It's time once again for independent agencies that do anoutstanding job selling insurance and providing risk managementservices to prepare their entries for the National Underwriter"Commercial Insurance Agency Of The Year" award. Read on for entrydetails.

For the seventh-straight year, agencies that are role models fortheir peers--running successful sales organizations while servingas risk management consultants--will be given national exposure viaNU's prestigious award program.

Are you NU's 2008 champion? Give it your best shot! Click on"Agency of the Year" under "This Week" to the left of this story,on our home page. Click through to the end of the story, thendownload instructions and the entry form off "AssociatedImages."

"The principals representing the winners and those receivinghonorable mentions are always class individuals, generous insharing the secrets of their success, and grateful for theopportunity to talk about what makes them unique in a verycompetitive market," said NU Editor In Chief Sam Friedman.

Once again this fall, NU will fly principals from three agencyfinalists for a weekend in New York City, where on Sept. 26 thewinner will be announced and given a trophy, with the remaining twocontenders awarded plaques for an Honorable Mention.

"However, the actual awards are just the icing on the cake, asall three finalists receive priceless publicity by being profiledin NU's Sept. 29 cover story," noted Mr. Friedman.

As a bonus, the finalists will also participate in an "NURoundtable" following the award presentation, moderated by Mr.Friedman, to discuss "The State of the Independent Agent," withhighlights published in the Nov. 3 edition.

David Becker, president of last year's champion--Cottingham& Butler of Dubuque, Iowa--said winning the NU award "validatedour approach to going beyond selling just policies to delivering abroad array of risk management services that can help our clientssucceed. "

He added that "as we continue to grow our business across thecountry, the NU award provides the stamp of credibility withprospects, opening up new opportunities that might otherwise havebeen unavailable. The award has served to reinforce our commitmentand dedication to building a truly distinctive agency."

Scott Addis, president of The Addis Group in King of Prussia,Pa., said winning NU's award in 2003 made his agency feel like the"Miss America of the independent agency system." Haake Companies ofOverland Park, Kan., said being honored by NU in 2005 was like"winning the Heisman Trophy for insurance agencies."

Paul Hering, managing principal and CEO of our 2006 champion,San Diego-based Barney & Barney, said "NU's award confirms forour current clients that they're with a great agency, and it alsogives us credibility with prospective clients who may not befamiliar with our firm. It's like a hand reaching out and openingdoors for us."

"Receiving this kind of national recognition and exposureimproves an agency's standing with carriers, wholesalers, clientsand prospects," said Mr. Friedman. "People like to be associatedwith winners, and NU spotlights the very best the agency system hasto offer."

Fill out the application, put together the supporting material(all of which is kept strictly confidential) and include an essayof 3,000 words or less on "What Makes My Agency An OutstandingSales and Service Organization?" Submit the complete package nolater than June 6.

"Even if you don't take home the grand prize, I guarantee thatjust by going through the entry process, you'll learn a lot aboutwhat makes your agency tick and how to better position yourselfagainst the competition," said Mr. Friedman.