work or personal life/advancement.”

But the tight-knit team is far from constricting, thriving on collaboration rather than competition. Ongoing growth helps create opportunities within the agency, so employees can advance without going on a job search.

“The firm emphasizes collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and deep expertise, so every team member has both autonomy and support,” said one nominating employee. “It’s a place where hard work is recognized, relationships matter, and you can truly build a long-term career.”

And that’s great for employees, many of whom are industry veterans and commented that they are with Swingle Collins for the long haul.

“I have been in the industry for close to 30 years, and Swingle Collins is hands down the best agency I have been a part of,” said one nominating employee.

“Swingle Collins has a great culture and all of us are truly friends,” said another nominator. “I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”