New Orleans Agent Receives InVEST’s Dach Award

Albert S. Pappalardo Jr. of Pappalardo Companies Inc., New Orleans, is the recipient of the 2002 Steven Dach Award, given by InVEST, a business-education partnership training high school and community college students in insurance agency and company operations and encouraging them to pursue careers in the industry.

The InVEST Board, in collaboration with the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, recognizes one volunteer each year for his or her involvement in fostering the growth and development of InVEST programs for the award, which is named in memory of the program’s founder, Steven Dach. This year’s award will grant Pappalardo $1,000, made possible by a donation from IVANS Inc., for use in his InVEST classroom.

Pappalardo is chairman of the Education and InVEST committees and serves on the Board of Directors for the Independent Insurance Agents of Greater New Orleans (IIAGNO). As a 13-year veteran of the independent agency system, Pappalardo is credited with starting the first InVEST program in New Orleans at John Ehret High School.

He selected the school, implemented the program, and purchased and set up the technology. He served as liaison to the high school teacher and continues the program’s operation in this, the 2002-2003, school year. Twenty percent of the students who graduated from the class were employed in local agencies following the program’s inaugural year. The IIAGNO board under his leadership will continue to support InVEST and will strive to meet the goals and objectives established in the strategic business plan.