PIANY Taps Top Talent for Year
GLENMONT, N.Y.—Jamie A. Ferris, AAI, CIC, CPIA, of Lansing, N.Y., was elected president of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York, at a meeting of the association’s board of directors today, at PIANY Headquarters in Glenmont, N.Y.
Ferris is president of P.W. Wood & Son Inc., in Ithaca, N.Y.
An active member of PIANY, Ferris served as president-elect in 2017-18; vice president in 2014-17 and as secretary in 2013-14. He currently is vice president of the Government Affairs and Nominations Committees and is a member of the Executive/Budget & Finance and Member, Benefits & Services Committees. Ferris also is a member of the Glenmont National Alliance Committee and is vice chairperson of the associations Southern Tier Advisory Council.
Active in his community, Ferris is a member of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. He also is the chairman of the New York State J. David Ferris Memorial 4H Foundation Memorial Golf Open. This tournament, named in memory of the late J. David Ferris, raises money for 4H programs throughout the state. The P.W. Wood Agency is a signature sponsor for this event.
PIANY elects officers for 2018-19
GLENMONT, N.Y.—Officers of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State were elected for the 2018-19 administrative year at the association’s annual business meeting today.
• Jamie Ferris, AAI, CIC, CPIA, of Lansing, N.Y., was elected president. Ferris is president of P.W. Wood & Son Inc., in Ithaca, N.Y.
• John R. Tomassi, CPCU, of Clifton Park, N.Y., was elected president-elect. Tomassi is president of the Winfield Group in Clifton Park, N.Y.
• Anthony Kammas of Flushing, N.Y., was elected first vice president. Kammas is president of Skyline Risk Management Inc., in Flushing.
• Tim Dean, CIC, CRM, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., was re-elected vice president. Dean is president of Marshall & Sterling Inc., in Poughkeepsie, N.Y
• David Sidle II, CIC, CPIA, of Trumansburg, N.Y.. was elected vice president. Sidle is president and CEO of David L. Sidle Agency Inc., in Montour Falls, N.Y.
• Michael Loguercio of Ridge, N.Y., was elected treasurer. Loguercio has been an independent broker since 1978 and is a producer for Atlantic Agency. He also services the insurance industry for Belfor Restoration.
• Gino Orrino, CPIA, of Babylon, N.Y., was elected secretary. Orrino is principal of Orrino Capital Services LLC with offices in Babylon and New York, N.Y.
• Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, of Williamsville, N.Y., will serve as immediate past president. He is director of administration for Lawley Services Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y.
PIANY elects 10 to board of directors
GLENMONT, N.Y.—Professional Insurance Agents of New York State, elected 10 New York professional, independent insurance agents to serve on the board of directors at the association’s annual business meeting today in Glenmont, N.Y.
The following individuals were re-elected to serve for a three-year term, ending in 2021:
• Richard Andrews, LUTCF, of Andrews Agency Inc., in Ithaca N.Y. Active in PIANY, Andrews is chairperson of the Company/Industry Relations Committee and is a member of the Education/Conference Committee. He also is an ex-officio member of the associations Southern Tier Advisory Council.
• Tim Dean of Marshall & Sterling Inc., in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. An active member of PIANY, Dean is vice president of the association and serves as vice president of the Company/Industry Relations Committee. He also is a member of the Education/Conference and Executive/Budget & Finance Committees.
• Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, of Lawley Services Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y. Holender will serve as immediate past president of PIANY in 2018-19. He is executive chairperson of the Executive/Budget & Finance Committee and is an ex officio member of the Company/Industry Relations, Education/Conference, Government Affairs, Member, Benefits & Services, Nominations and PIANY Political Action Executive Committees. He also is a member of the PIANYPAC Governing Committee.
• Anthony Kammas of Skyline Risk Management Inc., in Flushing, N.Y. Kammas will serve as vice president of PIANY for 2018-19. An active member of PIANY, Kammas serves as budget & finance chair of PIANY’s Executive/Budget & Finance Committee. He also is chair of the Company/Industry Relations Committee and he is a member of the Government Affairs Committee. Kammas is a member of the PIANY National Flood Insurance Program subcommittee and he is an ex-officio member of the association’s New York City Advisory Council.
• Frances Scott of F.A. Scott Insurance Agency in Goshen, N.Y. Active in PIANY, Scott is education vice chairperson of the Education/Conference Committee. She also is a member of the Company/Industry Relations Committee and the Hudson Valley Regional Awareness Program Committee. Scott also is an ex-officio member of the Lower Hudson Valley Advisory Council.
• Gary Slavin, CLTC, CIC, of Mass Mutual in Greenvale, N.Y. As an active member of PIANY, Slavin is chairperson of the Member, Benefits & Services Committee and is a member of the Government Affairs Committee.
• Leslie Rogoff of Madison Avenue Brokerage Corp. in New York, N.Y. Active in the association, Rogoff is a conference chairperson of PIANY’s Education/conference Committee. She also is a member of the Member, Benefits & Services Committee and is chairperson of PIANY’s New York City Advisory Council.
Elected to serve a three-year term expiring in 2021:
• Jon Lipton, CIC, of Castle Rock Capacity LLC in New York, N.Y., part of EPIC Brokers. Active in PIANY, Lipton is a member of the Company/Industry Relations and Education/Conference Committees. He also is a member of the association’s New York City Advisory Council.
