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Cumberland Insurance Joins Members of Congress in support of National Guard Deployment

BRIDGETON, NEW JERSEY: The Cumberland Insurance Group was among 10 New Jersey companies who joined Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, and Congressman Rush Holt recently in support of New Jersey’s largest overseas deployment by the National Guard since World War II. Nearly 2,600 soldiers, which represents almost half of the State’s Army National Guard force, will be deployed in June. The event was quite personal as a member of the Cumberland family is part of the deployment.

” It was truly an eye-opening day,” said Ken Clements, Cumberland Insurance Group Vice President of Information Technology. “One of my senior engineers, Jonathan Lafferty, is a member of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team which will be heading to Iraq later this year. It will be difficult to replace his skills, but we fully support his decision to join the Guard.

The event was organized to give employers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the issues employees and their families will face as they prepare for the deployment. This included observing and participating in some of the training the soldiers are going through and meeting with officers to discuss the time commitment that will be required of their employees before they depart.

“My day started at the Lawrenceville Armory where I learned about the processing and training the guardsman will be going through,” Clements said. “Later, I was flown to Fort Dix on a Black Hawk helicopter to tour the training facilities. I was able to put on the actual gear that the troops carry, and was amazed at how heavy it was, approximately 150 pounds.”

“I then got the chance to experience the training facility first-hand which included a full scale Iraqi village where I was able to take part in an exercise, actually carrying and firing a simulated weapon,” Clements continued. “At the end of the day, I flew back to Lawrenceville and departed for home with a different perspective on what our young men and women go through and what they will experience in Iraq.”

In support of Jonathan, The Cumberland Insurance Group is doing all they can to help, and in fact is going beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. “While Jonathan is deployed, he will continue to receive all of his Company benefits,” said Human Resources Director Laurie Latorre. “We are supplementing his National Guard pay so that it remains at his current civilian level. We are maintaining his medical coverage for his family as well as contributions to his retirement plan. While he is gone, his job duties will be covered by other employees through cross-training. When he returns in approximately 12 months, we will provide reverse cross-training to catch him up on the technology changes that may have taken place while he was gone.”

“All of us at The Cumberland Insurance Group are proud of Jonathan,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President. “Considering the difficulties he and his family will be facing while he is away, we believe it is our responsibility to step up to the plate and do all we can to support him, and that is what we are going to do. It is inspiring to see individuals who are willing to take on this enormous challenge.”

The Cumberland Insurance Group is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company, and currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618. For more information about The Cumberland Insurance Group, please visit www.cumberlandgroup.com.

Cumberland Insurance Believes in Helping the Community


Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO Leo T. Hogan (pictured far right) presents a check
for funds raised by Cumberland employees to benefit the Lower Alloways Fire and Rescue Squad.

Pictured (L-R) Cumberland Insurance Group President Robert P. Brady, Cumberland employee and
Lower Alloways volunteer Kelli Fisher, Chief Greg Blades, and Assistant Chief Michael Fisher.

 

BRIDGETON, NJ: More and more, the involvement of a business within the community it serves is a critical component in the decision making process for potential employees, business partners, and customers. Accordingly, The Cumberland Insurance Group believes companies who practice good corporate citizenship can distinguish themselves in a market where customers are becoming more sophisticated and discerning in their decision making process. We would like to recognize our hundreds of employees who continued to demonstrate this community spirit during 2007.

“The Cumberland Insurance Group is a regional company grounded in the local communities we serve,” said Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO Leo T. Hogan. “As a result, the Company has worked hard to establish a tradition of good corporate citizenship in the communities that have supported us and helped us to prosper for over 160 years. We demonstrate this commitment with the same local emphasis in all of our business practices.”

“As a Company, we commit to living and working every day as a proud part of the community,” said Cumberland Insurance Group President Robert P. Brady. “During 2007, the Company was proud to once again sponsor the IIANJ Golf Classic for the New Jersey Make-A-Wish Foundation and our college scholarship program which benefited students at Cumberland County College in New Jersey and Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania. Employees also helped sponsor trips for underprivileged preschool students to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio; raised money for the Lower Alloways Creek Volunteer Fire Department in Salem County, New Jersey; and so much more including pediatric cancer, muscular dystrophy, and breast cancer. Through these various efforts, the Company has helped contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to those in need. In addition, our Board members, officers, and staff continue to give their time and expertise to a variety of civic groups, charitable organizations, faith-based groups, and special events which provide much needed help within the community.”

