(Image source: BelAirArmory.org.)
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC, Indianapolis) has presented its Award in Innovation, sponsored by Guy Carpenter, at its 2021 Management Conference to Harford Mutual Insurance Group headquartered in Bel Air, Maryland. Harford Mutual received the overall award for its innovative initiative to develop current employee leadership skills and attract new talent to the insurance industry.
Steven D. Linkous, President and CEO, Harford Mutual Insurance Group.
“We are extremely honored and thrilled to be presented with NAMIC’s 2021 Award in Innovation,” comments Steven D. Linkous, president and CEO, Harford Mutual. “The past 15 months challenged us all to capture opportunities through collaboration and innovation even when we were apart, and Harford Mutual Insurance Group came together like never before.”
Since 2013 when Harford Mutual started its Pipeline and Perpetuation initiative, the company has implemented an internship program, enhanced its employee benefits, created a young professional training program and leadership group, and executed a career pathing project. Throughout this time, the company has promoted nine members from its leadership group and employed 29 interns to date, 13 of which were hired full-time upon graduation.
“Our Pipeline and Perpetuation initiative is critical to our short- and long-term success and strategies,” Linkous adds. “More importantly, it affirms our commitment to our team by ensuring opportunity for all as an important element of a vibrant, engaged, and empowered organization. We thank NAMIC for recognizing our innovation with this award, a clear reflection of the phenomenal team at Harford Mutual that makes our success a reality.”
Charles M. Chamness, president and CEO, NAMIC.
In presenting the award to Linkous, Chuck Chamness, NAMIC’s president and CEO, remarked “The property/casualty insurance industry is experiencing an expanding talent gap as skilled professionals exit the workforce, taking their institutional knowledge with them into retirement. Now, more than ever, finding creative ways to attract young professionals while also developing future leaders is vital to ensuring the successful longevity of our industry. The innovative strategy meticulously executed by Harford Mutual to build its employee and leadership base serves as an excellent example of what keeps the mutual insurance industry moving forward.”
NAMIC applied the following criteria for its Award in Innovation:
- Impact in perpetuating mutuality
- Creativity of idea
- Numbers and/or dollar impact—relative to size of insurer
- Potential for the idea to be adapted and used by other NAMIC members
- Alignment with the NAMIC Management Conference focus areas: strategy, innovation, leadership, industry trends, and the economy
Other NAMIC member companies recognized as category winners were:
- PURE Insurance (White Plains, N.Y.): Best in Category / Creativity
- Mutual of Enumclaw (Enumclaw, Wash.): Best in Category / Impact