Category: Corporate News

Conner Strong & Buckelew, American Water, The Michaels Organization, NFI, and The Cooper Foundation Sponsor Community Building Grants to Camden City Based Non-Profit Organizations

CAMDEN, NJ (July 21, 2020) – George E. Norcross, III, Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, announced today that four Camden City based non-profit community organizations will receive grant awards from the supplemental round of the Camden City Community Grant Program. Each grantee will receive a $5,000 grant to fund a significant community building activity within the next 18 months.

Conner Strong & Buckelew, American Water, The Michaels Organization, NFI, and The Cooper Foundation are the founding sponsors of the $1 million grant program which will award community building grants over the next five years to Camden City based non-profit organizations committed to making Camden a healthier place to live, work, learn and play.

In February, the first round of the new program awarded grants to 29 Camden City non-profit organizations. With additional funds available, a supplemental round was announced in early March with a call for applications.

“Now more than ever, it is vital to support community-based organizations who provide services to Camden youth and families,” said Norcross. “We are proud to partner with non-profit community organizers who make a difference In Camden.”

The goal of the Camden City Community Grant Program is to address social determinants of health by funding applicants that demonstrate a focus on one of the following Community Building Activities: physical improvements and housing, economic development, community support, environmental improvements, leadership development and training for community members, coalition building, community health improvement advocacy or workforce development.

Below is the list of the Camden City Community Grant Program Supplemental Round recipients:

Camden County Women’s Center
Program Name: Camden Women’s Center Renovations
Purpose of Grant: To assist with facility upgrades at the Women’s Outreach Center in Camden, which supports victims of domestic violence and their children.

Education Over Everything Foundation
Program Name: Young Moguls Club Youth Entrepreneurship Program
Purpose of Grant: To support an entrepreneurship program for Camden youth by teaching them the skills to establish a business plan for invention, idea or service so they can take their vision to the next level.

LUCY Outreach
Program Name: Youth Night Program
Purpose of Grant: To provide supplies, support and transportation for an existing youth program which offers educational, social and service-oriented programming to low-income residents ages 12-19.

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association
Program Name: Food, Arts & Haiku
Purpose of Grant: To support nutrition and arts for Camden residents in the Waterfront South neighborhood by bringing Community Supported Agriculture, online cooking classes, and food-inspired haiku workshops for all ages.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Click here for a printable download.

CAMDEN, NJ (February 03, 2020) – Today, J.A. Montgomery Consulting, an affiliate of Conner Strong & Buckelew that focuses on risk control, safety and claims services announced the addition of Colleen Vallen to their team. Vallen, a noted forensic services expert with more than two decades of industry experience, will guide the launch of a new forensic practice and serve as Senior Vice President, Forensic Services Practice Leader.

Between Conner Strong & Buckelew’s existing robust claims department and J.A. Montgomery Consulting’s new Forensic Services Practice, the organizations have enhanced their ability to help clients maximize the value of their premium coverage after large and/or complex events including catastrophic property losses.

“Colleen’s expertise in both forensic and investigative accounting makes her the ideal leader to build out this important service for current and future clients,” said Michael Tiagwad, President and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “Clients facing large and complex claims require significant assistance and expertise from proof of loss to final payout. We are excited to expand our claims offering with this dedicated service.”

Previously, Vallen worked as a Partner at Citrin Cooperman where she was the Practice Leader for the firm’s Litigation Support Services Group. Vallen has over 20 years of industry experience, specializing in economic damage analysis and forensic and fraud investigations. In addition, she has worked with Conner Strong & Buckelew’s claims team for the past decade to assist clients in receiving the maximum recovery under their policies.

Complementing Conner Strong & Buckelew’s extensive claims department, J.A. Montgomery Consulting’s Forensic Services Practice will focus on two key areas: claims preparation and forensic services. Under Vallen’s leadership, the team will provide services including preparing proof of loss and coordinating communication with carriers, along with assisting clients with economic evaluations and claim calculations.

