Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey Honored with Maurice G. Herndon Award
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22 - The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey, Inc. (IIANJ) was presented the prestigious Maurice G. Herndon National Legislative Award today in recognition of its outstanding government affairs achievements last year.
Awarded annually by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) and the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (PIIAI), the Herndon Award is bestowed upon the state association whose legislative achievements the previous year on behalf of IIABA and its members have been deemed most outstanding. The honor is named after the former head of IIABA’s government affairs operation. Herndon, who died in January 2003 at age 91, directed the Association’s Washington D.C. office from 1949 to 1976 and was known as “Mr. Washington” to agents and brokers across America. He is fondly remembered as an extremely effective leader of the Big “I” government affairs and grassroots operations.
IIABA Government Affairs Committee Chairman Ronnie Tubertini presented the honor to New Jersey President & CEO Sheri A. Acconzo, CMP; Chairman L. Scott Stanford, AAI; and State National Director Charles S. Stults III. The ceremony took place during this morning’s breakfast session at the Association’s 28th Annual National Legislative Conference here.
The New Jersey association was honored for its successful grassroots efforts in passing much-needed auto insurance reform legislation in its state legislature. Prior to the reforms, New Jersey had the worst market for auto insurance in the nation, and insurers, unable to make profits, were leaving the state. With the enactment of the reform legislation, insurers are returning to the marketplace
“The New Jersey association is a shining example of the type of hands-on, grassroots organizing that is crucial to independent insurance agents and brokers and their livelihoods,” Tubertini says. “Through their contributions, New Jersey agents have protected their business interests and the future of the agency system in their state.”
The New Jersey agents also consistently can be counted on to support InsurPac and IIABA’s grassroots efforts. New Jersey exceeded its InsurPac fundraising goals in 2003.
“New Jersey agents understand that IIABA’s total government affairs effort includes participation in InsurPac and our grassroots program,” says Tubertini. “Through its fundraising efforts, IIABA is better able to financially support more candidates for Congress who support the business mindset of agents and brokers. Through its grassroots program, the Big “I” advances the causes of independent insurance agents and brokers across America and helps to secure their livelihoods for the future.
“In recognition of their outstanding efforts over the past year, and only a few examples have been mentioned here, we commend the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey for a job well done,” Tubertini says. “This award is a well-deserved honor.”
Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.