The Captive Insurance Companies Association announced thatMichael R. Mead has been named recipient of the CICA 2011Distinguished Service Award—the highest award in the captiveinsurance industry.

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group Inc. has beenselected as the CICA 2011 Outstanding Captive Award winner. Thisaward recognizes a successful captive insurance company or riskretention group that has shown creative uses for a captive;prevailed in difficult times; and gained a positive reputationamong rating agencies, regulators and colleagues in the captiveindustry, CICA said.

CICA said it will honor the 2011 recipients of the CICADistinguished Service Award and the CICA Outstanding Captive Awardat the Opening Session of the CICA 2011 International Conference onMonday, March 13, in Tucson, Ariz.

Mr. Mead is president of M.R. Mead & Company Inc. inChicago, an independent company specializing in structuringcaptives and risk financing programs. “Mr. Mead's leadership of thecaptive insurance industry is legendary,” CICA President Dennis P.Harwick said.

Mr. Mead told NU Online News Service, “I was trulysurprised and amazed when Dennis told me of the Committee'sselection. I have spent time with captives because I enjoy themvery much, and the people associated with the profession. It isespecially an honor to be given this award and I amgrateful.”

Mr. Mead is currently president of the newly formedMissouri Captive Insurance Association, a former chair and directorof CICA, and a director of both the International Center forCaptive Insurance Education (ICCIE) and the Captive InsuranceCouncil of the District of Columbia. He serves as an advisor to theArizona Captive Insurance Association and is a formerchair/director of that organization.

He also has spearheaded CICA's annual fronting survey—announcing results at theconference. Last year the survey found that for the second straightyear, captive owners reported that securing collateral from banksto satisfy their fronting companies was their top concern.

He also is well known in the Cayman captive market, where heserved as president of Crusader International Management.

“One of the criteria for the CICA Distinguished Service Award isassisting in the growth and success of the captive insuranceindustry,” said CICA President Dennis Harwick. “No individual hasserved in as many captive industry leadership roles—formal andinformal—as Mike Mead. He is truly the senior statesman of thisindustry.”

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group (TNCRRG), formed in1987, issued its first policies in 1988 in response to the marketcrunch that prompted TIME magazine to publish its famous“Sorry, America, Your Insurance Has Been Cancelled” magazinecover.

TNCRRG operates in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Itinsures a multitude of exposures for the Catholic Church, includingalmost 12,000 parishes, 540,000 grade school students, 263,000 highschool students, 63,000 college students, 155,000 employees, 35,000fleet vehicles, 30,000 children in day care, 270,000 patients offree medical/dental clinics, 1,600 professional counselors and2,200 board members.

TNCRRG also conceived of and developed the award winning VIRTUSProgram, a safe environment risk control program for the protectionof children and vulnerable adults. This program has been highlypraised by both secular and religious organizations.

“Mike Mead and The National Catholic RRG represent the best andbrightest of the captive insurance industry,” Mr. Harwick noted.“They are creative and original, and they find solutions fororganizations whose needs are not being met by the conventionalinsurance market.”

CICA, the only domicile-neutral captive insurance association,founded in 1972 by risk managers, said its conference features twofull days of intensive education sessions and a comprehensivetradeshow.

Eric Wahl, a recognized artist and speaker, will deliver thekeynote address challenging individual and organizations totranscend mediocrity through creativity.

For more information visit www.cicaworld.com.