Its time once again for independent agencies that do an outstanding job selling insurance and providing risk management services to prepare their entries for the National Underwriter Commercial Insurance Agency Of The Year award. For the sixth straight year, agencies that are role models for their peersrunning successful sales organizations while serving as risk managers for their commercial clientswill be given national exposure via NUs prestigious program.

The principals representing the winners and those receiving honorable mentions are always class individuals, generous in sharing the secrets of their success and grateful for the opportunity to talk about what makes them unique in a very competitive market.

Scott Addis, president of The Addis Group in King of Prussia, Pa., said winning NUs award in 2003 made his agency feel like the Miss America of the independent agency system. Haake Companies of Overland Park, Kan., said being honored by NU in 2005 was like winning the Heisman Trophy for insurance agencies.

Its wonderful to be recognized for the significant investments weve made to provide unique resources and services to our clients, said Paul Hering, managing principal and CEO of last years winner, San Diego-based Barney & Barney.

NUs award confirms for our current clients that theyre with a great agency, and it also gives us credibility with prospective clients who may not be familiar with our firm. Its like a hand reaching out and opening doors for us, he added.

To be recognized by NU as among the very best in the business made us all realize that the long daysand many nightswe worked to not only get bigger, but better, were well worth it. In fact, NU's recognition energized us to do more, said T. Gray McCaskill, president of 2004s winner, Senn Dunn of Greensboro, N.C.

Once again this fall, NU will fly principals from three agency finalists to New York City, where on Sept. 21 the winner will be announced and given a trophy, with the remaining contenders awarded plaques for an Honorable Mention.

However, the actual awards are just the icing on the cake, as all three finalists receive priceless publicity by being profiled in our Sept. 24 cover story. As a bonus, they will also participate in an NU Roundtable following the award presentation, moderated by yours truly, to discuss The State of the Independent Agent, with highlights published on Oct. 29.

Receiving this kind of national recognition and exposure improves an agencys standing with carriers, wholesalers, clients and prospects. People like to be associated with winners, and NU spotlights the very best the agency system has to offer.

Are you 2007s winner? Give it your best shot! Click here for more details and an entry form.

Fill out the application, put together the supporting material (all of which is kept strictly confidential) and include an essay of 2,500 words or less on How My Agency Remains Competitive Selling Insurance and Risk Management Services in a Softening Market. Get the complete package to me no later than June 4, 2006.

Even if you dont take home the grand prize, I guarantee that just by going through the entry process, youll learn a lot about what makes your agency tick and how to better position yourself against the competition.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Good luck!

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