Richard Zick Elected AAIS Chairman

Richard Zick Elected AAIS Chairman

NU Online News Service, May 2, 3:18 p.m. EST?Richard J. Zick, president and chief executive officer of Utica First Insurance Company, Utica, N.Y., has been elected chairman of the insurance advisory group, American Association of Insurance Services.

Mr. Zick was selected at the organization's latest annual meeting, held during its recent Annual Conference in Naples, Fla.

In addition to serving on the Wheaton, Ill.-based AAIS board, Mr. Zick serves on the boards of the Alliance of American Insurers and the New York Insurance Association, and is a member of the underwriting committee of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

He holds several insurance certifications, including that of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, and teaches agent licensing and management courses at a local college.

Mr. Zick succeeds Michael E. Keyes, president and CEO of Oregon Mutual Insurance Company, McMinnville, Ore., who has stepped down from the AAIS board of directors after serving eight years, the last two as chairman.

Also leaving the board after serving since 1991 was Robert Houlihan, vice president of underwriting for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Kenneth T. Stover, executive vice president of Western National Insurance Group, was elected vice chairman of AAIS.

At the meeting, two new directors were elected to the AAIS board:

? Judy S. Jackson, president and CEO of NLC Insurance Companies, Norwich, Conn.; and

? Lowell D. Schmidt, executive vice president and secretary, Farmers Alliance Companies, McPherson, Kan.

Directors who are continuing as members of the AAIS board are:

? Roy R. Bubeck, president and CEO of Badger Mutual Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wis.;

? Thomas E. Claude, vice president and secretary, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, Algona, Iowa;

? R. Douglas Haines, president and CEO, Buckeye Insurance Group, Piqua, Ohio;

? David L. Lehman, president, Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company, Orrville, Ohio;

? Howard C. Stevens, chairman and president, Penn Mutual Insurance Company, West Chester, Pa.; and

? Paul A. Baiocchi, president, AAIS.

AAIS is a national insurance advisory organization. More than 600 property-casualty insurers nationwide use AAIS's policy forms, manual rules, and loss cost rating information. AAIS is on the Internet at www.AAISonline.com.