Elected to serve a two-year term expiring in 2020:
• Jorge Hernandez of North Franklin Brokerage in Hempstead, N.Y. As an active member of PIANY, Hernandez is a member of the Government Affairs and Member, Benefits & Services Committees. He also is a member of PIANY’s Long Island Advisory Council.
Elected to serve a one-year term expiring in 2019:
• Jason Bartow, AAI, CPIA, of Eugene A. Bartow Insurance Agency in Deer Park, N.Y. Active in PIANY, Bartow served as president of the New York Young Insurance Professionals, an affiliate of PIANY, from 2015-18. He also is the NY-YIP Liaison for the Government Affairs and the PIANYPAC Governing Committees.
PIANY presents Distinguished Insurance Service award to Kubera
GLENMONT, N.Y.—The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State, named Anthony Kubera, CIC, its Distinguished Insurance Service award winner at the PIANY annual board dinner on Sept. 13, 2018
“Tony is admired and respected by his peers and colleagues in the industry. This award recognizes his long-standing commitment to the insurance industry,” said Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, president of PIANY.
Kubera has been in the insurance industry for 45 years, beginning as a casualty underwriter for Aetna C&S. He recently retired as director of business development from Russell Bond & Co. Inc., in Buffalo, N.Y.
An active member of PIANY, Kubera served as president of the association in 2014-15 and currently is a member of the Government Affairs, Member, Benefits & Services and Nominations Committees. He also is a member of the PIANY Political Action Committee and is an ex-officio member of the associations Buffalo Advisory Council.
Active in the industry, Kubera is a director and past president of the Insurance Club of Buffalo and the Western New York Insurance Association. He also is on the Steering Committee of Hilbert College, working on developing a Risk Management Program.
Savino receives Professional Agent of the Year from PIANY
GLENMONT, N.Y.— Richard A. Savino, CPIA, CIC, managing partner and CEO of Warwick Resource Group in New York, N.Y. received the Professional Insurance Agents of New York’s Professional Agent of the Year award during the association’s annual board of directors dinner, Sept. 13, 2018.
The Professional Agent of the Year award is given to a professional, independent agent who has demonstrated excellence and achievement in insurance marketing and service; has shown a personal commitment to professionalism; and has contributed to PIA and the community.
“Rich is an effective and respected leader in the insurance industry,” said Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, president of PIANY. “His service to our profession is unique and extensive. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep level of dedication and has earned the respect and trust of his colleagues and clients. PIANY is honored to give him this award.”
Currently, Savino is PIANY’s National Director. Active in the association, Savino served as president in 2011-12 and is chairperson of PIANY’s Political Action: Executive; and Governing Committees. He also is a member of the Company/Industry Relations, Government Affairs and Nominations Committees. He is vice chairperson of PIA Management Services Inc., the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont-based Professional Insurance Associations of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Active in the industry, Savino has been involved in the insurance industry for nearly 40 years and is an expert in the construction industry and related trades. He is past vice president and served on the board of directors for the Rockland County Builders and Remodelers Association and is on the board of directors for the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley. He is a member of the American Insurance and Marketing Society Board and also is a speaker for PIA and the International Risk Management Institute. He is one of the founders of InsureHelp.com, a “virtual” firm for MGA & Brokers aggregating specialty products offered through independent agencies. In 2005, Savino received the National Producer of the Year award from the AIMS.
Active in his community, Savino served on the Strategic Planning Board of the Greater Hudson Bank and is past president of the Congers Valley Cottage Rotary Club, serving on their board of directors. He received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, honoring his many contributions to the Rotary. He also is a member of the Warwick Rotary Club and is active in the Central Orange Italian American Association. Savino also is a member of the County of Rockland Board of Consumer Protection for Contractor Licensing.
PIANY honors Parsons with Community Service award
υGLENMONT, N.Y.—John C. Parsons II, CIC, CPIA, AAI, received the Community Service award at the annual board of directors dinner being held Sept. 13, 2018. He is executive vice president of Parsons & Associates Inc., in Syracuse, N.Y.
The PIANY Community Service Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a significant commitment to the improvement of his or her community.
An active member of his community, Parsons is a member of the organizing committee for the Central New York Tour de Cure, which works to raise awareness of diabetes, funds for camps for children with diabetes and research for a diabetes cure and he is also a long-time blood donor, having donated over 10 gallons of blood over the years.
Parsons is a past Flotilla Commander and boating safety educator in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. An Auxiliarist since 1982, he currently is a member of Flotilla 2-1 based in Phoenix, N.Y. He is a Certified Safe Boating Instructor by the N.Y. Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Department.
Active in PIANY, Parsons is an active past president, serving as president in 2016-17. Currently, he is a member of the Company/Industry Relations and Government Affairs Committees. He also is chairperson of the Nominations Committee and the associations Syracuse Advisory Council. Parsons is a member of PIA Management Services Inc., the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont-based Professional Insurance Agents associations of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont.
“John has demonstrated a deep level of dedication to his community. He has earned the respect and trust of his neighbors, colleagues and clients,” said Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, president of PIANY. “PIANY is proud to present him with this award.”
