[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INSTALLATION OF THOMAS AHART AS PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE 
                           AGENTS OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2001

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thomas B. 
Ahar of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, on his installation as President of 
our nation's largest insurance association--the Independent Insurance 
Agents of America (IIAA)--next month in Honolulu. As president of 
Ahart, Frinzi & Smith in Phillipsburg, Tom was elected to IIAA's 
Executive Committee in October of 1996 and honored by his peers last 
year when he was named President-Elect. His career as an independent 
insurance agent has been marked with outstanding service and dedication 
to his clients, community, IIAA, the Independent Insurance Agents of 
New Jersey, and his colleagues across the country.
  Tom began his volunteer service within the insurance industry with 
the Independent Insurance Agents of New Jersey where he served as 
president and chairman of the board. He also represented the state as 
its representative to IIAA's National Board of State Directors. He was 
chairman of IIAA's Education Committee for four years before being 
elected to the Association's executive leadership panel. As a member of 
IIAA's Executive Committee, he has worked to strengthen the competitive 
standing of independent agents by helping to provide the tools they 
need to run more successful businesses. Outside IIAA, Tom has served as 
a member of the board of the New Jersey Joint Underwriting Authority 
and was president of the Eastern Agents Association. He has served as 
an advisor to the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty 
Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America.
  During his dedicated time with the insurance industry, Tom has been 
honored with several state and local awards. They include the 1982 New 
Jersey Young Agent of the Year, the 1986 and 1987 New Jersey Executive 
Committee Chairman of the Year Award, the 1993 New Jersey Insurance 
Person of the Year Award, and the 1994 IIA of Hunterdon/Warren County 
Agent of the Year Award.
  Tom also has distinguished himself as an active and concerned member 
of his community. He has served as a member of his local school board, 
a trustee at his church, and a little league coach for 25 years, 
involved with boy's wrestling, boy's baseball, girl's basketball and 
girl's softball.
  During these productive and active years, Tom has accomplished much. 
I bid him a successful year as president of the Independent Insurance 
Agents of America. As his past accomplishments show, Tom will serve his 
fellow agents with distinction and strong leadership. I wish him all 
the best as IIAA President.

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