Geographic expansion remains paramount to Brown & Brown’s sales growth and earnings potential. Over the past year, Brown & Brown entered over 60 new markets and expanded operations in 10 of its existing locations.

Linda Downs, Regional Executive Vice President, says that Brown & Brown’s aggressive external growth strategy, which accounts for nearly half of the company’s annual growth rate, has increased market penetration appreciably. “As a result, we are rapidly becoming as well known nationally as we are in Florida,” notes Linda.

While the company’s expanded geographic presence has produced greater market penetration, its decentralization also generates operating efficiencies. “In this decentralized expansion, we are able to benefit from the ‘best of the best’ in terms of people and procedures,” says Linda. Quarterly meetings among the company’s independently run profit centers provide a means for sharing information that benefits the entire organization, while internal competition among the company’s 125 profit centers encourages further profitability.

“With rapid geographic expansion, close monitoring of costs and quality service are crucial to successfully integrating new operations into our business,” says Linda. “In this effort, we employ a team of internal auditors and quality control officers to study files and evaluate procedures, ensuring that quality service and prudent spending procedures are applied in both our new and mature profit centers.”

She adds, “As we continue our geographic expansion, we recognize that our business is one built on ‘prideful relationships,’ and we will ensure that quality remains at the forefront of our business decisions as we continue our trek into more territories.”