Co-operative Insurance news
Annual Policyholders' Meeting and Luncheon held April 1
This year's Policyholders' Meeting took place at the Co-operative Insurance Companies offices on Colonial Drive in Middlebury, Vermont.
The meeting was followed by a luncheon at the Middlebury Inn. This year's guest speaker was Art Cohn, executive director of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. His fascinating talk covered some of the historical and archaeological legacy of the lake.
Co-op agency manager wins regional award
Suzanne Orvis, an agency manager with Co-operative Insurance Companies, has been named Insurance Professional of the Year for Region I of the National Association of Insurance Women.
Suzanne was nominated for the Region I award after winning the Vermont state 2007 NAIW Insurance Professional of the Year award last fall. NAIW Region I covers CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT. She will go on to represent Region I at the national conference in Arizona this June.
NAIW promotes integrity, honesty, leadership, respect, fellowship, community involvement and diversity amongst insurance professionals. Suzanne has been a member since 1995, and was elected Vermont Council director for 2008-09. She's been with Co-op since 1974, and is an agency manager in the marketing department. We're proud of her -- congratulations, Suzanne!
AM Best upgrades Co-op's financial strength rating
An industry credit rating organization has raised the outlook for Co-operative Insurance Companies' A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from "stable" to "positive."
AM Best based Co-op's increase on strong risk-adjusted capitalization and sustained favorable underwriting performance, weighed against the challenges of a northern New England market. The move demonstrates continued belief in Co-op's ability to meet its obligations to policyholders.
"We are gratified that AM Best's analysts have the confidence in our people, programs, and direction to award this upgrade," said Jim Sullivan, president and CEO of Co-operative Insurance Companies. "Any upgrade is difficult to achieve; this change is based on several years of efforts to manage our risks and prepare to face the challenges of the future with our policyholders."
For more about Best's Ratings, visit their site at www.ambest.com/ratings.
New Co-op Insurance agency in Woodstock, VT
Co-operative Insurance Companies is pleased to announce that Woodstock Insurance Services of Woodstock, VT, has joined the Co-op family. Lisa Gramling and staff will offer all Co-op products through their independent agency.
Find your local agent with our Agent Locator.
Co-op safety games featured at Idaho National Laboratory fair
Thousands of schoolchildren played Co-operative Insurance Companies' safety-oriented Web games at the 2007 Idaho National Laboratory Science and Engineering Expo in Sept, 2007. The three games, which focus on woodstove, fire, and outdoor safety, were available for play at a safety-themed booth at the fair in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Though Co-op doesn't serve insurance needs in that area, we were pleased to lend the games and help spread the safety message!
(Of course, Web site visitors are welcome to play our games anytime!)
Co-op Web site redesigned
On June 20, 2007, Co-operative Insurance Companies re-launched this Web site (www.co-opinsurance.com). The site highlight is the Agent Locator tool, which allows visitors to search by street address, town, or ZIP code for the nearest Co-op agent.
The site also sports a fresh look in addition to updated and new content, including a safety-themed game.
Co-op CEO begins second year as chair of AAIS
This spring, Co-op president and CEO Jim Sullivan began his second year as chair of the American Association of Insurance Services.
AAIS is a national advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information for more than 600 property and casualty insurers throughout the country.