Manitoba's Top Employers

26 A DEDICATED, INNOVATIVE AND HIGHLY�MOTIVATED TEAM DRIVES WYNWARD INSURANCE GROUP'S SUCCESS. THIS YEAR, IT ALSO LED TO THE 95�YEAR�OLD COMPANY'S BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF MANITOBA'S TOP EMPLOYERS. "We're very proud," says Rick Swanarchuk, Vice-President Broker Distribution, Marketing and Regional Operations at Wynward. "This award reflects the hard work and outstanding commitment of every individual at Wynward." Wynward Insurance Group is a national commercial property and casualty insurer, operating in all provinces and territories focused on providing peace of mind insurance solutions and risk management for Canadian business. Wynward Insurance has always demonstrated strong commitment to protecting both customer and employee interests and has shown a desire for protecting those in need. This goes back to the company's origin in 1920. "I think it's a tremendous honour and I give credit to our Wynward team members, as they are our secret sauce," says Pat Makinson, Manager of Human Resources and Office Administration, of being selected as one of Manitoba's Top Employers. Today, Wynward is proudly headquartered in Winnipeg as a 100 per cent Canadian-owned company, with regional offices in Regina, Halifax and London. This past June, one of the founding shareholders of Wynward, James Richardson & Sons — highly regarded as one of the most prominent privately held companies in Canada — acquired 100 per cent ownership of Wynward. Wynward is honoured to be part of the James Richardson & Sons organization. Despite their success, Wynward retains the same grassroots spirit and principles that shaped them in 1920. While this leads to strong client relationships, it also attracts, and helps retain, highly-skilled and loyal employees. Wynward credits much of their success to their talented and hardworking team members, and is committed to creating a corporate culture that supports and enhances the team for success. As a result, Wynward has very low staff turnover—some employees have been with the company for over 30 years, and a few recently retired after serving over 35 years. The leadership team at Wynward understands the importance of engaged team members and uses an independent company to conduct surveys to rate engagement. "Our survey administrator advised they'd never seen such high levels of engagement." says Makinson. "Wynward offers people a good work-life balance," says Makinson. It's a balance which is vital in this busy age. "Our team members work hard, but we encourage them to live a life full of commitment to their family, their community and to endeavours outside of work." Wynward finds it important to give back to the community, and the company volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and participates in the United Way's annual fundraising campaign, and supports other non-profit organizations. "Our President and CEO Darryl Levy tells us that it is our obligation and responsibility to be actively involved in our community. He encourages the team to make a difference in helping others as one of our core values." says Makinson. Wynward supports their employees and encourages their training, development and career growth. The company believes in promoting from within, and offers educational opportunities to help team members realize their career goals. "It's really about asking, 'How do we support the goals of our team members and their role in the company so they can grow with Wynward?'" says Swanarchuk. "We always want to offer people the opportunity for advancement," adds Makinson, "the leadership team encourages employees to continually develop and learn new skills." One of Wynward's best examples would be Cheryl Madden, a 30-year veteran of the company. Madden joined Wynward as a receptionist and worked her way through various roles with the company. Today, she holds the role of Vice-President, Underwriting Solutions and Pricing, and Chief Risk Officer—no mean feat. Madden says the insurance industry offers wonderful opportunities for young people looking for a career. "I would say she is certainly proof of that!" adds Makinson. "This award is a credit to our team engagement initiatives and our desire to be an employer of choice. Our values of integrity, passion, hard work, respect for others, and communication are the foundation of our culture at Wynward and our team members live these values." For more information about Wynward Insurance Group, visit them online at Wynward.com. The secret of our strength? Our people. Wynward Insurance takes great pride in our world-class team of employees, and our clients have counted on their strength, skill and passion for almost a century. WE are Wynward. wynward.com Staff at Wynward Insurance Group. Photo by Darcy Finley WYNWARD INSURANCE GROUP Innovative and creative employees drive Wynward MANITOBA'S TOP EMPLOYERS

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