DIETZ PRESENTED HIGHEST
INDIVIDUAL HONOR BY THE BIG “I”
Former IIABNY President & SND Named Woodworth Memorial Award Honoree
ORLANDO, Oct. 10— Thomas “Tommy” J. Dietz, CPCU, today received the most distinguished honor the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) bestows upon an individual when he was presented the Woodworth Memorial Award during the opening session of the association’s 2004 Big “I” Convention.
Dietz is a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. (IIABNY) and served as the state association’s representative to the Big “I” National Board of State Directors.
“Tommy Dietz has performed exceptional and meritorious service on behalf of the independent agency system,” said Big “I” President Louise “Bebe” Canter during the presentation ceremony. “Dietz is a longtime champion of independent agents and brokers who epitomizes the volunteer spirit of all Big ‘I’ members. We are indeed fortunate to have such a selfless, tireless individual working on behalf of this association and its 300,000 members. Tommy Dietz is truly one of our most respected and accomplished leaders.”
The Woodworth Award was established in 1925 in memory of C.H. Woodworth of Buffalo, N.Y., the second president of the national association. It is awarded to the Big “I” member who best demonstrates outstanding service benefiting independent insurance agents and brokers as well as the entire insurance industry.
Dietz has contributed to Big “I” members and the independent agency system in a variety of ways including serving the IIABNY as its president from 1983 to 1984 and as its representative on the National Board of State Directors. Most recently Dietz served on the boards of the Big “I” for profit-subsidiaries—Member Services Inc., (MSI) and Agency Administrative Services (AAS). While on these boards, Dietz played a critical role in the development of Big “I” Markets, the association’s online market-access program for its members. Additionally, Dietz was chairman of the InsurPac Board of Directors and the PACE Committee, and was an active member of the Government Affairs Committee.
Past honors for Dietz include a Big “I” presidential citation in 1988 for his work in government affairs and in 2001 for his work with MSI. In 1989, he was awarded the Big “I” Sidney O. Smith Award for his work in the government affairs arena. Dietz also was awarded IIABNY’s Young Agent of the Year Award in 1976 and its presidential citation in 1989. Earlier this summer, IIABNY honored Dietz for his service and many contributions.
In addition to his exemplary work on the behalf of independent agents and brokers, Dietz served as senior vice president of Frontier Insurance Company; founded the Thomas J. Dietz Insurance agency; and served as chairman and CEO of Medical Professional Liability Agency.
Dietz is a graduate of New York University and the University of New Hampshire. He earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in 1977.
Canter called Dietz “a true leader who has gone above and beyond in answering the call of duty” as she presented the award before convention attendees. “His selfless approach extends beyond his committee service at the national association,” Canter noted. “He still attends events for members of Congress on behalf of the Big ‘I’ and raises money for InsurPac.”
The Big “I” 2004 Convention, the association’s showcase meeting, is taking place in Orlando through Oct.12. The event features a compelling company CEO roundtable; several prominent guest speakers and panelists; a variety of innovative continuing-education (CE) classes and other cutting-edge workshops; the largest exhibit hall in the insurance industry; numerous networking opportunities; and many other exciting events.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” 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.
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