American Agent & Broker joins the expandedCommercial Agency Awards for Excellence, run for the past 8 yearsby National Underwriter. Entries are dueJuly 1. Download a copy of the entry rules and entry form.

Both publications are part of Summit Business Media's Property& Casualty Magazine Group.

This year, AA&B and NU editors will workwith industry judges to select one organization as the overall 2010Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year, with four additionalCommercial Agency Awards for Excellence presented to recognizeorganizations doing an outstanding job in Sales & Marketing,Customer Service, Technology & Operations, and Recruitment&Training.

In the past, NU editors and outside industry judgespresented awards to three agencies--with one named Champion and theothers receiving an Honorable Mention.

The major objective of the award program remains the same--tospotlight agencies that can serve as role models for their peers.The winning agencies will be profiled in the November issue ofAA&B and the Oct. 4 cover story of NU.Principals from the winning agencies will be invited to participatein a roundtable discussion on "The Future of the IndependentAgent," hosted by the two publications, with edited highlightsappearing in the December issue of AA&B and the Nov. 2edition of NU.

Any U.S. independent agency is invited to enter by submitting acompleted entry form (including essay questions about the agency'soperations and approach in the various award categories), alongwith a sample proposal for a new or renewal account so the judgescan see how an agency positions itself to buyers.

Although a third-party nomination is not required to enter theaward program, AA&B and NU welcomenominations from insurance carriers or others doing business withindependent agencies to call our attention to worthy candidates.Nominations are due by May 15 (see the entry material for furtherdetails).

Agencies will be judged on a variety of factors, including:

• Client relationships
• Technology efficiency
• Innovative solutions posed by sales challenges
• Brand identity
• Recruitment and training efforts
• Agency growth and development.

Download a copy of the entryrules and entryform. Entries are due by July 1.