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On October 17, brokers from across Ontario came together in Niagara Falls to attend the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario’s (IBAO) 98th annual convention and get recognized for their hard work at the annual Awards of Excellence Gala, which acknowledged top performing brokers and brokerages throughout the province.
“There’s so much talent and passion in the broker channel. This year’s finalists were especially impressive this year,” said IBAO President Brian Purcell. “It’s important we take time to recognize top achievers across this channel.”
The 2018 IBAO Awards of Excellence winners included:
Affiliate of the Year — Insurance Brokers Association of Hamilton (IBAH)
Affiliate President Ashley Manti leads the IBAH, an affiliate that boasts a strong social media presence. The team drives engagement by regularly hosting events focused on education via seminars, webinars, and RIBO licensing courses. This year, these events have produced around 60 new licensed brokers.
The charity work of IBAH has seen the team adopt a room at the Ronald McDonald House through a $25,000 donation while their political advocacy work includes keeping municipal candidates up to date on the role of IBAH and IBAO. Through its work, IBAH has become an integral part of Hamilton’s insurance community.
Young Broker of the Year — William Chan, BrokerTeam
Chan is the new BrokerTeam president, a brokerage that was recognized as 2017’s Brokerage of the Year. Royle Leung, BrokerTeam’s founding president, singled Chan out as his successor, and he has been a core member of the senior management team as it developed various reforms and initiatives, such as digitization, restructuring, and a forward-thinking plan to make BrokerTeam a commercial insurance expert. Chan likewise gives back to his community through his work with the Joy Beyond Vision Community, an NGO operating in the GTA on behalf of the Chinese-speaking visually impaired.
As a leader of a top brokerage in Ontario, Chan is ready to bring more change to BrokerTeam and the broker channel.
Brokerage of the Year — Mitchell & Whale
Whitby-based Mitchell & Whale is headed up by president Adam Mitchell, and is known for its culture, innovation and success. As the 2017 Innovator of the Year, Mitchell & Whale has an innovation team that develops tools to improve workflows and create efficiencies within the organization.
The brokerage is well known for its casual dress code, though the team takes its focus on personal growth and self-improvement seriously. In 2018, they expanded into a new office that has a putting green, ping pong tables, and full gym. Over the last decade, since Mitchell has led as president, Mitchell & Whale has grown organically from $2.5 million GWP to $25 million, and because of its investment in staff and implementation of new solutions, the brokerage stands out in the province.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
