Dan Agnew Named To Iowa Insurance Hall Of Fame

Grinnell Mutual President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Agnew has been selected for induction to the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame, his company announced.

The ceremony is scheduled for May 21 at the Olmsted Center on the Drake University Campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mr. Agnew joined Grinnell Mutual as a marketing representative for northern Illinois in 1969 and served in the marketing department for 18 years, becoming the vice president of marketing in 1985; senior vice president of membership development in 1987; vice president of southeast operations in 1990; and was appointed president and CEO of Grinnell Mutual in 1991.

In his recommendation letter to the selection committee, Grinnell Mutual Chairman Michael Fordyce wrote that Mr. Agnew "has a working knowledge of the insurance business, its product lines and its human resources. He has a gift of hiring people for the right job. He is a true asset to Grinnell Mutual."

The company said that under Mr. Agnew's leadership, Grinnell Mutual has grown into the largest reinsurer of farm mutual companies in the United States, securing over 52 percent of the market.

Bruce Thomas, chairman of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and president/CEO of Heartland Mutual Insurance Association, said: "Dan's longevity with one company should speak volumes. However, it is the dedication, vision and passion he has given to the Farm Mutual insurance industry during this time span that warrants his induction."

He called Mr. Agnew "the face of the mutual industry in the state of Iowa."

Mr. Agnew has served as president of the Iowa Insurance Institute, trustee of the NAMIC Reinsurance Committee and Health Insurance Plan, member of the NAMICO Board of Directors and held membership in the Mutual Insurance Association of Iowa, Iowa Chapter of National Ag Marketing and Who's Who in Sales and Marketing.

He has also served with numerous community groups.

The Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame was founded in 1997 to recognize outstanding contributions to the Iowa insurance industry. A selection committee evaluates nominations on standards including ethics and impact on the industry.

To be eligible for consideration, nominees must have an Iowa connection, serve as a role model for young people as well as others in the insurance business, exhibit the highest standards of ethical conduct, and have significantly impacted the insurance industry.