On May 4, The Insurance Alliance held a sales training seminar as part of the annual Accellerations Sales Contest at the Central Pennsylvania Business College.

Alliance production staff and Board members met with representatives of participating carriers Cincinnati, Eastern Alliance, Ohio Casualty and Penn National in dedicated 50-minute sessions.

At the lunch session, Matt Maurer of American Insurance Administrators received the March prize for highest monthly new business, joining January winner Tim Goldsmith of Hampson Mower Kreitz and February winner Ryan Amey of Sterner Insurance. More photos of the event are available on our Flickr site.

Accellerations 2009 runs through September, with the winners set to be announced at the annual Alliance event, Connections, in October.

Travelers recently recognized The Insurance Alliance’s achievement of reaching a milestone premium mark with a special award and luncheon.

Travelers Mid-Atlantic’ Region President Kirk Larsen presented Alliance President and CEO Jane Koppenheffer with the award designating The Alliance as a $20 million agency.

The event was held at Confit in Camp Hill on April 23, and was attended by Alliance Board members and staff, along with Travelers staff and management who are responsible for working with The Alliance.

Erika Rivera, CPCU, ARM has joined Securus as Business Relationship Coordinator in the Business Insurance Division. Erika graduated Cum Laude from Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration, and Minor in Psychology. She will work directly with the clients as she manages client relationships in service and administration. She holds the professional designations of Resident Agent Property & Casualty; Associate in Risk Management (ARM); and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).

A resident of Lancaster, Erika held the position of Account Manager-Assistant Vice President for Commerce Insurance Services, Inc. now Conner Strong based in Cherry Hill, NJ and worked for The Graham Company in Philadelphia, PA.

The Alliance only-Wood Products Program by the Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group was the subject of a recent seminar at the group’s home office.

Led by Mike Capri and John Eltringham of Hampson Mowrer Kreitz, the seminar covered eligibility, the dividend plan, approved associations. submission requirements and mechanics, and current status. Examples of successful program participants and some real-word examples of what does and doesn’t work in the program were delivered. Kim Evans and Rick Schneider of Berkey provided the company perspective on the program.

The seminar was conducted in conjunction with The Alliance’s Accellerations 2009 Sales Contest.

Allehandro J. Parker of Alburtis has joined Miers Insurance as a Business Insurance Account Executive.

Before joining Miers, Alle served as a Senior Account Representative with Liberty Mutual and was a Sales Professional with Cintas Document Management. At Miers, Alle will be responsible for the sales and service of insurance programs and risk management alternatives for businesses in the Lehigh Valley.

Sterner Insurance in Coopersburg, PA announces that Rocky Gencarelli has joined the company as an Insurance Consultant. Gencarelli will be responsible for sales, consultation and management of the Group & Individual Health Benefit Plans and Life Insurance products. Rocky plans to grow significantly as he becomes part of the firmís focal point for new business development in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Gencarelli attended The Pennsylvania State University where he graduated with distinction from the SMEAL College of Business. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and currently is enrolled in the MBA program at Lehigh University. Prior to joining Sterner Insurance Gencarelli was employed at RCN Corporation where he managed a highly successful outside sales force.

At the Insurance Alliance’s Connections 2008, Eastern Alliance Insurance Group was named as the Commercial Lines Carrier of the Year.


In a survey of Alliance members and staff, Eastern Alliance ranked high in categories such as “Best Overall Commercial Lines Carrier,” “Claims Service,” “Loss Control Service,” “Responsiveness” and “Ease of Doing Business.” Alliance President and CEO Jane Koppenheffer profiled premium and new business growth, as well as an unprecedented under-40% ten-year loss ratio as hallmarks of Eastern’s relationship with The Alliance.

Survey response comments included “true underwriting,” “response,” “knowledge” and high praise for claims service, along with the accessibility of Eastern’s top management.

Mike Boguski, the President of Eastern Alliance, accepted the award from Don Wert of American Insurance Administrators and Alliance Board Chairman.

On October 21, The Insurance Alliance held Connections 2008, the annual event that brings together Alliance member staff and carrier personnel in an unstructured fashion to interact, network, and discuss future business opportunities.

Over three hundred representatives from all eleven Alliance members and their affiliates and exhibiting carriers that included ACE, AllRisks, Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group, Chubb, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CNA, Colemont Insurance Brokers, Donegal, Eastern Alliance Insurance Group, Fireman’s Fund, Guard Insurance Group, Harleysville, The Hartford, Lititz Mutual Insurance Company, Massamont Insurance, Millers Mutual, Ohio Casualty, Peninsula, Penn National Insurance, The PMA Insurance Group, Selective Insurance, State Auto, Travelers, Tuscarora Wayne, UPAC, Westfield Insurance, The Zenith, Zurich, as well as guests from Insurance Agents and Brokers, The Tower Group Companies and more.

The day was highlighted by a “State of the Alliance” presentation by President and CEO Jane Koppenheffer, tthe presentation of the Accellerations New Producer Awards, the Connections Awards, and the Personal and Commercial Lines Carrier of the Year Awards.

Enjoy the sights of the event in our Connections 2008 Flickr photo set.

At the Insurance Alliance’s Connections 2008, Selective Insurance was named as the Personal Lines Carrier of the Year.

Selective ranked high in a survey of Alliance members and staff in categories such as “Ease of Doing Business,” “Competitiveness,” and “Underwriting Expertise and Responsivieness.” Alliance President and CEO Jane Koppenheffer cited, “explosive growth” in 2007 and 2008 year-to-date and low loss ratios in spite of the growth as key indicators of Selective’s success.

The highest praise came in the form of survey response comments, including mentions of customer service, competitive rates, simplification of processes and several endorsements of Selective’s Marketing representatives.

Chuck Adams, Regional Field Senior Vice President for Selective accepted the award from Don Wert of American Insurance Administrators and Alliance Board Chairman.

The Insurance Alliance’s Accellerations New Producer Contest has been running since March, 2008, and the winners were announced on October 21 at Connections 2008.

Fourteen producers from the Alliance met the qualifications and completed in three different categories. The group generated over $1.4 million in new business with sponsoring carriers during the seven-month contest.

Don Waardenburg, Regional Vice President of Accellerations Platinum Sponsor Ohio Casualty joined Alliance President and CEO Jane Koppenheffer on the Connections stage to give all participants a token of participation, and to award the prizes.

Kellie Eschbach of Hampson Mowrer Kreitz received the Personal Lines Prize of a 2-night stay at any U.S. Marriott hotel and $250 for expenses.
Kathryn Marquiss of Sterner Insurance took home the Next Generation Prize, a two-night stay at Hotel Hershey and $500 for expenses
The Grand Prize of a five-night stay at any Ritz-Carlton Resort and $4,000 for expenses was awarded to Steve Swineford of Christian-Baker.