WASHINGTON–Thomas B. Ahart, a former president of theIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, has beengiven this year's Woodworth Memorial Award for service to theindependent agents system.

Mr. Ahart, president of the insurance agency Ahart, Frinzi &Smith, of Phillipsburg, was honored during the IIABA's LegislativeConference and Convention being held here today.

Bob Fulwider, IIABA chairman (the title of president was changedto chairman last year), praised Mr. Ahart for his continuedcommitment to agents and service to the association.

Mr. Ahart was elected to IIABA's executive committee in Oct.1996 and has held leadership positions within the IndependentInsurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey, includingpresident.

Outside of the association, Mr. Ahart has been a member of theboard of the New Jersey Joint Underwriting Authority and waspresident of the Eastern Agents Association. He has also served asboth grader and adviser to the American Institute for CharteredProperty Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute ofAmerica, in New York City.

Mr. Ahart is currently chairman of the IIABA's Trusted Choiceindependent agent marketing campaign.

The association also presented the Maurice Herndon Award to theFlorida Association of Insurance Agents. The award is given to theassociation whose political action work the previous year is deemedoutstanding.

The Florida Association was noted for its lobbying andgrassroots efforts and its commitment to InsurPac, the IIABApolitical action group. In 2007, 328 agents jointly contributed$63,469 to InsurPac, eclipsing their state goal by $17,000.

The association also honored:

o Tom Minkler, of Clark Mortenson in Keene, N.H., was given theSidney O. Smith Award for his work in promoting the legislativegoals of the IIABA as government affairs chairman.

o Vinny Alba was the recipient of the Barney Burns Award for hiswork as the New York InsurPac chairman.