Chapter Awards
Circle of Excellence
The CPCU Society’s Circle of Excellence Recognition Program awards each chapter for its efforts to achieve benchmarks in chapter performance. The Program provides chapter leaders, and committee and task force chairmen, with structure and guidance to achieve strategic, chapter and member goals. Chapters earn Platinum, Gold or Silver recognition by achieving key initiatives of the Society's strategic plan.
In the late 2000s the Chapter leaders set their sights on national recognition. The Society had adopted a recognition program called the CPCU Circle of Excellence which had 3 levels of achievement, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The program took into account many aspects of Chapter success with the general goal of promoting the designation and improving the insurance mechanism. The chapter has attained:
2007 Bronze
2008 Silver
2009 Silver
2010 Gold
2011 Gold
2013 Gold
2014 Gold
2015 Gold
2016 Gold
2017 Gold
2018 Gold
2019 Gold
2020 Gold
2021 Gold
2022 Platinum
Individual Achievements
1993 -1994 Standard Setters
In 1993 the Society of CPCU introduced the Standard Setter award to recognize “CPCUs who have projected professionalism through a contribution to the insurance industry and the community”. Maine Chapter was duly proud to have two of its members honored in the very first year of the award.
Louise “Nicki” Griffin, CPCU of Peerless Insurance was the Standard Setter for the month of February, 1993. A full page article in the Society’s national magazine, CPCU News, recognized her years of service to industry groups such as the NAIW, Maine Chapter of CPCU (President 1988-1989), Independent Agents of Maine, and Maine Insurance Field Club as well as her volunteer work outside the industry for Camp Sunshine, Special Olympics, Portland Concert Association and other charitable groups.
Ten months later, Gail B. Burns, CPCU of Hanover of Maine was the December Standard Setter. A CPCU News article cited Burns’ work with the Sierra Leone Insurance Association. During a visit to that West African country, she met with officers and employees of many Freetown insurance companies and introduced them to the educational opportunities offered by the Insurance Institute of America. Due to her efforts over 600 people expressed interest by signing up for courses! Gail was surprised to learn that the people she had initially contacted had named the project the “Gail B. Burns Insurance Training Project”. Gail was also very active in the Maine Chapter of CPCU having served as President in 1993-1994.
Marie Connolly of Clark Associates gained local fame in 1977 by earning the CPCU designation at age 27, becoming one of the youngest CPCUs in the country. She was the third Maine woman to achieve the CPCU designation. Jeff Lind of Clark Associates broke Maine’s record in 2000, earning the CPCU designation at age 25,a mere three years after beginning his studies.
Educational Excellence
Maine Chapters members have excelled in the educational area as well. Patricia Dubois received the award for the highest grade nationally in the Insurance Institutes of America’s AIM program in 1982. She later earned her CPCU designation in 1991.
In 1990 Charlene Stone of USF&G Insurance achieved a similar feat as the top scorer in the Insurance Institutes of America’s Associate in Underwriting (AU) exam series. Charlene earned the CPCU designation in 1993.
Marie Connolly of Clark Associates gained local fame in 1977 by earning the CPCU designation at age 27, becoming one of the youngest CPCUs in the country. She was the third Maine woman to achieve the CPCU designation. Jeff Lind of Clark Associates broke Maine’s record in 2000, earning the CPCU designation at age 25, a mere three years after beginning his studies. Amanda Atcheson broke Maine’s record again in 2007 at age 24.
