Whenever I talk about my job in social settings, there are two phrases I often invoke: "It's far more interesting than it sounds," and "Nothing happens without insurance."

While the former statement is more subjective, the latter is indisputably true — and it is America's independent agents whom we largely have to thank for facilitating millions of transactions per year, helping citizens and businesspeople alike secure the proper insurance protections. These agencies of hardworking men and women throughout the U.S. — from the smallest shops to the largest multi-line businesses — will always have my deepest respect.

Which begs the question, why doesn't NU P&C have an awards program honoring the top independent agencies? It's a question I asked myself out loud last year right around the time I started preparing this year's editorial calendar. We give awards to workers' comp programs (our Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management Awards, featured in this issue); top minds in cyber security (our Excellence in Cyber Security Risk Management Award, coming up in our November issue); and even carriers (our Risk Manager Choice Awards, in April), but where's the love for our core audience?

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Shawn Moynihan

Shawn Moynihan is Editor-in-Chief of National Underwriter Property & Casualty. A St. John’s University alum, Moynihan has earned 11 Jesse H. Neal Awards, the Pulitzers of the business press; seven Azbee Awards, from the American Society of Business Press Editors; two Folio Awards; and a SABEW award, from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers. Prior to joining ALM, he served as Managing Editor/Online Editor of journalism institution Editor & Publisher, the trade bible of the newspaper industry. Moynihan also has held editorial positions with AOL, Metro New York, and Newhouse Newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].

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