NU Names Senn Dunn ?Agency Of The Year'

? Bollinger, Inc. of Short Hills, N.J.

? Bolton & Company in Pasadena, Calif.

? ISG International of Cambridge, Md.

? Shepherd Insurance & Financial Services in Carmel, Ind.

All five agencies were profiled in the Oct. 11 edition of National Underwriter.

Those entering their agencies in the award program had to fill out an extensive questionnaire tracking their growth, as well as hand in representative marketing material and a sample proposal to land new or renewal business. Those entering also had to include an essay on this year's award program theme: "What Makes My Agency An Outstanding Sales Organization."

"It was not easy picking a 'winner' from so many worthy entries," said Sam Friedman, NU's editor-in-chief, as well as the founder and chairman of the award program. "Everyone who entered justifiably had a lot of pride in how they help their clients identify, limit and cover their exposures."

Mr. Friedman said that he chose the five finalists because "they are role models for their agency colleagues. All have a very disciplined, professional approach. All are fanatical about customer service. All serve as risk managers for their clients, focusing more on loss control than on policy peddling and price shopping."

The entries from the five finalists went before a Blue Ribbon panel of judges, who picked the winning entry. The judges were:

? Madelyn Flannagan, vice president of the IIABA, based in Alexandria, Va.

? Bobby Reagan, president and chief executive officer of Reagan & Associates, an independent Atlanta-based management consulting firm working with insurance agents, brokers and companies. Reagan & Associates developed and produces the IIABA's "Best Practices" program. Mr. Reagan also helped set the award's entry requirements.

? Scott Addis, president of The Addis Group in King of Prussia, Pa., NU's "Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year" in 2003.

"Senn Dunn was chosen as the winner because they best exemplify everything a growing and successful agency must offer to excel in this competitive environment," said Mr. Friedman. "They are multi-talented–as comfortable handling employee benefits and loss control surveys as they are in placing property-casualty insurance. They are also true risk managers, concerned not just with the price of insurance, but with the overall cost of risk."

Mr. Friedman said that Senn Dunn also stood out because "they have created an absolutely fabulous place to work. They clearly care about their employees, who, as a result, are highly motivated to help the agency excel."

NU honored the award winner at a special reception yesterday evening. On hand with Mr. McCaskill were three other senior Senn Dunn officials–its chairman, Larry Roland, its senior vice president, Tim Templeton, and its executive vice president, Tim Ward–the principal who prepared the award entry.

"This year's winner, Senn Dunn, epitomized the highest standards of insurance practice," said Jonathan E. Michael, president and CEO of the award program's sponsor, RLI Corp. of Peoria, Ill. "We can count on agencies like Senn Dunn to uphold the standards and dignity of our industry and to set the benchmark for superlative performance. RLI salutes all these agencies and their peers who emulate them."

"I want to thank the Big I for once again graciously allowing us to present our agency of the year award during their general session," said Mr. Friedman. "I also want to thank RLI for supporting our search for excellence in the independent agency system."

Mr. Friedman said that other agencies "undoubtedly will see elements of their own operations reflected in the profiles of the five finalists we published in our Oct. 11 edition. Better yet, their agencies might feature unique products, services or approaches that they feel put their firms in the same class or even higher than the five cited this year."

Mr. Friedman said that "if this is the case, by all means, I urge you to enter your agencies for consideration in the 2005 award program! The competition will open shortly after the new year."