PIANJ Elects New Officers for 2016-17

June 6, 2016

The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey (PIANJ) elected new officers for 2016-17 at the association’s annual business meeting Monday at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Donald F. LaPenna, Jr., president of Donald F. LaPenna Associates Inc. in Cranford, New Jersey, was elected president of PIANJ.

An active member of PIANJ, LaPenna served as first vice president in 2015-16; vice president of the association in 2013-15 and treasurer in 2012-13. He is vice president of the Government Affairs Committee and the Political Action subcommittee. He also is a member of Executive/Budget & Finance Committee.

In his community, LaPenna served on the board of directors of the Central New Jersey Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and as a committee chair for the Center of Great Expectations. He also is a former director of the Union County Red Cross and is a past head coach and treasurer of the Clark Pop Warner program.

PIANJ also elected the following officers:

  • Kacy Campion Renna, CEO of Connelly, Campion, Wright in Belmar, New Jersey, was re-elected vice president.
  • Lloyd H. “Rip” Bush, Jr., a producer for Keer & Heyer in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, was re-elected vice president.
  • Bruce Blum, vice president of Blum & Walsh Group Inc., a division of T.E. Freuler Agency in Somerset New Jersey, was elected vice president.
  • Steven C. Radespiel, president of Insurance Center of North Jersey in Hackensack, New Jersey, was elected treasurer.
  • Michael DeStasio, executive vice president of The Insurance Centers in Clark, New Jersey, was elected secretary.
  • Charles Caruso, senior vice president of Herbert L. Jamison & Co. LLC/Jamison Insurance Group in Cranford, New Jersey, will serve as immediate past president.

PIANJ elected seven independent insurance agents from around the state to its board of directors. The following individuals were re-elected to serve for a three-year term, expiring in 2019:

  • Lloyd H. “Rip” Bush, Jr., a producer for Keer & Heyer in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. Bush was elected vice president of the association for 2016-17.
  • Kacy Campion Renna, CEO of Connelly, Campion, Wright in Belmar, New Jersey. An active member of PIANJ, Renna was re-elected vice president for 2016-17.
  • Mario Fernandez, owner/producer of M&F Insurance Agency in North Bergen, New Jersey. Active in the association, Fernandez is chairperson of the Northeast NJ Advisory Council and is a member of the Membership Services/Programs Committee.
  • Donald F. LaPenna, Jr., president of Donald F. LaPenna Associates Inc. in Cranford, New Jersey. Active in PIANJ, LaPenna will serve as president in 2016-17.
  • Thomas Wilkens, assistant vice president/branch manager of McGowan Risk Specialists in Eatontown, New Jersey. Active in the association, Wilkens is Legislative/Regulatory vice chairperson of the Government Affairs Committee.

The following individuals were elected to serve on PIANJ’s board of directors for a three-year term, expiring in 2019:

  • Robert J. Davies, principal of Davies & Associates Insurance Management in New Providence, New Jersey. Active in PIANJ, Davies is a member of PIANJ’s Political Action sub committee the Northwest Advisory Council. He also is a member of the Business Issues Committee.
  • Jocelyn Rineer, director of Field Services for ANE, Agency Network Exchange, LLC. Active in the association, Rineer is a member of the Women’s Business Forum and the Membership Services/Programs Committees.

In addition, the New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals (NJYIP), a PIANJ affiliate, elected its 2016-17 officers. The NJYIP officers installed were:

  • Natalie Bruno, of D’Agostino Agency in Hammonton, New Jersey, as president.
  • Aaron Levine, of LG Insurance Group in Long Branch, New Jersey, as vice president.
  • Logan True, of True & Associates in Westfield, New Jersey, as treasurer.
  • Brianna Gonzalez, of Ridgefield, New Jersey, as secretary.
  • Casey Yarger, of Robert Petri & Daughter Insurance Agency in Milltown, New Jersey, will serve as immediate past president.

The following individuals will serve as NJYIP director with terms expiring in 2018:

  • Daniel Tagu, of The Travelers Cos. in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
  • Logan True, of True & Associates in Westfield, New Jersey.
  • Ryan Cervasio, of McGowan Risk Specialists in Eatontown, New Jersey.
  • Michael DeStasio, of The Insurance Centers in Clark, New Jersey.
  • Casey Yarger, of Robert Petri & Daughter Insurance Agency in Milltown, New Jersey.

NJYIP is an organization dedicated to the professional and personal growth of newcomers to the insurance industry.

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