Woodworth Agents Award To Ahart

WASHINGTON–Thomas B. Ahart, a former president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, has been given this year's Woodworth Memorial Award for service to the independent agents system.

Mr. Ahart, president of the insurance agency Ahart, Frinzi & Smith, of Phillipsburg, was honored during the IIABA's Legislative Conference and Convention being held here today.

Bob Fulwider, IIABA chairman (the title of president was changed to chairman last year), praised Mr. Ahart for his continued commitment to agents and service to the association.

Mr. Ahart was elected to IIABA's executive committee in Oct. 1996 and has held leadership positions within the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey, including president.

Outside of the association, Mr. Ahart has been a member of the board of the New Jersey Joint Underwriting Authority and was president of the Eastern Agents Association. He has also served as both grader and adviser to the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America, in New York City.

Mr. Ahart is currently chairman of the IIABA's Trusted Choice independent agent marketing campaign.

The association also presented the Maurice Herndon Award to the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. The award is given to the association whose political action work the previous year is deemed outstanding.

The Florida Association was noted for its lobbying and grassroots efforts and its commitment to InsurPac, the IIABA political action group. In 2007, 328 agents jointly contributed $63,469 to InsurPac, eclipsing their state goal by $17,000.

The association also honored:

o Tom Minkler, of Clark Mortenson in Keene, N.H., was given the Sidney O. Smith Award for his work in promoting the legislative goals of the IIABA as government affairs chairman.

o Vinny Alba was the recipient of the Barney Burns Award for his work as the New York InsurPac chairman.