Producer Trade Group Announces Board Chairman

Friday, May 21, 2021 | 0

Insurance producer trade organization Big I New York this week elected Ronald M. Brunell as the chairman of its board for the 2021-22 term.

Ronald M. Brunell

Brunell was sworn in during a ceremony as part of Big I New York’s Annual Business Meeting, held at The Garden City Hotel in Garden City, the association said. Brunell is managing principal of The Signature B&B Companies, an Acrisure agency partner with locations in Garden City and Elmsford.

A past member of the Big I New York board of directors, Brunell has chaired the group’s audit and finance committees and served as chair of the board of IAAC, the group’s member services division.

He is past president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Queens, the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Kings Counties and the Downstate Insurance Council.

Brunell said Big I New York’s priorities for the coming year include recruitment of new talent into the insurance industry, helping agencies adapt to advances in technology, advocating for insurance agencies and brokerages with state lawmakers and regulators, and helping them find the markets they need to serve their clients.

Big I New York also announced that Nicholas C. Masterpole of Masterpole-Murphy Agency in Syracuse was elected to a one-year term as vice chair and secretary-treasurer.

Big I New York members also elected and re-elected the following regional directors:

• David Bodenstein of Mike Preis Inc. in Callicoon, to a two-year term representing the east-north region.
• Marianne McCormick of Harding Brooks Insurance Agency in Binghamton, to a two-year term representing the west-central region.
• Ted Walsh of Walsh Duffield Companies in Buffalo, to a two-year term representing the west-central region.
• Doug Benz of New Buffalo Insurance Agency in Buffalo, to a two-year term representing the west-central region.

Finally, Lane Rubin of The Excelsior Group in Valley Stream was elected to a two-year term as member representative on the nominating committee that evaluates candidates for leadership positions and makes recommendations to the membership. Rubin is a past chair of the Big I New York board.