Easton-Based Family Business Continues to Expand

If you happen to be at Militia Park this spring to catch an Easton Youth Baseball game, you'll probably notice signs in the outfield and on the uniforms of many of the players with the Morse Insurance Agency logo.

Morse's sponsorship, while a small investment, is one way that President Dan Morse says the company likes to give back to the community.

"It’s important to be embedded in the community," said Morse - a lifelong Easton resident. "That helps you grow your business."

He isn't kidding.

Since 1996, the once small Insurance Agency, based in Easton, has expanded to locations in Bridgewater, Marion, Sharon and Norton.

Even during the economic downturn over the past few years, Morse expanded its business to Norton in 2010 and Sharon in 2011.

Still, Morse maintains the atmosphere of a small, family run business. Dan Morse runs the company, which handles property casualty insurance, with his brothers, Tim and Brian. The three Morse brothers have held the reins since 2004 when their father, David, retired.

David Morse started the agency from scratch in 1989, and shortly after, he bought the John I. Lowndes Insurance Agency resulting in the Lowndes-Morse Agency.

"Not in his wildest dreams did my father think it would grow the way it did," Dan said. "We have an exceptional reputation and name in the community."

Originally in the orthopedic business, Dan said his father was looking for a new career. He used his entrepreneurial skills and training he received from Lowndes, who was a teacher at .

"He was looking for a different career," Dan said. "The insurance business is a way to be involved in the community and help out the clients. Jack Lowndes taught him insurance."

Dan was a sophomore in college when his father, David created the company. Upon his graduation, it quickly became a family business.

"My father started the agency in ’89 and I graduated college in 1992 and when I got done he said ‘Why don’t you come and work for me?," Dan said. "And, not knowing anything and not having a job at the time, I said ‘ok’. When I got into the agency it was very small and it turned out to be the best move I ever made."

Dan's brothers Tim and Brian joined the company, now called Morse Insurance Agency, soon after.

The Morse brothers joining the business coincided with its growth.

"As the business grew, we needed more people," Dan said. "It was kind of a perfect timing scenario. By 1996, Tim does computers and the accounting stuff in the office. It became a perfect fit having Tim come in. As we got a little bit larger and Brian got into the business, we needed more staff as well."

The brothers bought the company from their father in 2004 as it continued to grow.

"The whole expansion was somewhat of a business plan or a need," Dan said. "We needed to keep growing in this business. If you’re standing still you’re dead, so we needed to keep growing in order to supply markets.

"You want to be able to service the clientele. It’s nice – you’ve got Norton on one side of Easton and you’ve got Sharon on another side. Bridgewater is basically a town removed from Easton and Marion was a business decision for a territory that was in need of an agency."

Dan has three sons. Jack, 13, attends . Griffin, 10, attends the and Chad, 5 attends . Dan and his wife, Amy, have been married for 14 years.

Dan said that while Amy doesn't work at the company, she plays an important role in the family business.

"I always say that she’s my most important supporter because when I’m at meetings three or four nights a week she’s with the kids and she’s taking the blunt of the work," Dan said. "And, she’s always recommending people to us."

Dan said the company's philosophy of embedding itself in the community carries over to other towns as well.

In addition to the Easton Food Pantry, the agency donates to the Bridgewater, Sharon and Norton food pantries. While Morse is a new name in Sharon and Norton, he hopes to help sponsor community events in those communities.

The field is rewarding in itself, he said. Helping people in their time of need is something that the agency takes pride in.

"It’s kind of nice when you show up and you can actually help the cause and get people back on their feet," he said.

"The insurance business is a relationship business. I’m very fortunate to have some great relationships in the community and some great friendships in the community."