Zurich Small Business Named AIMS Society Commercial Company Partner of the Year

Zurich Small Business has been named Commercial Lines Company Partner of the Year by the American Insurance Marketing & Sales (AIMS) Society. The award, presented during this year’s AIMS Society’s Annual PRO-to-PRO Executive Retreat in Tampa, recognizes extraordinary support the company provides to help agents sell and market better.
 
Zurich Small Business was nominated for the award by Rick Dygve, CPIA, executive vice president of Johnson & Strachan Insurance Agency in Fairfax, Va., because of its overall marketing support, including the introduction of a new, innovative restaurant program last year. “Our agency insures a major national fast-food chain but had been unsuccessful in getting a large, national carrier to take part in the program,” Dygve says. “Zurich Small Business agreed to write all of the coverages for the account—workers comp, GL, auto and umbrella—at a competitive rate and with excellent coverage benefits.”
 
In presenting the award to Zurich Small Business President Carl Hackling and company Field Executive Patti Davidson, Dygve added, “We quickly got comfortable with the program on one account and have been able to expand it to other chain-type accounts we write.”
 
Hackling said, “We are honored to receive this recognition from the AIMS Society because it comes directly from our customers, our agents. The award validates the journey we began two years ago to turn our business around through the hard work and commitment of our employees. We are most appreciative.”
 
“Helping our agents grow their businesses by expanding our appetite, improving competitiveness and ease of doing business, and having employees who are relentless about solving agents' problems are our key priorities,” he added. “We believe Zurich Small Business provides a partnership approach to growth, for our agents and the company.”
 
AIMS Society President Jim Gosselink, CPIA, CIC, LUTCF, president of Pella, Iowa-based Tulip City Agency, Ltd., notes, “Companies and agents have a unique partnership—one that can significantly impact agency success. We’re pleased to recognize Zurich Small Business as a carrier that goes the extra mile to help agents grow—something our members find to be especially valuable in today’s competitive marketplace.”
 
About AIMS Society: Founded in 1968 as The Firemark Society, the AIMS Society is a national, member-driven organization that provides practical training, information and networking services designed to increase the personal and agency sales production of property and casualty insurance agents. AIMS Society was the first organization to honor property and casualty agents for sales excellence and to establish the industry’s only sales-based insurance designation—the Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA). Completion of the CPIA designation requirements is not necessary to qualify for AIMS Society membership.

Published on March 11, 2011