William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York Honors Goodman Award Recipient
Michael A. Smith, CLU, a partner at Rampart America and long-time William Penn general agent, was honored as the 2010 Paul Goodman Award recipient. The award, established in 1998 by William Penn, is given to a person who reflects the innovative spirit and commitment to the brokerage distribution system exhibited by the late Paul Goodman, the company’s former president. Paul Goodman was known for his ability to recognize exceptional performance in the people around him; choosing each year’s honoree is William Penn’s attempt to do that as well.
Before announcing this year’s recipient, Frank Gencarelli, senior vice president of marketing and distribution, Legal & General America, expressed how this award truly honors Paul Goodman. Goodman was with William Penn in the days back when universal life products were born and helped establish the company as a premier brokerage company of New York.
Gencarelli went on to acknowledge past award recipients in attendance and invited them to stand beside him and Jimmy Atkins, CEO, Legal & General America, to present Smith with the award. Smith’s name has been added to the antique silver bowl next to those of past honorees.
When called up to receive his award he ran down the line of past recipients doling out high fives to all. In his acceptance he said, “I bleed William Penn blood.” At a loss for more words, he gave many thanks to all in attendance and William Penn saying, “I will honor the trophy.”
Smith has been a William Penn general agent since 1979. He was without a doubt destined for the insurance business from the start, receiving his masters from Temple University in risk and insurance. Upon graduation he joined his father, Melvin S. Smith, JD, CLU, ChFC, at The Smith Agencies. In 1993 he joined forces to form Rampart-Smith Agency, Inc., of which he remains president (the agency is part of Rampart America Life Insurance Services Group). In 1999 Smith was inducted into the William Penn Hall of Fame. He is a 26-year Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, two-time qualifier for the Top of the Table, and six-time qualifier for the Court of the Table. Smith has previously sat as president and chairman of The New York Center for Financial Studies and president of the New York City Chapter of The Society of Financial Service Professionals.
