The Insurance Alliance has announced a contest for the newest producers in The Alliance organization.

Accelerations gives producers new to The Alliance an opportunity to win valuable prizes and trips by placing first in one of three categories:

• Grand Prize – Most new business production with sponsoring carriers during the contest period.

• Next Generation Prize – Most new business production with sponsoring carriers during the contest period. Producer must be new to the P&C industry.

• Personal Lines Prize – Most production in personal lines with sponsoring carriers during the contest period.

Accelerations is sponsored by some of the Alliance’s key carriers, including Platinum Sponsor Ohio Casualty. Also participating are Corporate Sponsors:

• Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group
• Eastern Alliance
• Harleysville
• Millers Mutual
• Penn National
• The PMA Insurance Group
• Selective
• State Auto
• Westfield Insurance

Activities during the contest include two “Lunch and Learn” education and training events; one with the Platinum Sponsor, and one with all the Corporate Sponsors.

The winners will be announced at The Alliance’s Connections event on October 21.

Insurance Alliance President Jane Koppenheffer helped kick off this year’s Central PA iDay by introducing the keynote session speakers, Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario and Cindy Fillman, Consumer Liaison; PA Department of Insurance.

Mr. Ario discussed Governer Edward Rendell’s heath insurance initiatives and Ms. Fillman followed up with some perspective from the consumer perspective. The two took questions from the audience that varied from credits for “green” lifestyles to ways to minimize complaints to the Insurance Department.

Sterner Insurance in Coopersburg, PA, announces that Kathryn Marquiss has joined the firm as an Insurance Consultant concentrating on Business and Health Insurance.

Marquiss was recruited for Sterner Insurance by the CIB Group, a new producer training firm, for her professionalism, academic and athletic achievements. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lock Haven University with a degree in Biology and held numerous state and regional titles in volleyball. Kathryn has a background in hospitality management and experience with personal mortgage lending.

Kathryn can be reached at kathryn@sternergroup.com

Sterner Insurance in Coopersburg, PA announces that Ryan Amey has joined the company as an Insurance Consultant. Amey will be responsible for selling Property/Casualty insurance and plans to grow significantly as he becomes part of the firm’s focal point for new business development in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Amey is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Prior to joining Sterner Insurance Amey was employed at Brown & Brown as an insurance consultant.

Ryan can be reached at ryan@sternergroup.com.

Sterner Insurance in Coopersburg, PA, announces that Christopher J. Grynaviski has joined the company as an Insurance Consultant. Grynaviski will be responsible for developing a comprehensive Community Association Insurance Program providing Property and Casualty Insurance for Condominium, Cooperative and Homeowners Associations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Grynaviski is a graduate of Newman University (Wichita, KS) where he was an All-American shortstop on the baseball team and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Marketing with a minor in Management. Previously, Grynaviski was an Account Executive in the Condo department at Brown & Brown of the Lehigh Valley.

Chris can be reached at chris@sternergroup.com.