PIANY LI RAP Features Award Presentations

More than 350 attended the PIANY’s LI RAP session on May 5th and were treated to a large trade show, educational offerings and an important awards luncheon.

Trish Dean, marketing director for Morstan General Agency, won the Louis A. Morelli Memorial award.

The award recognizes an individual in the insurance industry who has demonstrated those qualities which best foster a strong working relationship with agents and brokers, and who has exemplified a commitment to professionalism and service, according to Long Island RAP Chair Michael Cracco: “Her dedication to the industry is commendable.”

Dean became involved in the insurance industry after earning her bachelor’s degree from Niagara University. She began her career with TIAA-CREF, and quickly moved on to Fireman’s Fund, where she worked as an underwriter, then as a senior underwriter. Dean held a variety of marketing positions at Fireman’s Fund and GNY Insurance Companies, before joining the Hanover Insurance Co., where she served as New York territory marketing manager

In 2004, Dean changed her career to the agency side of insurance. She became a business development executive with CMS LLC, and then joined Morstan General Agency as marketing director, a position she still holds.

Active in the industry, she has played an important role in the insurance community. She is a past president of the Long Island Field Insurance Association. She is an active member in the Women’s Insurance Network of Long Island. She has participated in PIANY’s Long Island Advisory Council and served on the Long Island RAP Committee for 10 years.

PIANY honored the late Camilla Belser, CPCU, vice president and regional manager of Merchants Insurance Group, as its Long Island RAP Distinguished Insurance Service award. Her husband, Joel Belser, accepted the award in her memory.

Belser, who was one of the highestranking female insurance executives in the downstate New York region was chosen to receive the award for her professionalism and for her recognition of the importance of the agent-carrier relationship.

In addition to professional success, Belser was a pillar of her community, chairing industry events and fundraising for important causes like Long Island’s United Way, for which she raised millions of dollars. She has been recognized by many industry organizations, including The Long Island Insurance Division of UJAFederation of New York, PIA’s Hudson Valley RAP, the Downstate Agents’ Association and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters“Cammy was smart, big hearted, and represented our industry with a unique and professional style,” said Michael Cracco, Long Island RAP chair. She recognized the importance of the agent-carrier relationship and was someone many of us knew we could call get things done and get them done right on behalf of our mutual clients. Those of us who worked with her, truly respected her, and we liked her even more.”

John E. Przedpelski, executive vice president and chief operating officer of LIG Insurance Co., received PIANY’s 2011 Long Island Regional Awareness Program Executive of the Year award. The Executive of the Year award recognizes an individual from an insurance company, general agency or managing agency who has forged strong working relationships with agents and brokers in the insurance industry. “John has been an effective and respected leader in the industry,” said Long Island RAP Chair Michael Cracco.

Przedpelski began his insurance career in Crum & Forster’s underwriting training program. He spent several years working as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor for the company in Boston and New York. While in Boston, he joined Royal Insurance Co., as a regional marine manager. He moved back to New York City to work as managing director of Royal’s Financial Structures Ltd., before starting his own consulting firm, Hatteras Underwriting Consultants, where he launched a managing general agency for Arch Insurance Group.

In 2004, he re-entered the property/casualty industry by taking the position of regional vice president at Fireman’s Fund, where he was responsible for commercial-, personal- and surpluslines products across the Mid-Atlantic territory. His success at Fireman’s Fund led to his appointment as president of CARCO Group’s insurance operations in Holtsville, N.Y. Three years later, in 2007, he was approached by LIG to serve as the company’s COO and executive vice president. During his tenure, he was responsible for the launch of LIG’s umbrella and workers’ compensation products. The company’s revenues have grown from $16 million in his first year, to $54 million in 2010, and its reach has expanded from Los Angeles and the New York metro area, to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, as well as into the South and Midwest.

Przedpelski resides in Summit, N.J. with his wife and four sons.

Jim Schaffner, senior business development manager for GMAC Insurance, received the 2011 Long Island Regional Awareness Program Industry Professional of the Year award.

This award recognizes an individual from an insurance company, general agency, managing general agency or other insurance industry professionals who have demonstrated those qualities that best foster a strong working relationship with agents and brokers, and who has exemplified a commitment to professionalism and service. Schaffner started his insurance career with The Windsor Group 15 years ago. He then began his first stint with GMAC Insurance in 1998, remaining on board until 2003, when he joined AutoOne Insurance of Melville as senior marketing manager. At AutoOne, he was in charge of marketing the voluntary auto programs in New York and Texas, with a focus on the New York Automobile Insurance Plan take-out program.

In August of last year, he rejoined GMAC Insurance as senior business development manager. In that position, Schaffner is responsible for the growth and profitability of Southern New York, Rhode Island and GMAC entry into the New Jersey market later this year. In addition, he currently serves on the board of directors for the New York Auto Agents Alliance.

Schaffner resides in Speonk, N.Y. with his wife and two sons.