The winners of the 2013 Insurance Professional of the Year Awardare Lara Nelson Miller, employed by Hanover XS in Georgia and chairof the Georgia public relations council, and Linda Luka, agenteducation coordinator at West Bend Mutual InsuranceCompany.

The awards, given by the International Association of InsuranceProfessionals, recognizes individuals who have contributed to theinsurance industry through education, networking, legislativeactivity, and community involvement.

Sara Skirvin, who holds certified risk manager (CRM) andCertified Professional Insurance Woman (CPIW) designations andworks for Hylant, took home the Risk Management Professional of theYear award.

Susan Reichardt of EMC Insurance Companies won ProfessionalUnderwriter of the Year, and Donna Lynn Wiik of XL DesignProfessional was honored as Claims Professional of theYear.

Martha Elliott, client services coordinator at Haake Companies,now part of Marsh & McLennan Agencies, received the Rookie ofthe Year award. According to her LinkedIn profile, she had workedher way up from her role as the company's receptionist. She holds aCertified Insurance Service Representative (CISR)designation.

The finalists competed on state and regional levels before beingweighed for the award's top honors at the international level atthe Association's convention on June 8. All the winners listed workin the U.S.