The March, 2012 issue of InFocus, the agent’s magazine from Acuity, has a back-cover “Outstanding Service Professional” piece on Lori Foust, New Business Coordinator for Miers Insurance.

The article includes comments by Miers’ President Doug Gibbons, and Lori’s thoughts on service orientation and business relationships.

Congratulations, Lori!

Today, Leap Year Day, Miers Insurance observes Founder’s Day as it does every four years on February 29th. This year, 2012, marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of the firm. Established on February 29th 1892, employee owned, and continuously located in the City of Allentown, Miers represents over sixty (60) major insurance companies and has working relationships with international insurance brokerage firms throughout the world. The firm employs twenty (20) in its offices located at 2222 South Twelfth Street, Allentown.

Congratulations to everyone at Miers on this milestone.

Jane Koppenheffer of The Insurance Alliance of Central PA was cited among the insurance professionals who led the charge in bringing $20,000 in flood relief to the Lancaster county area.

Because of these effort, The Luthern Disaster Relief of Lower Susquehanna Valley and The Bridge of Penn-York Valley Churches received funding to address immediate needs such as purchasing power equipment to loan to flood victims, collecting and distributing donations of clothing, household goods and small appliances, and more.

The funding was delivered by the Westfield Insurance Foundation, who reached out to agents in the area for input on the needs of the communities.

The winners of Accellerations 2011, the Insurance Alliance’s annual sales contest, were announced at a luncheon at the West Shore Country Club in Mechanicsburg today.

In attendance were the monthly winners of the contest, those in contention for the various prizes, members of The Alliance’s Board of Directors and representatives of Accellerations’ Platinum sponsors, Ohio Casualty and Selective Insurance.

Award winners announced included:

• The October Commercial Lines Producer of the Month was Matt Maurer of American Insurance Administrators.
• Ryan Rispoli of Hampson Mowrer Kreitz was the winner of the Next Generation Award with $432,167 of new business written for the entire contest period.
• Jon Zinn of Zinn Insurance was the winner of the new Diversification Award writing over $288,000 of new business in this category.
• The Commercial Lines Producer of the Year was Patrick McElwee of Sterner Insurance with $1,257,362 of new business written for the entire contest period.
• The Commercial Lines Grand Prize Winner (chosen by drawing) was Patrick McElwee of Sterner Insurance.
• Miers Insurance was the winner of the Personal Lines Agency of the Year.
  
• Sheaffer Insurance was the winner of the Commercial Lines Agency of the Year.

More photos of the event are available on the Alliance Flickr stream.

(Pictured from let to right: Paul Sheaffer of Sheaffer Insurance, Patrick McElwee of Sterner Insurance, Ryan Rispoli of Hampson Mowrer Kreitz, and Doug Gibbons of Miers Insurance.)

Westfield Insurance donated $10,000 to Lutheran Disaster Relief of Lower Susquehanna Valley on November 4, matching an earlier donation to the Bridge of Penn-York Valley Churches.

Following Tropical Storm Lee, Westfield customers were among the hundreds who did not have flood insurance. Flood damage is only covered by the National Flood Insurance Program through the federal government. According to local officials, the floodwaters were some of the highest since Hurricane Agnes hit the area in 1972. Due to low incidence of flooding, flood insurance is not required in most of the Pennsylvania communities affected by Tropical Storm Lee.

“Our business is about helping people put their lives back together after the unexpected happens,” says Steve Fisher, Westfield Insurance eastern division leader. “This donation from our Foundation aids in the recovery efforts for flood victims across the region.”

Westfield worked with local employees, agency partners such as Henry-Dunn, Inc., as well as The Insurance Alliance of Central Pennsylvania and another local nonprofit partner Habitat for Humanity of Lancaster County to determine where to send philanthropic support.

Pictured a the check presentation are Steve Fisher (Westfield), Tim Brown (Lutheran Disaster Relief), Judy Bassett (Lutheran Disaster Relief), Greg Zinn (Zinn Agency-Myerstown) and Wayne Gearhart (Westfield) (Photo credit: Westfield Insurance)

At Connections 2011, The Insurance Alliance announced their annual Carrier of the Year awards.

Cincinnati Insurance was named the Personal Lines Carrier of the Year, accepting accolades for their coverages, quick turn-around and service. Bill Clevidence accepted the award from Alliance President Jane Koppenheffer.

Eastern Alliance was recognized as the Commercial Lines Carrier of the Year, cited for their outstanding claims service, salesmanship and products. Bob Gilpin had the honor of accepting the award.

Photos of all the award recipients and more are on The Alliance’s Flickr feed.

The Insurance Alliance’s Connections 2011 was held at Harmony Hall in Harrisburg, and featured a number of events and activities that carrier and staff attendees enjoyed.

The day started with an Office Olympics Competition. Thirty teams participated in events such as Cup Stacking, Sticky Notes, Paper Toss, Toilet Paper Wrap, Paper Airplane and more.

Teams from Sterner Insurance (“Beer Muscles”), Cincinnatti Insurance (“Dunn Destroyers”) and Hampson Mowrer Kreitz (Endorse THIS!) took home the prizes, but the real winner was Kids’ Chance of PA, an organization that helps with the education of children who’s parents were killed or seriously injured in a work-related accident. The proceeds from the competition, $1,700, were donated to the cause.

The lunch presentation included the annual Carrier of the Year and Connections awards and a video presentation, “Why The Alliance?”

The day concluded with a Carrier Carnival where each exhibiting carrier offered games of chance and skill as part of familiarizing Alliance staff members with their products and services. Raffle tickets were awarded for participation, and the winners took home iPads, Kindle’s and televisions.

Photos of every aspect of Connections 2011 are available on The Alliance’s Flickr feed.

Doug Gibbons of Miers Insurance nominated Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County for a grant from the Safeco Insurance Agent Giving Program which was recently approved.

The $2,000 award is part of Safeco’s effort to support their agent’s civic participation and the organizations that make a difference in their local communities.

“Safeco is proud to honor the many meaningful ways agents like Douglas Gibbons positivelyengage in the communities where they live and work,” said Brenda Mann Harrison, manager,Safeco Insurance Agent Giving Program. “We applaud the work of Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County, Inc. and all who strive to make a difference each day.”

Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County delivers meals every weekday to 350 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities each weekday.

Jane Koppenheffer, President of The Insurance Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, was recently been named one of Central Pennsylvania’s most influential women in the Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence Awards program. Twenty-five local women business leaders were selected to receive the 2011 award recognizing their outstanding leadership, integrity and accomplishments in the midstate’s business community.

The Women of Influence awards were created in 2010 to recognize midstate women leaders who are influential in their companies, industries and communities. An independent panel of judges selected this year’s award recipients: Dana Chryst, Chief Executive Officer of The Jay Group; Constance Foster, Partner with Saul Ewing LLP; Linda Goldstein, Vice-President and COO with Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC; Kim Phipps, President of Messiah College; and Sally Dixon, President and CEO of Memorial Hospital.

Jane was honored at the Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence event held on Monday, May 16, 2011, at the Hilton Harrisburg. Jane will also be profiled in a special supplement to the May 20, 2011, issue of the Central Penn Business Journal.

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Jane Koppenheffer, Insurance Alliance President, recently had the opportunity to participate in Selective Insurance‘s President’s Club Executive Session. There were multiple sessions for agents to participate, and the focus of the session was on improving agency performance. Jane participated in excellent sessions presented by MarshBerry and by Steve Anderson (The TAAR Report). One of the highlights of the meeting was getting to share a cake made by Carlo’s Bakery (of Cake Boss fame) that highlighted Selective’s commitment to writing Main Street America.