During Applied Net 2021's Tuesday Keynote, Applied Client Network (ACN) announced the latest slate of award winners for high-achieving and distinguished volunteers who have a made a lasting contribution to the organization. Nominated by peers, ACN Awards recognize the exceptional efforts of members and volunteers who go above and beyond to help fulfill ACN's mission of educating, advocating and connecting Applied users so that the entire community can achieve better business results. Learn more about the 2021 winners below!
Individual Awards
Bill McNulty Chapter Volunteer of the Year
For 2021, this award went to Kevin Crow of Kapnick Insurance in Michigan. "Kevin is the consummate volunteer, who actively listens, ask questions and looks to provide solutions," shared ACN Board of Directors Chair Christine Horne during the keynote. Kevin is the president for the Large Agent Alliance Chapter and has done a tremendous job leading the chapter and keeping it active and growing. Under Kevin's leadership, the Large Agent Alliance Chapter held a series of "special edition" three-day chapter meetings and regularly partners with Applied presenters, which helps further strengthen ACN’s relationship with Applied.
Committee Volunteer of the Year
The 2021 Committee Volunteer of the Year honoree is Collin Passman, of Signature B&B Companies in New York, who served over the past year as co-chair for the Networking Committee, where he helped oversee its chapters and membership initiatives, as well as on the Applied Net Commercial Lines and Insure Connectivity tracks under the Education Committee and assisted in the Board of Directors nomination process for the Governance Committee. He has done an amazing job leading peers throughout a trying year and ACN is honored to count him as part of its member ranks.
Chapter Awards
As part of the Circle of Excellence program, ACN Chapter awards recognize effective chapter management in six key areas: leadership skills, member education meetings, membership recruitment and retention, marketing and communications, overall chapter management and administration, and — in recognition of the extra efforts required in 2020 — COVID-19 modifications.
2021 Chapter of the Year
Over the last year, the Maine Chapter took strides to increase visibility and credibility for both ACN and for its local chapter community, proving just why they deserve to be Chapter of the Year. The Maine team created a Facebook page to invite members and other peers and colleagues in the insurance industry to learn about their efforts. In their words, "the more people that know about the local chapter, the more people we hope will join us for future meetings and become members of our chapter themselves." The Maine Chapter also secured a virtual presence at the state's insurance convention as a vendor. Our name, what we do and how others can join went out to ALL participants of the local convention. Maine has over 100 independent agencies as a part of the local association, and all its had access to learn about ACN during the annual convention. The chapter is also partnering with the state insurance association to bring a continuing education class to upcoming chapter meetings that will bring non-members and even non-Applied users to chapter meetings.
2021 Most Improved Chapter
Everyone has gone through some challenges when dealing with COVID-19, but that did not stop the South Dakota Chapter from pressing on and moving in a positive direction of growth and commitment. By understanding how difficult COVID-19 has been for everyone, they worked to ensure everyone felt they belonged and had a constant during an unknown time. The South Dakota Chapter offered training at no cost to chapter users, allowing the chapter's members to have the opportunity to attend training. Officers made sure to reach out to new members by calling and emailing invites for them to participate in chapter meetings and trainings, as well. Understanding the importance of inclusion during a time that was very isolating to some was essential to their growth and membership engagement over the last year.
