Industry News

PIA National Unveils Winners of its 2024 Fall Awards Program

Awards recognize companies and individuals who help advance independent agencies

OCTOBER 22, 2024, WASHINGTON, DC – The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) announced the winners of its 2024 Fall Awards program. These awards, given out in the spring and fall, recognize top insurance companies, their representatives, and Managing General Agents (MGAs) that help advance the goals of PIA members and independent insurance agencies.

The Fall winners include:

Acuity Insurance – Company Award of Excellence

Acuity continues to provide agents with a stable, viable market which has never been more important for agents in today’s hard market. The insurer also works to improve the customer experience and business environment for agents. Through its Acuity ‘U’ program, it provides free continuing education courses for agents. Acuity maintains high levels of communication through its weekly agent newsletter, “On the Mic.” Its territory directors continue to make in-person agency visits and agent calls and emails to Acuity underwriters receive a prompt response.

Jackson Chesbro, Sales Manager, SECURA Insurance – Company Representative of the Year

Chesbro works with independent agencies to boost their profile and help them grow their business. He is adept at crafting compelling campaigns to elevate an agency’s visibility and engagement within the insurance marketplace. Chesbro is also an ardent supporter and participant in PIA activities, especially with the PIA of Wisconsin. He is heavily involved in PIA’s Young Professional Insurance Network (YPIN), attends every conference and fundraising event, promotes PIA of Wisconsin’s programs including its Winter-Get-Away and annual convention, and has recruited a number of other company marketing representatives to join PIA.

Novatae Risk Group – Managing General Agent of the Year

Novatae is passionate about helping agents and their clients. It offers innovative solutions from responsive brokers, underwriters, and program managers. It delivers exclusive underwriting solutions for dozens of industry classifications from more than 500 global insurers. Novatae has helped independent agencies nationwide write over $900 million in annual premiums in over 500 markets. Its more than 340 employees are passionate about making insurance exciting for agents and their clients.

“Independent agents have high demands from their clients. They want an easy, seamless, fast insurance process that will provide them the protection they need. Agents can’t meet customer expectations alone. They need strong partnerships with insurance organizations,” said Ariel Rivera PIA National President. “The companies and individuals we recognized with these awards are true agent partners. Not only are they dedicated to helping the agencies they work with succeed, but they understand the value of the independent agency distribution channel and continue to help this channel thrive. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees and thank you for all of the work you do.”

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA’s web address is http://www.pianational.org.