“Our ties to the communities we serve give us in-depth knowledge of the needs of our customers and agents,” said Richard M. Ritter, Assistant Executive Vice President in the Coatesville, Pennsylvania Office. “Our local perspective helps us to operate with a caring and responsive attitude. Professionalism, integrity, social responsibility, and community involvement continue to define the people of The Cumberland Insurance Group. We do care about the diverse communities we serve and are enthusiastic about making our contribution to the enhancement of each. We encourage employees to get involved and to bring suggestions to senior management when they see a need or feel we can make a difference. For example, we were happy to support their efforts this year in events like National Denim Day for the Susan G. Koman Foundation and the Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society.”

“We do it because it is the right thing to do,” Hogan said. “However, good corporate citizenship also makes good business sense and helps to strengthen all of our relationships within the community. We also believe it helps employees to feel more committed to the Company and more likely to be highly motivated and productive in their jobs.”

“The Cumberland Insurance Group takes pride in the impact our employees have on the communities we serve. Our goal is to continue to have an impact on a regional scale. People are the past, present, and future of The Cumberland Insurance Group. We are all committed to making our communities better places to live and work,” Hogan concluded.

The Cumberland Insurance Group is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company, and currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618.


For more information about this press release, please contact Lee Tofanelli at 856-691-3113.

Cumberland Insurance Group Supports Professional Insurance Agents Branding Program

BRIDGETON, NJ: As a strong supporter of the Independent Agency System, the Cumberland Insurance Group looks for opportunities to participate in programs sponsored by insurance agency associations. One of the largest and most respected of these is the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). The organization was established in 1931 to support the needs of independent insurance agents. They recently launched a nation-wide Branding Program which The Cumberland Insurance Group has joined.

“We are committed to the independent agency system as our sole distribution method. As a result, the profitable relationships we have formed over the years are reflected in the strength of our agency base in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware,” said Leo T. Hogan, Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO. “We listen closely to what our agency partners have to say, and we are committed to providing them with the tools they need to be successful. This includes identifying and taking advantage of marketing opportunities.”

As a participating carrier in the PIA Branding Program, The Cumberland Insurance Group will be accepting PIA Branded advertisements with the slogan “Local Agents Serving Main Street America” as part of their Cooperative Advertising Program. By supporting their appointed agents who choose to run these ads, and by supporting the PIA Brand more generally in their press announcements, newsletters, etc., The Cumberland Insurance Group is doing their part to strengthen the independent agency distribution system and professional insurance agents.

The PIA Branding Program extends the reach of an already established identity, the neighborhood Professional Insurance Agent. The goal is to attract new customers, write more business, and increase market share for PIA member agencies and their carrier partners like The Cumberland Insurance Group.

In addition to the Branding Program, The Cumberland Insurance Group supports efforts by PIA national and state organizations to advocate on behalf of agents within industry and government, addressing emerging issues affecting the insurance industry nationwide. Cumberland Insurance Group employees also participate in PIA sponsored educational programming in order to achieve industry recognized designations such as Certified Insurance Counsel (CIC) and Certified Insurance Services Representative (CISR).

“PIA has always been very much a grassroots organization,” said Steve J. Catranis, CPCU, Cumberland Insurance Group Senior Vice President. “The PIA Branding Program is a great example of this, and one we are proud to take part in. PIA members realize the importance of an organization that advocates on their behalf and enables them to stay informed, educated, and connected to other insurance professionals.”

“PIA member agents provide the community with personal support and service, plus a choice of insurance products to meet their needs,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President. It is our distribution system of choice because when it comes to protecting what they have worked so hard to achieve, our customers prefer to deal with someone local who they know and trust.”

The Cumberland Insurance Group is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company, and currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618.


For more information about this press release, please contact Lee Tofanelli at 856-691-3113.

The Cumberland Insurance Group Launches New Website

BRIDGETON, NJ: The Cumberland Insurance Group recently unveiled their new Company Web site which has been upgraded to enhance the delivery of information to the Company’s growing list of agents and policyholders in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. The
Cumberland Insurance Group Web site may be accessed at www.cumberlandgroup.com.