Vallen holds her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

About J.A. Montgomery Consulting
J.A. Montgomery Consulting is a leading provider of safety and risk control, forensic accounting and claim preparation services. The firm provides tailored risk control and safety programs that protect the employees and equipment of nearly 500 municipalities, water and sewer utilities, emergency response agencies and counties in the state of New Jersey and beyond. The company also specializes in analyzing, quantifying and compiling financial data and information for loss presentation to insurers in addition to managing complex insurance claims. With routes tracing back to the 1920s, J.A. Montgomery today is an affiliate of insurance brokerage Conner Strong & Buckelew based in Camden, NJ. For more information, visit www.www.jamontgomery.com.

Camden, NJ firm partners with like-minded insurance organizations around the U.S. to deliver initiative’s curriculum, education, and mentorship opportunities specifically for agent/broker-focused technology startups.Camden, NJ (September 23, 2019) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, along with co-founders Holmes Murphy and M3 Insurance, as well as PayneWest Insurance, ABD Insurance & Financial Services and Assurance, are pleased to announce the launch of BrokerTech Ventures, the first program specifically for investors and innovators building the next generation of tech solutions for insurance agencies and brokerages.

“The idea behind the alignment of BrokerTech Ventures as both an accelerator and an investment vehicle is that we, and our agency partners, have an opportunity to shape a product or solution alongside the startup,” said Michael Tiagwad, President and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “InsurTech is a growing and exciting space, and BrokerTech Ventures will help connect startups to brokerages so that we all can help better solve individuals’ and businesses’ risk management and insurance needs.”

BrokerTech Ventures will deploy a highly intentional accelerator curriculum, as well as a veteran mentoring network, seed funding for a portion of the chosen startups’ research and testing, and a distribution platform to deploy the technologies. The window for startup companies to apply for a spot in the first BrokerTech Ventures cohort will open in late October of this year, with program launch planned for February 2020.

“There is an ongoing need for technology solutions specific to agents and brokers, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this cutting-edge initiative,” said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy chairman and CEO. “BrokerTech Ventures will alleviate some of these pain points by creating an ‘innovation hub’ for startups to test broker-centric ideas and products, while bringing new and innovative ideas and solutions to our customers.”

In further building the resources available through BrokerTech Ventures, the owner agencies plan to partner with additional privately held, like-minded, and geographically diverse insurance agencies and brokerages. A targeted, executive search is in progress for the organization’s first managing director, and Brian Hemesath, former managing director of the Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) and a noted InsurTech leader, will provide guidance and counseling on the initiative as the architecture and curriculum for BrokerTech Ventures are built.

To learn more, please visit www.brokertechventures.com.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures is the first broker-led investor group and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance agent-broker industry. Founded in 2019, BrokerTech Ventures provides a venue for the best minds in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BrokerTech Ventures invests in the research and testing for each of the chosen startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and helps scale the technology to market through broker distribution channels. Learn more at www.brokertechventures.com or follow us on Twitter (@BrokerTechVen) or LinkedIn.

https://gbca.com/hard-hat-chat/philadelphia-business-journals-2019-healthiest-employers/

Leading Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Firm Is Recognized for a Third Year for its Commitment to the Health of its Employees

CAMDEN, NJ, (June 14, 2019) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, today announced it has been named one of the region’s healthiest employers in the category of 100 to 499 employees in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s ranking of the 2019 Healthiest Employers of Greater Philadelphia. The firm’s enduring commitment to providing outstanding health and wellness programs to both its clients and employees establishes Conner Strong & Buckelew as a leader in its industry and in the region.

“At Conner Strong & Buckelew, we are benefits people. We realize offering high quality, affordable benefits is a key component to our overall value proposition for our employees and the clients we serve,” said George Norcross, Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “From our daily wellness tips to our annual health fair, we are committed to fostering a culture that implements, promotes and supports our valued employees and their families so they can live well and stay well.”

Conner Strong & Buckelew’s health and wellness program, which is comprised of more than a dozen annual services and incentives provided at no cost to employees, continues to evolve to meet the needs of employees. This coming January, Conner Strong & Buckelew is making its largest investment in employee health and wellness to date by opening a state-of-the-art onsite health center. The opening of the center comes on the heels of the enhancements the firm made to its programming in 2019, including behavioral health resources via telemedicine to provide employees 24-7 access to psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors and therapists offering support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, family difficulties and more. In addition to this new mental health resource, employees can participate in initiatives such as company-wide weight loss and exercise programs, nutritionist visits and financial wellness workshops, among others at no/minimal cost.

