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Chase, Clarke Stewart & Fontana is a local, independent insurance agency based in Springfield. The agency has been providing property and casualty products to its insureds in Western Mass since 1827.
For those interested in any agency position in the Springfield area, please note that the agency is currently looking for a new Personal Lines Account Manager to join their team.
Now on to our weekly round-up of the latest announcements, press releases and notices on career and company news of interest to our community…
Company News
City of Boston and Fundación MAPFRE Turn to Virtual Reality to Reduce Traffic Fatalities, Injuries
Initiative is part of comprehensive Vision Zero plan to eliminate road-related deaths and injuries
According to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Fundación MAPFRE, the most common cause of unintentional injury death among children 1-14 years of age (49 percent) was transportation-related, including children as passengers in cars, on motorcycles and bicycles, and as pedestrians. While the number of transportation-related deaths has been decreasing over time for all ages, they claimed the lives of 21,571 children ages 0-14 nationwide from 2005–2017.
With those sobering statistics in mind, Fundacion MAPFRE has partnered with Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Transportation Department to launch a new collaborative effort to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious crashes and collisions among pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in Boston.
“Road safety is one of the most critical issues we face as a society,” said Alfredo Castello, chief representative of Fundación MAPFRE in the United States. “We are proud to work with Mayor Walsh and Boston’s transportation team on this important initiative that supports our shared Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries and protecting those who use our roadways.”
The program, Look Both Ways, Boston, supports the City of Boston’s Vision Zero Boston program, which focuses on proven strategies to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes in the city by 2030 and urges those who use the city’s streets to look at every situation from the other person’s perspective. Fundación MAPFRE, a global nonprofit organization, has long championed initiatives that work to eliminate traffic fatalities around the world.
“Ensuring Boston’s streets are safe for all is the number one priority of the Boston Transportation Department,” said Mayor Walsh. “Through Boston’s Vision Zero plan, including initiatives such as the implementation of the Neighborhood Slow Streets Program, the incorporation of buffered bike lanes, and the adoption of updated traffic sign and signal technology, we will continue to utilize every resource to ensure to safety of Boston’s streets. I look forward to this partnership with Fundación MAPFRE and encourage residents to learn more about this campaign at Boston City Hall.”
“This public safety campaign will further the goals of Go Boston 2030, the city’s comprehensive transportation plan to ensure safe, reliable and equitable access to our streets for all users,” said Chris Osgood, City of Boston Chief of Streets. “An unprecedented public engagement process influenced the 58 projects and policies outlined in the plan and which Boston’s Transportation and Public Works Departments are making significant progress to implement. The new partnership with Fundación MAPFRE is another opportunity for people to get involved and to promote Go Boston 2030 improvements and, in particular, safe streets.”
The initiative, which kicks off at City Hall Plaza on September 19 and 20, features a virtual reality (VR) experience in which users get behind the wheel to navigate three different scenarios that test their safe driving skills. In addition to measuring speed and adherence to traffic rules, the interactive experience uses eye-tracking technology to monitor distracted driving when confronted with increasingly complex driving situations. Following the event, Look Both Ways, Boston will bring the VR experience to college campuses and other locations across Massachusetts.
Fore more information on Look Both Ways, Boston, continue on to the Look Both Ways website here.
MBA Insurance Voted ‘Best Professional Liability Insurance’ for Second Consecutive Year
The Massachusetts Bar Association Insurance Agency, based in Springfield and Boston, was recently voted the winner of “Best Professional Liability Insurance” in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2019 Reader Rankings. This is the second year in a row that the MBA Insurance has been recognized as the top winner in this category. The rankings offer a look at the companies and services that Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly readers have rated highly across a range of categories. According to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, the 2019 Reader Rankings survey generated 11,054 votes in 69 categories, with ballots cast by 2,801 voters.
“We are grateful to be recognized for the second year in a row by lawyers for our commitment to providing quality coverage and unequaled service,” said Terence J. Welsh, president of the MBA Insurance Agency. “Thank you to our member policyholders for selecting the MBA’s program for their professional liability insurance needs.”
Founded in 1997, the MBA Insurance Agency provides MBA members exclusive access to high-quality, competitively priced insurance programs designed by lawyers, for lawyers. Its professional liability plans offer extensive coverage that protects members serving both in their regular practices and on non-profit boards. Lawyers who invest in professional liability coverage also receive the added benefit of free, lifetime insurance protection when they permanently retire from private practice.
Professional liability is just one of several components of the MBA’s comprehensive insurance coverage, which also includes group term life insurance, individual disability, long-term care, group personal excess liability insurance, health insurance, dental insurance and personal auto insurance. Customized policies are available to suit the needs of solo practitioners, small- and mid-size practices, and the state’s largest law firms.
RogersGray announced as “Top Insurance Workplace”
Insurance Business America, a top industry publication, recently announced that RogersGray has been included in the prestigious list of agencies across the United States being recognized a “Top Insurance Workplaces” in the industry.
A total of 53 companies achieved the distinction of Top Insurance Workplace for 2019 with 64% of them in the same category as RogersGray. To be considered a Top Insurance Workplace, organizations were invited to fill out an employer form to provide details on their various offerings and practices. Employees from nominated companies were then asked to fill out an anonymous form evaluating their workplace on several metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development and diversity.
“We work very hard at RogersGray to provide an exceptional work experience for our team members.” Says Allison McEachern, Chief People Officer at RogersGray. “We have a team of people dedicated to learning, development opportunities and career advancement in addition to many cultural and workplace initiatives designed to make RogersGray a fun, inclusive and caring place to work.”
In order to be considered, each company had to reach a minimum number of employee responses based on overall size. Organizations that achieved at least an 80% average satisfaction rating from employees were named a Top Insurance Workplace. RogersGray has a score of 89.3% and was the top New England agency on the list.
“These recognitions are very important to us.” Says David Robinson, President & CEO of RogersGray. “We want the best team consulting and advocating for our clients and having a supported, engaged and extremely knowledgeable workforce is just the way to do achieve that.”
Marias Technology Hired by Hospitality Insurance Group
HIG comprises Hospitality Mutual Insurance Company and Hospitality Insurance Company
Marias Technology, a provider of software testing and implementation services to the insurance industry, has been contracted by Hospitality Insurance Group (HIG) of Southborough, Massachusetts, to provide testing and implementation services for its new core processing system. The agreement was effective July 1, 2019.
“Dick Welch and his team take a no-nonsense approach to their business,” said R. Christopher Haines, President and CEO of Marias. “They were very thorough in getting to know us. They asked a lot of questions. And they made certain they were comfortable with us before starting our working relationship. We look forward to helping them get the most out of their system.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Marias will help ensure system requirements are complete, accurate, and clearly defined; upgrades and new functionality are implemented correctly; and testing is done thoroughly, including QA, regression, and UAT.
“Marias came highly recommended from the system vendor and from other Marias customers,” said Richard (Dick) E. Welch, Jr, President & CEO of HIG. “Given their high level of experience, we have an equally high level of confidence in them. Chris Haines and his team were very agreeable in everything we asked of them. This is a step forward for our company.”
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