I am delighted to here announce that The Marketing Alliance (TMA) has named Maureen Mitchell, Innovative Underwriters, as the 2018 recipient of the Billy Vogel Award. Maureen is the 12th person to receive the group’s highest honor.
The Billy Vogel Award is presented to individuals in the financial services industry who distinguish themselves through their business acumen, innovation and, above all, integrity. The award is named for William E. (Billy) Vogel, the late president of the W. S. Vogel Agency, Inc. who exemplified all of those qualities.
TMA President and CEO Tim Klusas praised Mitchell at the award presentation, “This year’s Recipient is recognized for their business acumen, their innovative resourcefulness, and the integrity essential to work across many lines.”
Mitchell graduated from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in New York with a degree in English Literature. As a result of on-campus recruiting, she was one of three graduating seniors hired by New York Life Insurance Company as an underwriter trainee. She worked at New York Life until 1979 when she joined William Penn. Missing New York City, Mitchell moved to American Mayflower in 1980, where she was promoted into sales and never looked back.
In 1985, she re-joined William Penn and worked in upstate NY and New England for the next 5 years. When MetLife Marketing came looking for seasoned brokerage people, Mitchell grabbed the opportunity to gain experience and exposure, this time on a national scale. Klusas continued, “Maureen often mentions her times at these carriers fondly, including anecdotal stories about life as a new underwriter or traveling the Northeast meeting with various agents and general agents to get them to do business with her and her company.” Just last month I was fortunate enough to hear her relate how she parlayed her affiliation with her college to approach parish priests in small towns in upper New York to find the best insurance agents in their congregations.
By 2000 Maureen tired of life on the road and found the ideal opportunity at Innovative Underwriters that afforded her the ability to use skills she’d developed working with BGAs, serving first as vice president of sales and currently as vice president of strategic relationships. In her words, Maureen often says that she’s like Donny Brasco, “I worked with general agents so long that I became one.”
Klusas quoted one of Mitchell’s peers to describe just a few of Maureen’s many strengths, “Her experience, compassion and communication abilities are second to none. She is also a fantastic resource for information on products, the right people to approach on a problem or for introductions…if there is a way to make a case work or if you need a name, she’s your go-to person. She suits the role very well down to her black patent crocs she is seen wearing around the office.” Ample reasons that Mitchell was honored as the 2017 William Penn Paul Goodman Award honoree in recognition of her accomplishments.
I’m lucky enough to see Maureen regularly at the TMA meetings and know her to be a wonderfully friendly, welcoming and engaging person, as quick with a great story as she is to take time to help anyone who needs it with her wealth of industry knowledge and underwriting savvy.
I add my voice to many congratulating Maureen on a job well done and an honor well deserved. Bravo! [SPH]
