White Honored by New York Insurance Association

BOLTON LANDING, N.Y.—The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA) honored Thomas White with the Chair’s Distinguished Service Award at the association’s annual conference May 29 in Bolton Landing, N.Y. White is president of Community Mutual Insurance Company, an affiliate of Union Mutual of Vermont Companies. White is also regional vice president of Union Mutual, responsible for New York operations.

“Tom is incredibly loyal to the industry and NYIA,” Bernard Turi, NYIA chair and Utica National Insurance Group senior vice president, general counsel and director of risk and reinsurance said. “He has dedicated 35 years to advancing the insurance profession. His steadfast commitment and unwavering conviction in promoting the industry is commendable.”

White joined Community Mutual in 2003 as executive vice president. He was elected president in 2005. He started his career with Eastern Mutual Insurance Company in 1979—first serving as a field representative performing inspections and marketing. He served in a variety of roles at the company, ultimately as secretary, director and senior vice president of claims before leaving to join Community Mutual. He served on the NYIA Board of Directors for many years and served as the association’s chair in 2002 and 2003. He was instrumental in the merger of the New York Insurance Alliance and the New York State Insurance Association in 1997. He has served on a variety of NYIA committees in his 35-year history with the association and currently serves on the Nominating Committee.

White is active in the fire community. He joined the East Greenbush Fire Company in 1975 and has held numerous offices including first assistant chief. He is a fire investigator for the Town of East Greenbush Fire Evidence Technician Group and is part of the Rensselaer County Fire Investigation Unit. He is a New York State level 2 fire investigator. White is a graduate of the State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome with a degree in criminal justice. He holds the chartered insurance operations professional designation. He resides in East Greenbush, N.Y. with Colleen Masters and their daughter Shea. He also has three grown children, Kimberly, Thomas and Madeline. Community Mutual, an advance premium insurance company, writes insurance throughout New York using the independent agency system. The company traces its beginning to 1854, making it one of the oldest mutual insurance companies in New York State.

’Union Mutual of Vermont Companies’offers insurance in New England through’two companies, Union Mutual Fire’Insurance Company and New EnglandGuaranty Insurance Company, Inc. Thecompany has two affiliates in New York,Community Mutual and Eastern MutualInsurance Company.