COLUMBUS, OH – Kathy Lanese, CIC, owner of Affinity Insurance Group in Lyndhurst, OH, received the Independence Bell/Industry Person of the Year Award at the 2014 Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio, Inc. (PIAA) Conference, held Oct. 2-3. The conference celebrated independent insurance agents and their commitment to their clients, their communities and the profession. The award honors someone who has made a significant impact on Ohio’s independent agency system.
Lanese is an established leader in the insurance industry, volunteering her time to serve on various boards and promoting professional development as an important priority for agents. She serves on two company advisory councils using feedback she receives from independent agents in Northeast Ohio to create a dialogue with insurance companies. She then advocates for the issues to be addressed.
“I’m passionate about being a voice for independent agents and their clients,” said Lanese. “The carriers listen and come back with solutions and improvements. It’s exciting to be a part of that process.”
Lanese, an independent insurance agent, began working at her agency in 1996 and acquired it with her husband in 2005. She is currently a trustee for the Insurance Board of Northern Ohio (IBNO) and serves on its Education Committee. Lanese is also a member of State Auto’s Central Region Agency Council and Motorists Mutual President’s Advisory Council.
Serving the community and educating younger generations is also important to Lanese. She is a member of the VFW Post #6768 Ladies Auxiliary and her local Chamber of Commerce. She has co-chaired the Nordonia High School “Kick for the Cure” event and has taught a Junior Achievement class about the insurance industry to grade school students.
“Being an independent agent is a very noble profession. I’m thankful to be part of this industry,” said Lanese. “When someone asks what I do, I am proud to tell them that I offer protection for what people value most – life, health, personal and business assets.”
Ohio Insurance Agents Association
Ohio Insurance Agents Association (OIA) is the collective voice of nearly 1,400 independent agencies that employ nearly 10,000 Ohioans. We promote, progress and protect the professional advice and guidance only independent insurance agents provide. OIA members write 82 percent of the commercial insurance policies and 44 percent of personal insurance policies in Ohio. Our purpose is to help our member agents thrive in a modern insurance marketplace by offering them resources and content in four areas critical for success: digital marketing, recruiting and training, perpetuation and improving the customer experience.