David Isenberg and Al Caputo recognized

PIANY President Rich Savino, CIC, CPIA, presents David Isenberg with the Distinguished Insurance Service award.

David Isenberg speaks to the crowd after accepting the Distinguished Insurance Service award

Long Island RAP Committee Chair Michael Cracco presents Al Caputo with the Louis A. Morelli Memorial award.

Al Caputo speaks to the crowd after accepting the Louis A.Morelli Memorial award.

Prior to Delaney’s keynote speech, the awards luncheon recognized the outstanding service of several individuals to the independent insurance industry.

The Distinguished Insurance Service award was presented to David Isenberg. This award is presented to individuals in the insurance industry who have a history of significant contributions and support to the regional insurance community.

A veteran of the insurance industry for nearly 50 years, Isenberg recently retired as president of D.C. White Agency, a division of the Lancer Insurance Group. He began his career in insurance with Consolidated Insurance Group, where he learned the insurance business. In 1978, he became president of D.C. White Agency in Long Beach, N.Y. Isenberg served as president of PIANY in 2002-03 and served on virtually every committee at the association including the PIA Political Action Governing Committee. Isenberg is secretary of PIA Management Services Inc., the umbrella corporation that manages the Glenmont, N.Y.-based Professional Insurance Agents associations of New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

Isenberg delivered a moving speech about providing help to children with learning disabilities so they might be lucky enough to find the amount of success in adulthood that he has enjoyed. “When I was a kid I was not exactly picked by anybody as a potential successful person. I had trouble reading. My parents, my teachers all thought I was either lazy, stupid, or both.” He continued, “One out of every 44 males in the United States is suffering from some form of cognitive issues, reading or learning issues. Some of them, obviously, more severe than others. What I want to leave you with is this: If you’ve got a child who has one of these problems, go home, hug him as close as you can, tell him you love him and get him the best professional care you can. That’s how I will measure my success.”

The Louis A. Morelli Memorial award went to Al Caputo of Buckingham Badler Associates. Beginning his insurance career more than 30 years ago, Caputo currently serves as vice president of marketing and personal lines for Buckingham Badler Associates. He has served on the board of directors of the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York for more than 20 years in roles that have included treasurer, vice president and president. For PIA, he has served on the MetroRAP Committee and he is an active member of the New York City Regional Advisory Council, as well as serving as a member of the committee that coordinates Long Island RAP.

“It was 33 years ago I had a mortgage I really couldn’t afford, I had a wife who was almost nine months’ pregnant, and I lost my job. And believe it or not that day turned out to be the luckiest day of my life. That was the day that forced me to finally take my Uncle Joe Dente’s advice and get into the insurance business.” Caputo expounded on how fortunate he felt to have found his calling. “This award acknowledges my contribution to the insurance industry, but I really feel I’ve taken more from this industry than I could ever possibly give back. … And I’m blessed to work in an industry where my biggest competitors are my best friends.”