NAMIC Names Lehman 2007 Chairman’s Award Recepient

Indianpolis-based the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) recently named David L. Lehman, president of Mennonite Mutual Insurance Co., Orrville, Ohio, as the 2007 recipient of the Chairman’s Award.

The award was created to recognize leadership, accomplishment, and outstanding service to NAMIC and the property/casualty insurance industry. Lehman was recognized during the opening general session of NAMIC’s 112th Annual Convention being held in Grapevine, Texas.

“David has given more than 20 years of service to NAMIC on both the Farm Mutual and Property Casualty Conferences,” said Gerald Schmidt, chairman, NAMIC board of directors. “He is consistently involved in mentoring fellow NAMIC members, developing leadership qualities through the Professional Farm Mutual Managers program, and always willing to serve the membership by leading or facilitating discussions at CEO roundtables.”

Lehman currently serves as chairman of NAMIC’s Property Casualty Management Conference Advisory Committee. He has served as chairman of both the Property Casualty Conference and Farm Mutual Conference, board member of the NAMIC Merit Society and NAMICO, and member of the federal tax and convention planning committees. Lehman is a past chairman of the Ohio Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

NAMIC also recognized two state legislators for exceptional work. Recognition went to State Rep. Don Brown of Florida and State Sen. Linda Scheid of Minnesota both named State Legislators of the Year. Chuck Chamness, NAMIC’s president and CEO, announced the names of the award winners.

“Representative Don Brown has been the voice of reason in the overheated Florida insurance climate since the 2006 session, when he led the charge to pass legislation requiring Citizens Property Insurance Corp. rates to reflect the cost of reinsurance,” Chamness said.

Scheid, a Democrat and chair of the Minnesota Senate Commerce Committee, was recognized for her efforts to defeat third-party bad faith direct action legislation.

Chamness also noted Scheid’s long-standing support of competitive insurance markets “as evidenced by her sponsorship in past years of personal lines rate modernization, the interstate compact and a farm mutual modernization proposal. All three bills became law.”

Source: NAMIC