Newly Elected PIANY President Speaks on Importance of the Association

During the PIANY awards dinner and reception held at Shaker Ridge Country Club, Colonie, newly elected PIANY President Eugene L. Sandy told fellow board members their dedication and commitment to the association and the industry is contagious. “PIA is great at helping agents run and at marketing their own agencies: I want to put this expertise to work for PIA and its members … The same goes for our company relationships … We exist as an organization to do this.”

PIANY Elects Officers, Board of Directors for 2015-16 PIANY officers were elected for the 2015-16 administrative year at the association’s annual business meeting on Sept. 10 in Glenmont:

• Eugene L. Sandy, CIC, of Stony Brook, was elected president. He is director of marketing for the Millennium Alliance Group LLC in Syosset.

• John Parsons II, CIC, CPIA, AAI, of Skaneateles, was elected presidentelect. He is executive vice president of Parsons and Associates Inc. in Syracuse.

• Paul G. Casciaro, CIC, CSRM, CPIA, of Kingston, was elected first vice president. He is chairman and CEO of Frank H. Reis Inc., in Kingston.

• Jamie Ferris, AAI, CIC, CPIA, was elected vice president. He is president of P.W. Wood & Son Inc., in Ithaca.

• Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, was elected vice president. He is director of administration for Lawley Services Inc. in Buffalo.

• John R. Tomassi, CPCU, was elected treasurer. He is president of the Winfield Group in Clifton Park.

• Bruce D. Rowledge of Scotia, was elected secretary. He is president of Rowledge Agency in Scotia.

• Anthony A. Kubera, CIC, of Buffalo, will serve as immediate past president. He is director of business development for Russell Bond & Co. Inc., in Buffalo. Also elected at the business meeting to the PIANY board of directors to serve for three-year terms, ending in 2018:

• Richard Andrews, LUTCF, of Andrews Agency Inc., Ithaca;

• Tim Dean, CIC, CRM, of Marshall & Sterling Inc., Poughkeepsie;

• Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, of Lawley Services Inc., Buffalo;

• Anthony Kammas of Skyline Risk Management Inc., Flushing;

• Leslie Rogoff of Madison Avenue Brokerage, New York City;

• Eugene L. Sandy, CIC, of Millennium Alliance Group LLC, Syosset;

• Frances A. Scott of FA Scott Insurance Agency, Goshen; and

• Gary Slavin, CLTC, CIC, of MetLife, Garden City. The following individual was elected to serve for a two-year term, ending in 2017:

• Gino A. Orrino, CPIA, of Orrino Capital Services Inc., Corona.

PIANY Members Recognized The following individuals received honors at the awards dinner:

• Shawn M. Kain, CIC, CPCU, ARe, was honored with the PIA of New York’s Young Insurance

Professionals Lifetime Achievement honor. Kain is vice president of Utica First Insurance Co., Utica. The honor was given to Kain in recognition of his commitment to the high standards of professionalism, networking and service to NY-YIP and the insurance industry as a whole.

• Alan Plafker, CPIA, of Manhasset, received a presidential citation. He is president and CEO of Member Brokerage Service LLC, Briarwood. An active member of PIANY, Plafker served as president in 2013-14; president- elect in 2012-13; first vice president in 2011-2012; vice president in 2010-11; treasurer in 2009-10 and secretary in 2008-09.

• Guy Maddalone of Clifton Park, was awarded the association’s Community Service award. Maddalone is founder and CEO of GTM Payroll Services, which provides payroll, tax, and insurance services to households and businesses. His brother, Michael Maddalone (pictured on page 36), accepted the award on his behalf.

• Justin Fries, CIC, CPCU, CPIA, was named Committee Chair of the Year. The award recognizes the time and effort agent volunteers give to help guide the association and implement programs to benefit its members. Fries is the owner of Garber Atlas Fries & Associates, Oceanside.

• Lewis L. Wilson, CIC, CPIA, CPCU, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from PIANY’s Political Action Committee. The award recognizes Wilson as an individual who has established a history of service and dedicated leadership. Wilson is the president and owner of Fire Mark Insurance Agency and the Wilson

Group, Cobleskill.

• Henry Kaye, CIC, received the Distinguished Insurance Service award. This award is presented to individuals in the insurance industry who have a history of significant contributions and support to the regional insurance community.