Central Insurance Blog

Mike Morse’s insurance career began in commercial lines customer service, a role that gave him valuable insights into agent and policyholder needs. He credits a philosophy that has been constant throughout his career: 

“Great service starts with understanding. Understanding client needs and building relationships from that first touchpoint helped shape how I approach leadership.”

After five years as the Underwriting Manager in Client Connection, Central’s best-in-class service center model, focused on blending underwriting excellence and a seamless service experience to policyholders, Morse is bringing his service-driven approach to a new role as Central’s director of small business underwriting.

Morse says the Client Connection team’s focus on service, responsiveness, and supporting agency partners was pivotal in preparing him to guide Central’s growing small business vertical.

“Much of what we’ve done in the past few years has prepared me for this role,” Morse says. “There’s a huge opportunity in small business, and we’re evolving quickly, redefining what small business means at Central and building the infrastructure to grow it thoughtfully and profitably.”

Read on to learn more about Morse and his vision for Central’s small business vertical. 

Specialization Meets Strategic Growth 

Under Morse’s leadership, Central is redefining how the company approaches small business, shifting from a premium-based focus to a model grounded in risk and exposure. 

The goal is a more refined appetite, a clearer sense of opportunity, and the ability to support lower-hazard, less complex businesses in a profitable and scalable way.

Morse is also building out dedicated regional small business teams. This structure mirrors what has worked well for Central’s construction vertical, ensuring agents have responsive, knowledgeable partners supporting their small business needs and clients. 

“Specialization matters in small business,” Morse says. “Having underwriters who understand the urgency and nuances of the small business marketplace makes a difference for our agents and policyholders.”

Laying the Groundwork for Growth

Morse is focused on listening, learning, and laying the groundwork for long-term success. He’s investing time in understanding the current book of business, gathering input from the new underwriting teams, and identifying ways to improve efficiency through technology and more consistent underwriting guidelines.

He’s also focused on building a collaborative, energized culture across the small business team. 

“Communication and camaraderie drive success,” he says. “I want our team to understand what we’re building, why it matters, and feel empowered to help shape it.” 

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Rooted in Relationships

Morse sees Central’s people-first mindset as one of its most significant advantages in small business. Even as the company evolves its products and technology to meet changing expectations, he believes dedicated service and relationship-based underwriting will remain a key differentiator.

“We can’t lose sight of the human side,” he says. “Some agents want fast pass-through quoting; others want to talk to an underwriter. We need to deliver both, and I think we’re uniquely positioned to do that.”

Scaling with Smarter Tools

Looking to the future, Morse is focused on the technology and process enhancements that will help Central scale its small business operations with greater speed and precision. From increased automation and policy pass-through capabilities to integrating third-party data and AI, these tools will allow underwriters to quote more efficiently, serve agents faster, and spend more time on complex or consultative opportunities.

Morse also sees continued product development as a key piece of the puzzle, especially for Central’s BOP. As these enhancements come together, the goal is simple: to do more, do it better, and make it easier for agents to place business with Central.

A Foundation for the Future of Small Business

Morse defines success not just by growth but by the strength of the foundation he’s helping build, including a clear and consistent definition of small business, a well-communicated appetite, and a team structure that supports collaboration and specialization.

He’s also focused on streamlining internal workflows, reducing friction for underwriters and agents, and fostering a culture where teams feel empowered and aligned around shared goals. Retention, satisfaction, and sustained profitability tie back to those building blocks, and Morse is confident the team is well-positioned to deliver.

“I feel strongly about what we’re building, and I think we’ve got the right people in place to do it well,” he says. “We’re just getting started, but I’m excited for the road ahead.”