Selective Joins The PIA Partnership

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, June 21, 2011  - The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) is pleased to announce that Selective Insurance Company of America (Selective) has joined The PIA Partnership.

Comprised of senior insurance company executives, The PIA Partnership identifies areas of opportunity in the agency-company partnership, facilitates dialogue between senior company executives and PIA leaders and conducts solution-oriented research to enable the creation of practical hands-on tools for agents.

"We are extremely pleased that Selective, a distinguished company with a solid track record of supporting the American agency system, has joined The PIA Partnership," said PIA National Vice President/Treasurer Andrew C. Harris. "Selective's participation demonstrates its ongoing commitment to the continuing success of professional independent agents across the country."

"We believe in PIA's value proposition," said John Marchioni, Executive Vice President, Insurance Operations, of the company's decision to participate in The PIA Partnership. "Your advocacy, your objectives and your business tools align with Selective's commitment to the independent agent channel."

"I've seen first-hand the work PIA is doing on behalf of independent agents in our distribution system," Marchioni said. "The Partnership has developed some valuable tools and agents who are able to leverage this insight will be able to increase their value to their customers."

Selective Insurance Company of America is a subsidiary of Selective Insurance Group, Inc., a holding company for seven property and casualty insurance companies rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best. Through independent agents, the insurance companies offer primary and alternative market insurance for commercial and personal risks, and flood insurance underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program. Selective maintains a website at www.selective.com.

Founded in 1996 with start-up funding from PIA National, The PIA Partnership identifies areas of opportunity in the agency-company partnership, facilitates dialogue between company executives and PIA leaders and conducts solution-oriented research designed to enable both agents and companies to profit from these opportunities. Recent projects of The PIA Partnership have included Reaching Gen Y and Making the Internet Work for You; A Practical Guide to Successful Planning; and Perpetuation Central.

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 members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America (SM). PIA's web address is www.pianet.com.