ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 23, 2012 – Sterling Insurance Company is the newest member of the Trusted Choice® consumer branding program for independent insurance agents and brokers. Sterling Insurance Company, headquartered in Cobleskill, N.Y., has joined 66 other leading insurance companies nationwide as a Trusted Choice® company partner.
“Trusted Choice® is pleased to welcome Sterling Insurance Company as the newest company partner,” said Dave Evans, Trusted Choice® executive director. “The Sterling Insurance Company exemplifies the Trusted Choice® Pledge of Performance and we look forward to working with them to serve the needs of Trusted Choice® agents and their clients.”
Sterling Insurance Company is a regional property-casualty insurance company that offers a variety of personal and business lines of insurance mostly in the state of New York.
“IIABNY is pleased that the Sterling Insurance Company, which is a well-respected New York based company, has chosen to support its distribution force through engagement in Trusted Choice®,” says Richard A Poppa, CAE, AAI, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. (IIABNY) president & CEO. “Our association has a long history of working with the fine team of professionals at the Sterling Insurance Company and recently presented them with 2012 Outstanding Company Partner Awards in both the personal and business insurance categories. We look forward to working even closer with Sterling as Trusted Choice® continues to build significant momentum among agents, brokers and carriers that support the independent agency system.”
The history of Sterling Insurance Company dates back to 1895 and efforts to establish a mutual fire insurance company. The Schoharie and Otsego Mutual Fire Insurance Company was established in 1896 and in 1910, the corporate name was changed to Sterling Fire Insurance Company in recognition of the geographic expansion of operations. In 1941, the charter was amended to extend the company’s territory to the entire state of New York and in 1951 the company merged with the Empire Co-operative Fire Insurance Company of Middleburgh. In 1953, the Wyoming Valley Fire Insurance Company of Warsaw, N.Y. was merged. The present title was adopted in 1959, to reflect the company’s expansion into other lines of business, particularly casualty. In 1989, the company began writing personal automobile policies.
“We have always believed that the independent agent system is the best possible distribution channel for our numerous products,” says Stephen A. Harris, CPCU, Sterling Insurance Company President and CEO. “Independent agents possess the expertise and professionalism necessary to explain the many intricacies of insurance in an understandable manner to the insuring public. We are as committed to the independent agency force today as we have ever been. Our decision to become a Trusted Choice® company partner is evidence of that unwavering commitment.”
Trusted Choice® was launched by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) and several independent agency companies to highlight the benefits independent agencies and brokerage firms offer consumers—choice of companies, customization of policies and advocacy support. It is the premier consumer brand for independent insurance agents and provides national advertising and other strategic tools to reach consumers.
Trusted Choice® is the consumer marketing identity for more than 24,000 independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms and 67 leading insurance companies. For more information, go to www.TrustedChoice.com.
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