PIA Mgmt. Services Names New Pres.-CEO, Chairman

PIA Management Services Inc. announced the recent selection of Kenneth Bessette as its president and chief executive officer succeeding outgoing President James E. Reed who had held the position for the past 20 years.

The organization’s Board of Directors announced that it has elected Eric S. Salfeety, CIC, past president of the Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc., as its new chairman during the its annual business meeting recently held in Mashantucket, Conn.

Spokeswoman Mary Christiano indicated that with the selection of a new president/CEO and Chairman the PIA had taken “a major step in its planned management perpetuation plan.”

PIA Management Services Inc. is the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont, N.Y.-based Professional Insurance Agents associations, representing independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. The corporation also manages the Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association, the Insurance Brokers Association of New York, the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York, the Young Insurance Professionals associations of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and the PIA Group Insurance Trust.

Bessette has been with PIA for 20 years, serving as executive director of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. He has more than 24 years of experience in association management and government affairs, and has been recognized for his expertise and service by both the National Society of PIA Executives and the Empire State Society of Association Executives.

Salfeety, a resident of Somerville, N.J., is the owner of Sage Insurance Services and president of John W. Brieden Agency Inc. he’s been active in the PIANJ since 1982, serving as president, first vice president, treasure and secretary for the association. He also has been chairman for the PIANJ Auto Insurance Task Force, Membership, Special Olympics and Conference committees and a member of the Legislative, Industry Liaison, Budget and Finance, Executive, Automation, Long-Range Planning and Insurance Schools committees.

Salfeety’s dedication to the insurance industry was recognized by his peers in 1995, when he was given both the New Jersey Professional Agent of the Year award and the National Professional Insurance Agent of the Year award.

Topics New York Agencies New Jersey Connecticut