Insurance executives form Jersey City-based trade association, Hudson Insurance Federation

The Hudson Insurance Federation of New Jersey, Inc., (HIF) has formally announced its establishment as the newest New Jersey-based trade association. HIF consists of members across all segments of the insurance industry including property-casualty, life-health, brokers and agents, regulators, and compliance professionals. HIF’s co-founders include James M. Burns, a partner at Genova Burns LLC, and Peter McKeegan, Senior Vice President of Financial Lines Underwriting for Hallmark Financial, both longtime leaders in the Jersey City insurance market.

“We saw an opportunity to create a trade organization in Jersey City that meets the continuing education, professional development and networking needs of leading insurance industry executives”, said Burns, HIF’s President.

“We envision HIF as a forum for insurance professionals across New Jersey to discuss the major ideas and trends in the industry across company lines and to interact with regulators,” said McKeegan.

“This market needs a forum for the professional development of insurance industry leaders,” said Michele Fenice, Vice President, EPL Claim Leader of Chubb North America Financial Lines Claims and Chair of the HIF Board’s Membership Committee. “The possibilities for industry engagement are limitless not only for established executives, but for new entrants to the insurance industry.”

A major priority of HIF is to promote career opportunities for new aspirants in the insurance industry, particularly minorities and women. The Board of HIF has set the goal of partnering with local institutions of higher education in promoting those career opportunities.

Ken Kobylowski, Senior Vice President of Provider Contracting and Network Operations for AmeriHealth New Jersey, and former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, serves as Chair of HIF’s Program Development Committee. “We will begin to offer virtual events to members this Spring and believe HIF will fill a local void as business travel to conferences remains on hold due to the pandemic.” Early programming priorities include “Meet the Regulators” events and “conferences on industry trends such as Insuretech” added insurance expert William F. Megna, also a HIF co-founder.

HIF membership is open to all insurance professionals in the New Jersey market. For more information or to become a member of HIF, please visit our website at www.hifnj.org.