VERVE

In the business world—and on the biggest stages in sports—culture is more than a buzzword. It’s a strategic differentiator that drives long-term success, resilience, and innovation. The most dominant sports teams in the last 25 years include the New England Patriots (6 NFL Championships), the The University of Alabama Football (7 NCAA Championships), the Spurs Sports & Entertainment - San Antonio Spurs (5 NBA Championships), and the Miami HEAT (3 NBA Championships). They share one crucial element: a winning culture rooted in trust, discipline, and teamwork. At VERVE, we embrace these same values, believing they are essential for driving success: • Trust & Transparency: The Patriots built their dynasty on a “do your job” mentality, where everyone, from special teams to defense, knew their role. Their secret? Culture over talent. A flexible system that evolved while staying true to disciplined execution and teamwork resulting in 6 Championships. At VERVE we embrace this by holding daily read-out calls, sharing key metrics, and aligning on daily priorities. • Discipline & Consistency: Nick Saban’s “Process” with Alabama Football, emphasized incremental improvement and relentless pursuit of excellence. This approach produced 7 Championships by prioritizing development, recruiting the right talent, and instilling discipline. At VERVE, we stay metric-driven, focusing on underwriting profitability as our scoreboard for both reinsurance and insurance. • How We Work Together: Collaboration is key. With 5 Championships, the Spurs didn’t rely on flash. Their “team-first” mindset, fostered by Tim Duncan and Coach Gregg Popovich, made selflessness the foundation of their success. They adapted through different eras, demonstrating that a strong culture sustains success through change. At VERVE, we train together, learn together, and elevate each other, knowing that teamwork makes us sharper and more prepared to tackle challenges. • Winning Through Culture: Known for “HEAT Culture,” Miami’s formula emphasized hard work, mental toughness, and accountability. Even without superstar rosters every year, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra led the Heat to 7 Finals and 3 Championships by emphasizing grit and player development. Their success proves that consistent values drive performance beyond any single season. At VERVE, our team is built on trust, transparency, and performance metrics, fostering a culture where discipline meets accountability for sustainable, long-term success. Success isn’t just about individual talent—it’s about how people work together. Whether on the field, in the office, or working virtually, culture fosters a championship mindset. At VERVE, we’re always working toward that next win because in any industry, culture is the engine that turns potential into sustained achievement, allowing organizations to thrive through adversity and change.

Per a recent article in S&P Global, the auto insurance market's profitability is turning around. https://lnkd.in/e5N8bDan And VERVE is at the forefront of this transformation. COVID was a head fake for our industry. During the pandemic, we experienced a brief decline in frequency as people stayed home. But once they hit the roads again, driving habits worsened, and the cost of accidents skyrocketed due to supply chain issues and pricier repairs. Regulators were slow to approve rate increases, and insurers hesitated to ask. However, the tide is turning. Now, leading insurers like Progressive Insurance and Allstate are starting to see profits again: https://lnkd.in/e2kRfJsh New entrants like VERVE are outperforming the market because we have a clear vision of profitable niches and the appropriate rates to serve them. In contrast, some big legacy companies are struggling to catch up. They were slow to realize the need for rate adjustments, relying on outdated, low-frequency data. This miscalculation cost them dearly – losses of 10 to 20 cents per dollar on billions. Despite these challenges, there are promising signs. Rate approvals are coming through, and industry leaders are making money again. VERVE is well positioned within this shifting landscape. We’re able to leverage our distinct advantage: combining innovative strategies with deep industry knowledge. The legacy players are still grappling with inadequate rates and slow adaptation. But VERVE's agile approach and precise targeting mean we're not just keeping pace; we’re also empowered to leverage our scalable technology and distribution platform to: • Source and mine internal and external data sets from the auto insurance industry. • Apply predictive analytics to that data. • Use those analytics to find profitable niches within the $316 billion private passenger auto insurance market. • Produce underwriting profits that outperform the industry. • Provide outsized returns to our insurance and reinsurance partners. We're leading the charge. It's time for a new era in auto insurance.

DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF: When I was an electrical engineering major at Union College, my days and nights were packed. I was working “full-time” with multiple part-time jobs, playing college sports, and occasionally going to class and doing my schoolwork.    My GPA was average, but when it was time to graduate into the real world, I made it my priority to land a management job that would pay for my MBA while working in the “real world” full time.    When it came time for interviews, I had two minutes to make an impression. Recruiters would ask, “Why should we hire you over someone else?”    My answer? “I have the highest GPA per hour studied of anyone you’re going to interview. I’m efficient.”   They’d look puzzled and ask, “How can you prove that?”    I’d respond tactfully with, “How can’t you? I’m juggling playing sports, working ’full-time’, and I’m sitting here, walking, talking, and chewing gum all at once. If you hire me, you’ll get 100% of my effort, and I’ll still manage to get my MBA on the side.”   That pitch set me apart. One recruiter, in particular, took notice.    But what really sealed the deal wasn’t just my efficiency—it was a 30-minute conversation about Big Ten Conference football. She was a Michigan State University fan, and her son played football at Princeton University. My dad went to University of Michigan, so we had plenty to talk about.    That connection built trust and made me memorable. I walked away with a job offer.   That experience taught me a valuable lesson: In any situation, you have to find a way to differentiate yourself. Whether you’re trying to land a job, close a deal, or build a business, standing out is crucial.    But differentiation isn’t just about your qualifications. It’s about building trust and finding common ground.   Sometimes, all it takes is one thing—a unique perspective, an unusual skill, or even a shared passion—that sets you apart and gets you noticed. That’s how you get your foot in the door.    And once you’re in, it’s up to you to prove that taking a chance on you was the right decision.   In a world where everyone has credentials, what makes you different? How will you stand out? Find that one thing that makes you unique and leverage it.    Because at the end of the day, somebody has to take a shot on you—and it’s your job to make sure they do, and then, prove they were right for doing so. Want to take your shot with VERVE? Leave a comment or send me a DM.

