Rice Honored at New York Insurance Annual Conference

VERONA, N.Y‚—The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA) honored Jeffrey W. Rice, CPCU, ARe, president and chief executive officer of Wayne Cooperative Insurance Company with NYIA’s 2011 Chair’s Distinguished Service Award at the association’s annual conference on June 2 in Verona, N.Y.

“Jeff has made tremendous contributions to both the New York Insurance Association and the insurance industry as a whole,” NYIA chair and Utica First Insurance Company president and CEO, Richard Zick said. “His dedication to advancing the profession as well as NYIA is unmatched. Jeff is a true unsung hero of the industry— it is a real privilege to honor him with this much deserved award.”

Jeff is currently NYIA’s first vice chair. He has served on the association’s board of directors since 2007. He has held various positions in the insurance industry that include serving and chairing on committees within the New York Insurance Alliance (which merged with the New York State Insurance Association in 1997 to form the current NYIA organization) as well as serving as a board member and chairman of the Guilderland Reinsurance Company.

Jeff’s insurance career began in 1985 at Wayne Cooperative, after spending three years in the banking arena and rising to a commercial credit analyst. He started at Wayne Cooperative as an underwriter and has since held many varied responsibilities while at the company, covering areas in accounting and investment portfolio management. He was also instrumental in the creation of a policy, claims, accounting and investment information system that is still used today after 20 years. Jeff has been a member of Wayne Cooperative’s Board of Directors since 1985 and held the title of vice president and treasurer prior to being elected president in 1999.

He is a 1982 graduate of Binghamton University, State University of New York with a bachelor of arts in economics. He has also continued his insurance education, attaining the designation of chartered property casualty underwriter (CPCU) in 1990 and associate in reinsurance (ARe) in 1993 from the Insurance Institute of America.

Jeff is active in the community, including having served as treasurer of the Clyde United Methodist Church. He is a former Village of Clyde trustee and deputy mayor. He also participates and serves in leadership roles in sporting organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and is currently secretary of his local chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Wayne Cooperative Insurance Company (WCIC) is a progressive New York State licensed assessment cooperative insurer based in Clyde, N.Y. The company writes in excess of $12 million in premium, providing financial security to more than 24,000 policyholders throughout upstate New York.