(Cooperstown, New York, May 9, 2013) — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York tonight bestowed awards on a dedicated manager who keeps local associations running smoothly; a leader taking insurance education into the 21st century; a successful businesswoman who doubles as the supportive spouse of the group’s chair of the board; an energetic committee chairman; an insurance company executive who has been a true partner with agents; an agent who has become a tireless advocate for the effective use of technology; and two local trade groups who joined together to help their communities survive the worst storm in recent memory. New York’s oldest insurance producer trade organization presented the awards during the leadership dinner following its Annual Business Meeting at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown.

Acting for the final time in his capacity as IIABNY chair of the board, Thomas J. Crowley presented the Chair’s Distinguished Service Awards to:

• Patricia Calvert, executive director of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Suffolk County and the Tri-County Independent Insurance Agents Association. Crowley described Calvert’s contributions to the success of the two associations over many years of service. “She is one of the most dedicated and professional people I have ever had the privilege to work with,” he said, “and she is a friend to all who know her.”
• Julie Crowley. Tom Crowley gave the award to his wife in recognition of her support for him during his term as IIABNY chair. Pointing out that she has a busy and successful career in real estate, he spoke of how she has picked up the slack at home during his frequent absences over the past year.
• Kathleen Lawler, AAI, CIC, assistant vice-president of education for IIABNY. Crowley recognized Lawler’s successful guidance of the association’s education program. He noted that it has received several national awards during her nine years with IIABNY and has become a model for many other states. He also spoke of her efforts to spread IIABNY’s education programs across multiple delivery platforms. These include traditional classroom courses, webinars, streaming video and other forms of online learning.

The association also bestowed the following awards:

• David H. Borg of Borg & Borg, Inc. in Huntington, New York received the award for Outstanding Committee Chair. Crowley cited Borg’s work as chair of IIABNY’s Next Generation Insurance Professionals (“Next Gen”) committee. He specifically mentioned Borg’s successful events held in his region of the state, his travels around New York to meet young agents, and his trips to Albany and Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators.
• Nick Steffey, founder and executive chairman of Narragansett Bay Insurance Company, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, received the Thom McDaniel Exemplar Award. The award recognizes an insurance company executive, manager or employee who support and advance the independent agency system. Crowley praised Steffey as “a company executive who exemplifies the way in which companies should work with agents.” He also cited the company’s performance during and after Superstorm Sandy last fall and Steffey’s efforts to increase insurance capacity for properties on the coast.
• Edgar J. Higgins, Jr., CPCU, president of the Thousand Islands Agency in Clayton, New York, received the 1882 Fellow Award, IIABNY’s highest honor. This award recognizes significant contributions to IIABNY, the insurance industry and the community. A former IIABNY president and state director for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), Higgins was the first chair of the Agents’ Council on Technology (ACT). In addition to his work as an insurance agent, he is a nationally-known instructor and consultant for agencies on technology matters. Most recently, he has spoken out about flaws in online insurance quoting processes for consumers.
• The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Suffolk County and the Tri-County Independent Insurance Agents Association shared the award for Local Association of the Year. Crowley lauded the two groups’ work in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last fall. The groups worked together and separately to distribute vital information to their members and the communities at large; collaborated with public officials to find alternative housing for residents displaced by the storm; and sponsored forums where members could question representatives of insurance carriers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency about the storm. Both associations sent large numbers of members to meet with legislators in Albany and Washington, D.C., and have regular meetings with lawmakers in their district offices.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. has represented the common business interests of independent insurance professionals since 1882. More than 1,750 agencies and their 13,000 plus employees currently rely on the DeWitt, New York-based not-for-profit trade association for legislative advocacy, continuing education and other means of industry support. In addition, most IIABNY members proudly identify themselves as Trusted Choice® agents and brokers, a national consumer brand uniting more than 21,000 independent agencies across the United States. For more information, go to www.trustedchoice.com or www.iiabny.org.