Although technology may be top of mind for Acuity Insurance’s president and chief executive officer, it’s the people that make the insurer a standout. The answer to the question of whether to delegate or empower employees has been the driving force of success at this top-ranked insurer.

Ben Salzmann, a former technology officer now in his 19th year with the Wisconsin-based regional carrier, was actually on a path to becoming a doctor when he decided he couldn’t stomach the sorrow he encountered during rounds. He went back to school and obtained his MBA but found that technology was often an impediment to getting projects approved. The experience prompted him to get a computer information systems degree.