Individuals Have Until June 7th to Submit Their Nomination
Michael Pezza, the Library’s Executive Director, has announced that nominations for The Insurance Library’s 2024 Insurance Professional of the Year Award are now open. Each autumn, the 132-year-old Insurance Library Association of Boston recognizes an insurance professional who demonstrates outstanding leadership and exemplifies qualities that foster commitment to, understanding of, and respect for the insurance industry.
Officially known as the Insurance Professional of the Year Award, or IPYA, the award is a current incarnation of the old Boston Board of Fire Underwriters Man of the Year Award. Revived in 2002, it was first made possible by the establishment in 2001 of the Richard B. Simches Fund. Mr. Simches, who founded Safety Insurance Company, believed that it was important to recognize outstanding individuals in the insurance industry. Pezza explained, “The award will be presented at a luncheon gala on Friday, October 4, at the InterContinental Boston. Details, including the name of this year’s recipient of this singular honor, and sponsorship opportunities, will be announced in late June.”
Criteria used in selecting the Insurance Professional of the Year
The winner will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of a cross-section of the industry, which will consider nominations submitted by Library members and the public.
Among the criteria for the winner are that they have earned the respect and admiration of the insurance community, and are recognized as honest, hardworking, and public-spirited.”
Those interested in submitting a nomination should do so on the Library’s website at https://bit.ly/IPYA23NOM, providing all required information and an expansive statement in support of their nominee. Nominations will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7.
Past Winners of the IPYA Award
The following is a list of past winners of the annual award:
| 2002 | William F. Hofmann, III CPCU, CLU, CIC, AAI, LIA | 2012 | Hope A. Aldrich |
| 2003 | John B. Connors | 2013 | Francis X. Bellotti |
| 2004 | David J. Lane | 2014 | Francis A. Mancini |
| 2005 | Ralph “Buddy” Iannaco | 2015 | John A. Myers |
| 2006 | Daniel J. Johnston | 2016 | Charles (Charley) J. Brophy |
| 2007 | John K. Golembeski | 2017 | Timothy Hegarty |
| 2008 | Ronald Mariano | 2018 | J. Bruce Cochrane |
| 2009 | Richard “Dick” W. Brewer | 2019 | Nancy Z. Bender |
| 2010 | Michael J. Sabbagh | 2021 | K. Douglas Briggs |
| 2011 | Sandra G. Parrillo | 2022 | Mary Boyd |
| 2023 | Daniel Bridge |
How to nominate someone you know…
To nominate someone who you think should be this year’s Insurance Professional of the Year, please use the new application form available on the Insurance Library website:
