ICW Group Team Members Honored with Prestigious Industry Accolades

Janice Romero named Insurance Woman on the Year by the San Diego Association of Insurance Professionals

Betsy Johnson named Associate Member of the Year by the Insurance Brokers and Agents of San Diego

Alison Holmes Named Professional Underwriter of the Year by the International Association of Insurance Professionals Region VIII

SAN DIEGO, May 14, 2015—ICW Group Insurance Companies, a leading national group of property and casualty carriers, proudly announced today that three of its western region Team Members have been honored with accolades by leading insurance industry associations. Janice Romero, home office manager in San Diego, and Betsy Johnson, senior business development underwriter (BDU) in San Diego, were both recognized for their mentorship and contributions to the insurance industry by the San Diego Association of Insurance Professionals (SDAIP) and the Insurance Brokers and Agents (IBA) of San Diego, respectively. Alison Holmes, BDU in Sacramento, Calif., was selected from dozens of applicants by the International Association of Insurance Professionals Region VIII (IAIP) for her superior knowledge of the underwriting field and commitment to the profession.

“We applaud Janice, Betsy and Alison for these prestigious and well-deserved awards,” said Paul Zamora, senior vice president of workers’ compensation underwriting at ICW Group. “In addition to their drive, innovative spirit and passion for our industry’s future, these distinctions showcase their pledge to delivering superior service to our valued agents, brokers, and policyholders. Each embodies ICW Group’s “Power of One” ideal—a company value that empowers every team member to make positive differences for our company and our customers. It’s a pleasure to work alongside such a talented group, and we look forward to showcasing their future achievements.”

Janice Romero

Romero was recently promoted to home office manager at ICW Group. An industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, she was selected as the Insurance Woman of the Year by SDAIP for her strong networking skills and contributions to local insurance associations. She is currently the secretary of the Professional Women in Insurance (PWI) board of directors. She is also on the board of the San Diego chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter Society (CPCU), having assumed the role of leadership mentor director—a newly created position where Romero will serve as a go-to resource for San Diego CPCU chapter board members. Romero is active in the organization’s student outreach efforts, and works toward encouraging young talent to seek careers in the insurance sector. Her credentials include an Associate in Management and CPCU designation.

Betsy Johnson

Johnson, the top producing underwriter at ICW Group, holds CIC, CISR and CWCA designations, and is also respected among peers and agents for her dedication to the communities she serves. She was recognized this year by the IBA for her leadership role on the Professional Women in Insurance (PWI) board, having previously served as president and co-chair of the organization’s annual golf tournament—which funds several community-based organizations. For the past 10 years, she has served as a mentor in the Office of Professional Training at Grossmont College, where she helps students prepare for the workplace and life outside of the classroom.

Alison Holmes

Alison Holmes, AINS, AIS, CISR, CPIW, DAE competed against other underwriters in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah to win her award. She stood out among her peers in the running for the Professional Underwriter of the Year for building valuable relationships that enhanced ICW Group’s market penetration in an underserved geographic area. Additionally, Holmes was recognized for her professional advancement and education pursuits which enabled her to expertly analyze risk and underwrite more complex business.

ICW Group’s direct written premium (DWP) for fiscal year 2014 was $789.4 million, up 18.3 percent from the previous year, and a 66.5 percent increase from 2012. The company actively writes primary workers’ compensation insurance in 12 states, with incidental coverage in 34 other states. It was named the number one property casualty insurer in net premium growth for 2013 by National Underwriter.

Connect with ICW Group on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/companies/icw-group, on Twitter via @ICWGroup and Facebook at www.facebook.com/icwgroup

About ICW Group

Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest privately held insurance company domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Property, Auto and Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company. ICW Group is recognized nationally as an industry leader in helping policyholders achieve fewer and less costly claims, and is committed to meeting the needs of its policyholders and elevating the trusted agents and brokers who advise them. More information is available at www.icwgroup.com.

Media Contact

ICW Group
Gary Whitfield
858.350.2963
gwhitfield@icwgroup.com