NORTHEAST REGIONAL NEWS
Richard W. Davis, CPCU, CLU, has been presented with the Independent Insurance Agents of America's highest individual honor--the Woodworth Memorial Award for special, meritorious and outstanding service on behalf of the independent agency system and IIAA members.
He was recognized for orchestrating a two-year effort to develop a bank from the ground up, which specifically serves the needs of independent insurance agents and their clients. InsurBanc, a Farmington, Connecticut-based thrift bank co-developed by IIAA and W.R. Berkley Corporation and its subsidiaries, opened in 2001.
Davis is president and chairman of Provider Insurance Group, Inc., an independent insurance agency with offices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is also chairman of the board of directors for Peyton Street Financial Services Corp. (InsurBanc's holding company) and a member of the Needham Community Council's Board. He has been active on the state and national level of IIAA for many years.
New York
PIANY officers for 2001-2002 announced
The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State named the following agents to serve on the
2001 - 2002 board of directors at the association's annual business meeting:
President--John Bailey, CIC, executive vice president of George B. Bailey Agency, Inc., in Dryden
President-elect--David Isenberg, president of D.C. White Agency in Rockville Centre
First Vice President--T.J. Derella, CPIA, owner of Kingstar Companies in Kingston
Vice President--Stephen Ruchman president of Ruchman Associates, Inc., in Rockville Centre
Vice President--David Dickson, a producer with The Flanders Group in Pittsford
Secretary--Michael Paluba, LUTC, owner of Hermitage Insurance Brokerage in Middle Island
Treasurer--Carlos "Shawn" Viana, an account executive with Marshall & Sterling, Inc., in Glenville
Immediate Past President--Lynne Frank, CPCU, president of L.R. Frank & Associates Inc.
The following board members were re-elected for a three-year term, ending in 2004: Peter Demetriou, president of the Demetriou Group in Hempstead; David Dickson, a producer for The Flanders Group in Pittsford; James Kearns, CIC, owner and president of the Haddad Agency, Inc., and the Markham Bixby Agency, Inc.; Richard Pomeranz, owner of Richard Pomeranz Insurance in Commack; Leslie Rogoff, Preferred Concepts in New York.
The following board members were elected to serve for a three-year term ending in 2004: Ivan Cohen, AAI, president of Cohen-Putnam Agency, Ltd., in Carmel; Kevin Ryan, CIC, president and CEO of The Valley Group, Inc., in Kingston; Richard Savino, CIC, CPIA, vice president of Insurance Resource Group in Warwick.
Maine
Agents plan meeting
Maine Insurance Agents Association will hold its Mid-Year Meeting April 2-3, at the Sheraton in South Portland. For more information, visit their Web site (www.maineagents.com).
New Jersey
Ahart named IIAA president
The Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) confirmed Thomas B. Ahart, CPCU, AAI, as the associaton's 97th president. Ahart is president of Ahart, Frinzi & Smith in Phillipsburg and was elected to IIAA's executive committee in October 1996. He has been involved with IIAA on both the state and national levels, having served as president, chairman of the board and state national director for the New Jersey association. He also chaired the IIAA Education Committee at the national level for four years and has been awarded with numerous state and local awards.
Pennsylvania
IIAP names 2001-2002 officers
Independent Insurance Agents of Pennsylvania re-elected the following officers for 2001-2002: President--Peter N. Gebhard, CPCU, Lebanon; President-elect--William D. Schneider, CPCU, ARM, Pittsburgh; Vice President--John J. Collins, III, Bloomsburg; Secretary--Mary Marines, AAI, CPIW, Chadds Ford; Treasurer--D. Jeffrey Kelly, CIC, Pittsburgh. Elected to his first term as IIAP's state national director is Past President Robert J. "Buc" Cawley, Pittsburgh.
Connecticut
Homesite enters Connecticut market
In November 2001, Homesite Insurance began offering its line of home insurance products and services to Connecticut residents. The state addition marks the expansion of Homesite's sale of insurance in 24 states and allows the company to offer its products to more than 56% of the insurable households in the United States. The company says the process of completing an application to printing a proof of coverage takes 5 minutes for renters and condominium owners and 10 minutes for home owners.
Homesite markets its insurance products directly to consumers and through affinity groups, employers and selected partners. *