What’s New: In Brief (November 18, 2008)

Blake Craig, president of J. Leroy Gallant Insurance Limited, has been named president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Prince Edward Island.
Craig succeeds the association’s past president, Karen Doiron, who currently serves on the board of directors for the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.
Craig is the grandson of J. LeRoy Gallant, who founded the family-owned brokerage in 1958. Craig took over the management of the agency in 1983.
Gallant Insurance is 100% locally owned and operated, offering a full range of general insurance products including personal property and auto products.
The association’s 2008-10 board of directors includes vice president Darke Carr, secretary Fred Hyndman and treasurer Daniel McInnis.

The Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) is calling for nominees to recognize the most useful improvement of the independent broker distribution channel. 
Nominees can be either an insurer or vendor who has developed an innovative solution using CSIO XML standards.
“CSIO is committed to the continuous development of the independent broker distribution channel,” said CSIO president Steve Kaukinen.  “This award has been created to encourage advances in our industry, and recognize those who help improve customer service and user efficiency.” 
 Any CSIO member can nominate an insurer or vendor member by submitting an explanation based on the following criteria:
•    the most measurable return on investment (as determined by brokers themselves)
•    the greatest positive impact on broker work-flows across the broadest number of brokers
•    the most innovative use of CSIO XML standards.