Entries Sought For NU 'Agency Of The Year' Award

For the fifth consecutive year, National Underwriter is sponsoring a prestigious award program to recognize independent agencies that do an outstanding job selling insurance and related services, while also helping commercial lines clients proactively manage their exposures.

NU invites those agency principals who run the most effective sales organizations, while also serving as true risk managers for their commercial clients, to file an entry.

Principals representing three agency finalists will win a trip to New York City, where NU's 2006 "Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year" will be announced and given a trophy at a special ceremony on Sept. 29. The remaining two finalists will be awarded plaques for an Honorable Mention.

All three finalists will be individually profiled in the Oct. 2 edition of NU.

In addition, the finalists will participate in a special "NU Roundtable" immediately following the award presentation, moderated by NU Editor-In-Chief Sam Friedman, to discuss "The Future of the Independent Agent." Highlights of the Roundtable discussion will appear in NU's Nov. 13 edition.

Full entry details and an entry form are available on our Web site. Go to www.propertyandcasualtyinsurancenews.com, and click on the award program's icon, or click on "Agency of the Year" under "This Week."

Entries are due by June 5, 2006.

If you have any questions, contact Mr. Friedman at sfriedman@nuco.com.

Prior winners had this to say about NU's award program:

o Last year's winner, Steven Schill, chief operating officer of Haake Companies of Overland Park, Kan.: "NU's recognition of our company's achievements has been like winning the Heisman Trophy for insurance agencies. My phone has been ringing off the hook from other companies wanting information on how we did it, why, and whether it really works."

o 2004 winner, T. Gray McCaskill, president of Senn Dunn in Greensboro, N.C.: "To be recognized by NU as among the very best in the business made us all realize that the long days--and many nights--we worked to not only get bigger, but better, were well worth it. In fact, NU's recognition energized us to do more, as we've added full-time claims and loss control departments."

o 2003 winner Scott Addis, president of The Addis Group in King of Prussia, Pa.: "The award meant so much to each member of the firm. It fueled our passion for excellence and stimulated our desire to give back to the industry. We felt like the Miss America of the independent agency system."

We look forward to hearing from more top-flight agencies this year about how they excel in an ever-challenging market.