“Health and well-being are the heart of our organization. We recognize our employees are our most valuable asset and that a happy, healthy and dedicated workforce is critical to our success,” said Alexis Wolfson, Chief Human Resources Officer of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “We have a 98% completion and participation rate for our annual physical and biometric screenings. One employee received an early cancer diagnoses leading to a prompt treatment and recovery. It’s this type of positive impact that inspires us to grow our health and wellness programs to best support our employees.”

Conner Strong & Buckelew, along with this year’s other distinguished winners, was honored at a special awards event on Thursday, June 13, at the Ballroom at the Ben.

Leading Insurance, Risk Management and Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Firm Is Recognized as the Top Third Insurance Brokerage in Philadelphia Metro Area

CAMDEN, NJ, (May 21, 2019) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, today announced it has been named by the Philadelphia Business Journal as the top third insurance brokerage in the Philadelphia metro area for 2019. This marks the fifth consecutive year Conner Strong & Buckelew was ranked in the book of lists for the top five insurance brokerages in the region.

“Our firm has been in business for 60 years, and throughout that time we have served our clients diligently, while expanding our workforce to provide the best service,” said George Norcross, Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “We recognize our employees are our most valuable asset. Receiving continuous recognition from one of Philadelphia’s top business publications is wonderful confirmation of our team’s success.”

The Philadelphia Business Journal’s book of lists for insurance brokerages in the Philadelphia Metro Area is ranked by the number of local employees. Conner Strong & Buckelew was ranked third out of 22 insurance brokerages in the greater Philadelphia area.

To see the full list, please click here.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew

Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), Facebook (@connerstrongbuckelew) and Instagram (@connerstrongbuckelew).

Lisa Vanore, Former Casino Director of Risk Management, Joins Team as Claims Consultant

MARLTON, NJ (April 12, 2019) – Conner Strong & Buckelew, a leading insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, announced today it has added risk management expert Lisa Vanore to the firm’s claims team. Vanore joins the firm from Philadelphia’s largest casino where she most recently served as the Director of Risk Management. Serving as a Claims Consultant, Vanore will use her nearly 16 years of enterprise-level risk management experience to advise clients throughout the insurance claims process and provide advice on best practices on managing their risk. Vanore’s hiring follows a firmwide trend of hiring high-level, former in-house risk management professionals with first-hand experience, a demonstration of Conner Strong & Buckelew’s commitment to exemplary service and deep expertise.

“Lisa’s experience implementing risk management and safety programs at both a large casino and a university system makes her an invaluable asset to our claim services team,” said Michael Tiagwad, President and CEO of Conner Strong & Buckelew. “At Conner Strong & Buckelew, we strongly believe our clients are best served by teams with on-the-ground, in-house insurance and risk management experience, and we welcome Lisa to a team filled with former risk management professionals, attorneys, and claims consultants.”

At the Casino, Vanore developed and directed comprehensive risk management and safety programs aimed at reducing loss costs at the company.

Prior to her work at Philadelphia’s largest casino, Vanore was the Senior Risk and Insurance Analyst at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and the Manager of Risk Management at CDI Corporation. Vanore has a BBA in Risk Management and Marketing from Temple’s Fox School of Business and Management.

About Conner Strong & Buckelew
Conner Strong & Buckelew is among America’s largest insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. The firm is an industry leader in providing high-risk businesses with comprehensive solutions to prevent losses, manage claims, and drive bottom line growth. Its employee benefits practice focuses on providing best-in-class benefits administration, health and wellness programs and strategic advisory services.

Founded in 1959 with offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia, Conner Strong & Buckelew has a team of more than 400 professionals, serving clients throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.connerstrong.comor follow us on LinkedIn (@ConnerStrong&Buckelew), Facebook  (@connerstrongbuckelew), Twitter (@connerstrong), and Instagram  (@connerstrongbuckelew).