Labor Day isn’t just a break—it’s a time to honor the hard work and commitment that fuel our progress every day. Labor Day makes me think of my Uncle John, a man who, at 86 years young, truly is the epitome of hard work. He is a “triple pension-blue collar” guy having served for 25+ years in the New York City police force, the United States Army, and the United States Post Office. Uncle John did all this while raising five kids, leading to 22 grandkids and now great-grandchildren. This Labor Day weekend, we will travel to Uncle John and Aunt Kay’s for their annual Labor Day barbecue, a cherished tradition that’s been going strong for over 50 years. So, whether you’re off on a weekend getaway or enjoying some downtime at home, use this opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate—something I strongly encourage the VERVE team to do as well. Wishing you safe travels and wonderful new memories this Labor Day! And a special thank you to Uncle John and all the hardworking Americans out there for everything you do. God bless.

Here’s how we think about work-life balance at VERVE: We hire people, not just employees. And when you hire a person, you commit to supporting ALL of them. We don't separate personal life from professional life. We see it as one seamless experience. Work is just one part of life, and we recognize that. That’s why our culture is built around: • Trust • Flexibility • Integrity We trust our people to get the job done—no matter when or where it happens. Need to pick up a sick child? Go. It’s your kid’s first day of school? Be there. Just got married? Go on that honeymoon! Family comes first, always. Work will get done, and we trust our team to do it. This is about basic human values: family, relationships, trust. These aren't just buzzwords—they're the foundation of our team. In many corporate cultures, these values are often talked about but rarely lived out. At VERVE, we make sure they are at the core of everything we do. Our virtual teamwork environment supports both balance and efficiency for our people, all of whom come from a place of integrity and strong work ethic. This kind of culture might be rare, but it’s powerful. When people feel cared for as whole beings, they bring their best selves to work. They’re more available, more engaged, and more productive. Let’s be honest—every one of us has experienced the struggle of work-life balance. At VERVE, we’re committed to making sure our team doesn’t have to choose between work and life. Our people deserve to thrive in both. And we’re here to make sure that happens.

The average person spends about 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime. Wow! Life's too short for that much of it to be anything less than fulfilling. At VERVE, we believe that work shouldn’t be awful, but enjoyable and personally satisfying. You’re choosing to do "work" with a large part of your time—so you better like it. If you don’t, then you shouldn’t be doing it. It’s as simple as that. Listen, I'm not suggesting you quit your job on the spot. Instead, I believe it's wiser to stay in your current role while actively making it your mission to find a new job as quickly as possible and/or actively working on your side hustle business We all have our moments when we need to buckle down and get things done, but that doesn’t mean work has to be a grind. It’s about creating an environment where people are not just productive but genuinely happy and free to be themselves. When people feel valued, they bring their best to work, and that’s when we achieve great things together. At the end of the day, it’s wrong to approach work any other way. We believe in valuing our people because that’s what makes work worth doing. And life worth living. Enjoy the journey!

At VERVE, our culture is more than just a set of values; it's the heartbeat of our daily operations. Team VERVE values creativity, innovation, quality, responsibility, and trust all driven by a foundation of ethics and faith. I can tell you about it but it’s better if a couple of our valued team members chime in. Here’s what they had to say: “At VERVE, each day presents new challenges within a supportive team environment where creativity drives our future. Here, you have the opportunity to make a real difference and shape the company’s success.” -- Melanie Mathis, Head of Product. "At VERVE, the Underwriting and Customer Operations Team thrives on collaboration, innovation, and celebrating shared success."-- Jamisha Shaw West, Head of Underwriting. One of the standout aspects of our culture is the camaraderie and spirit of collaboration that permeates through every department. Whether it's brainstorming new ideas or tackling complex problems, we're in it together, supporting each other every step of the way. If you're looking for a workplace where you can thrive, grow, and make a real difference, check out our current job postings. • Accounting Manager: https://lnkd.in/e_9d9g2a • Business Intelligence Analyst: https://lnkd.in/eJuwtEq7 Together, we'll shape the future and celebrate every milestone along the way!