Independent agencies that do an outstanding job selling insurance and providing risk management services for their clients are urged to enter the 2009 National Underwriter "Commercial Insurance Agency Of The Year" award program, with entries due July 13.
Each year, NU names three winners–with one cited as "Champion," and the other two receiving "Honorable Mention." All three winners have their agencies individually profiled in NU's Oct. 5 issue.
As a bonus, the winners will also participate in an "NU Roundtable" discussion on "The State of the Independent Agent," with highlights published in the Nov. 2 edition.
Gary Ivey, president and chief operating officer of last year's champion–J. Smith Lanier & Company in West Point, Ga.–said that after winning the award, "the feedback from across the country was tremendous. We believe the NU award elevates the organization to a different level."
He added that "the recognition has reinforced in our sales and support group that the client is looking for value, and that the proper evaluation and management of risk is a multi-part process that–done correctly–will be recognized by the buyer and others in a very competitive industry."
David Becker, president of 2007′s champion–Cottingham & Butler of Dubuque, Iowa–said winning the NU award "validated our approach to going beyond selling just policies to delivering a broad array of risk management services that can help our clients succeed…The NU award provides the stamp of credibility with prospects, opening up new opportunities that might otherwise have been unavailable."
Contact NU Editor In Chief Sam Friedman at sfriedman@nuco.com to be sent full instructions and an entry form.
Fill out the application, put together the supporting material (all of which is kept strictly confidential) and include an essay of 3,000 words or less on "What Makes My Agency An Outstanding Sales and Service Organization?" Submit the complete package no later than July 13.
No third-party nomination is required to enter. Agents are welcome to enter on their own initiative. Nominations from insurers, MGAs and others had been invited only to call attention to worthy candidates.
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