The announcement (reported on page 3) that the Latin American Brokers Association has been launched—roughly coincided with comments made by PIANJ’s newly elected President, Donna M. Cunningham, CPIA, of Florham Park N.J., citing diverse minority populations, often termed “emerging markets,” as accounting for more than 50 percent of the U.S. population by 2050. Ms. Cunningham said the industry must do more to encourage agents of diverse backgrounds to enter the industry and nurture their success, during her inaugural speech, at the PIANJ-PIANY annual awards banquet at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Atlantic City, N.J. “We hear so much about the need to strengthen the existing independent agency system in order to guarantee its perpetuation, yet little is spoken about the diverse communities that are waiting for agents to represent them,” Cunningham said. To achieve her goal, Cunningham, coowner and president of ADP/Statewide Insurance Agencies Inc., Cedar Knolls, N.J., proposed PIA work with its carrier partners to develop a program to help aspiring agents with a fully integrated mentoring program for emerging market producers. “Having a company appointment is no guarantee of success. Emerging market producers need more than a market or two.

They need a vibrant internal infrastructure and lots of training in order to succeed,” Cunningham said. “It is not enough for [new agents] to understand the insurance business; they must also understand the business of insurance.” Cunningham cited her own experience founding an independent agency as an example of the challenges new agents face and she noted the value PIA provided in this effort: “When starting an agency from scratch, things such as business plans, budgets and loss runs don’t exist. As hard as we worked, the first company appointment was difficult to come by…” she said, referencing support the association offers new agencies. “PIA already leads the industry in nurturing agent relationships with carriers. But, we can do more,” she said. Cunningham called for PIA and carriers to work as a team in an expanded PIANJ Emerging Markets Task Force to develop a program for emerging market producers. “Each of the players in this effort: companies, agents and PIA have to commit the necessary resources to achieve this common purpose,” she said, noting that full commitment will be necessary for the program to succeed. “The insurance industry has been good to each and every one of us. Now, it’s time for us all to give back: We can’t participate in this mentoring process half-heartedly, we must believe that success in serving the emerging markets is important to all of us.” Ms. Cunningham makes some valid points here, as does Mr. Rivera on the preceding page, but, for our part, we have seen such efforts before and have seen a spate of minority associations formed and folded over the past thirty years. We hope that these present initiatives work and stay afloat for all of the right reasons, although our long view is that groups like LABA would do well to associate with larger entities and take advantage of the clout and strengths of, for example, CIBGNY or PIANY-NJ or IIABNY or all of them. Each of these associations started as either generic or geographic clusters and pooled resources, regardless of any preponderance of ethnics or other separating factors. I know that there are Arab American, Asian American and other associations and that discussions have been held among other groups with some motion forward, but these often wilt as the realization arises that there is far more commonality than separateness—except some language problems among consumers and the securing of capital for start ups. The idea of mentoring is a strong one, letting agencies pilot smaller entities in emerging markets, but that is hardly a new idea. It is one, however that takes commitment. In that sense, Cunningham and Rivera may be on to something. One advantage the LABA has is a strong board. Its FOUNDING EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS is: Chairman & President - Elmer Rivera - Jimcor Agencies, Inc; Vice President - Jorge Hernandez - North Franklin Brokerage; Vice President of Corporate Relations - Julio Martinez - Travelers Co's. Inc.; Executive Secretary - Patricia Mahecha - Abetx International Brokerage, Inc.; Corresponding Secretary - Elsa Fernandez - Jimcor Agencies, Inc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS includes: Social Planning Committee Chairperson - Ricardo Bellido - Bellido Insurance Brokerage, Inc.; Membership Benefits & Services Committee Chairperson - Herminia Bonilla - Sammy Brokerage, Inc.; Outreach Program Committee Chairperson - Eduardo Giraldo - Abetx International Brokerage, Inc.; Membership Drive & Expansion Committee Chairperson - Eduardo Illaraza - Besmatch Insurance, Inc.; Social Media & Web Content Committee Chairperson - Israel Mendez - American Transit Insurance Co.. … From the IIA, a hearty “Salud!”… More MSO news as Jan Scites and her able team continue to expand services and programs: MSO, the Mutual Services Office, has expanded its Workers’ Compensation/ Employer’s Liability Premium Audit service outside of New Jersey. Fax/telephone audits are now also available in the states of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. MSO has offered physical and fax/telephone audits in New Jersey since 1997.In addition to audit services, MSO offers a full line of commercial and residential property and liability inspections and remains the oldest continuously operating property/casualty rating service bureau, providing product development and rating services to the insurance industry since 1944.…Enjoyed the PIANY-NJ Convention, but would love to see the group try the elegant, new Borgata, although it’s likely to be cost prohibitive… IFNY will honor GNY’s Warren Heck as its Free Enterprise Awardee on November 3rd at Cipriani’s on Wall Street at noon… Last word, thanks to so many of our friends for well wishes on the birth of our second grandson in six months. He is named Ludovico Benedetti and he was born in Rome to our daughter Claudia and her husband, Mauro. In October, Steve Jr. and his wife Veronica gave us Enrico Stefano Acunto. Taking some motive from LABA, in a few years maybe we will start an Italian American Agents and Brokers Association. We can call it “The Real Big “I”. Competition won’t stand a chance with my grandsons involved.… Seriously, thank you.