Industry and Family Pride
October is a busy month in our industry and particularly at PIA of New York. It comes right after the association’s annual change of administration, and the newly inducted president hardly has a chance to get comfortable with his new title before he begins touring the state on behalf of our members. I remember when I was PIANY president in 2004. I hadn’t driven home from my first board meeting as president before hearing from then-Assistant Executive Director for Government Affairs Ellen Kiehl, Ph.D., about planning for our legislative meetings with lawmakers in Albany. While it wasn’t a presidential election year, it was, as always, right before an election and PIA never lets moss grow under its feet with regard to its work on behalf of professional agents and the independent agency system. That was an incredibly busy year for me and my business, but my work as a volunteer with PIA—as a director, officer, and as president— always has been gratifying and beneficial to me.
I was reminded of my presidency during the PIANY change of administration last month. During the installation dinner, newly elected president John Parsons II, CIC, CPIA, AAI, spoke about his recently deceased father and his grandfather. Both had been officers of PIA. In fact, John’s grandfather was a founding member of the association. I know I can speak on behalf of the entire board when I say, as we listened to John—who was there with his family—we couldn’t be more proud. He represents the hard-working, ethical and selfless type of person of which we know our industry is made. I couldn’t help but get a little choked up.
As I sat in the PIANY board meeting the next day, I was still moved by John’s speech. I looked around the room and realized how important family is to PIA. Sitting next to me was David Sidle from the Southern Tier (his father was a PIA director); Bruce Rowlege in the Capital Region is a second-generation independent agent; Justin Fries’s, from Long Island, father Stu was a PIA director and a leader with CIBGNY and the IIABNY; NY-YIP President Jason Bartow, also of Long Island, is in business with his father; Michael Plafker has moved up from the NY-YIP to serving on the PIA board, like his father Alan, who is past president of PIANY; PIANY National Director Rich Savino, who works with his brother Keith, is following the family tradition in the insurance industry; my own daughters worked with me in my agency and continue their successful careers in the business: the list goes on and on. In fact, PIANY’s Young Insurance Professionals organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. This strong group of emerging leaders was formed by the PIANY board to help their sons and daughters grow into the business. PIA truly is a family based organization.
Family is what our organization is about. PIA itself is a family; our members embody this philosophy, both at our offices and in our association; with our staffs, and our actual blood. This quality sets PIA above any other organization with which I’ve been affiliated. And, I truly believe that the success of our industry today, in a time when mega-agencies are buying out those that don’t have perpetuation plans, a family atmosphere is what will keep us in business. Just as PIA put in place a perpetuation plan 30 years ago with the YIPs, all independent agencies need a plan for their family business or with existing key staff. We need to ensure that family firms that hold similar values can merge or expand and maintain the foundation that makes them strong.
As all PIANY presidents do, John has hit the ground running. In his first month, he already has spoken at Hudson Valley RAP and at Binghamton I-Day. He’s been to PIANY Advisory Councils around the state and attended meetings with the NYDFS and lawmakers, which is a continuation of the work he’s been doing on agents’ behalf for years. I know he is a great leader. He’s got fantastic support from his agency, his family and his PIA family.
Speaking of families, PIA’s Glenmont family is growing! The PIA Management Services board announced it has taken on The New PIA of Vermont as yet another state affiliate it serves. I know agents in the Green Mountain State will thrive as the newest members. Welcome to the family, Vermont!