“We are continuing to make important changes in the way we use technology to expand our relationship with our customers and agency partners,” said Leo T. Hogan, Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO. “I believe the upgrades we have incorporated have accomplished our goal of providing a site that is easy to navigate while also incorporating a look that sets us apart from our competitors.”

The Web site offers easy navigation to these online features:

Agent Directory – Allows users to conduct a radius search to find all Cumberland agents in a given area.

Programs – Provides a description of Cumberland’s Commercial and Personal Lines coverages.

Forms – Allows agents to download and print forms, access monthly commission statements, and agency experience reports.

Company News – Provides visitors current and past Cumberland Insurance Group announcements, newsletters, and annual reports.

Contact and Billing Information – Lists contact information for each of Cumberland’s field offices and customer payment options.

Online Rating – Provides online Personal Lines rating, Personal Lines issuance, and the ability to quote Business Owner Policies.

“Even as we unveil the new Web site, we are preparing to incorporate additional interface technology for our agents,” said Ken Clements, Vice President of Information Technology. “Interfacing allows Cumberland agents to file applications electronically, which will speed up our workflow and reduce the waiting time for the agent. The ability to upload and download data between agents and the Company will reduce expenses and improve customer service. In addition, policyholders will soon be able to make premium payments online via credit card.”

“The new Web site has been a collaborative effort of many individuals,” said Steve Catranis, Senior Vice President, Marketing. “We have strived to make the Web site an inviting gateway to insurance
information on the internet. As more people use the Web to find insurance information, it is becoming increasingly important to make a good first impression. The Web site also helps us to reinforce our business relationships, while continuing to strengthen our branding objectives.”

“Our goal was to develop a dynamic Web site focused on both the needs of the agent and the policyholder,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President. “Ideally, we hope the Web site will produce new leads and provide existing clients with a customer service portal to a variety of useful information. By staying on the cutting edge of new information systems, The Cumberland Insurance Group can improve communications with our agents and insureds, making it easier for them
to do business with us.”

The Cumberland Insurance Group is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company, and currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618.

Cumberland Insurance develops Partnership with Cumberland County College

BRIDGETON, NJ: The Cumberland Insurance Group, in partnership with Cumberland County College, recently developed an educational program which links credit and noncredit courses and gives students another option for learning. The program integrates existing course offerings at Cumberland County College with continuing education courses offered by the Insurance Institute of America. The result is a win/win opportunity for both organizations.

The idea emerged out of discussions between Roy Richie, CPCU, Cumberland Insurance Group Senior Vice President of Underwriting; Debra Kuhl, EdD, the Chair of the Cumberland County College Business Department; and Vickie Simek, the Acting Director of the Professional and Community Education Division at Cumberland County College.

“We decided to explore what it would take to blend what Cumberland County College currently offers with what Cumberland Insurance and the Insurance Institute require,” Richie said. “We structured the program to make it attractive to our current workforce at Cumberland Insurance, as well as to business students at the College. This included offering on-line registration at Cumberland Insurance Group offices, and holding courses in our on-site training room. Instructors include Cumberland County College staff, qualified Cumberland Insurance Group instructors, and independent insurance instructors.”

“When we work together, we satisfy individual needs as well as collective needs. We are stronger for it,” Simek said. “After our initial meeting with The Cumberland Insurance Group, the decision to proceed was very easy to make. We have had a long-standing relationship with them in other areas. This program seemed like a natural extension.”

Through the partnership, a number of positive outcomes were achieved including:

  • A program of study at the College combining existing Cumberland County College credit and noncredit courses with Insurance Institute of America courses.
  •  Satisfied The Cumberland Insurance Group’s need for a continuous pool of skilled workers.
  • Provided an opportunity for Cumberland Insurance Group employees to pursue higher education while working full time.
  • Satisfied Cumberland County College’s need to expand student offerings and enhance their Business Management Program.
  •  Enhanced the working relationship between The Cumberland Insurance Group and Cumberland County College.

“In order to ensure that our employees are knowledgeable and current on all industry trends, we support ongoing educational opportunities whenever possible,” said Leo T. Hogan, Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO. “We have supported Cumberland County College for many years through our college scholarship program, and are pleased to now pursue an even closer working relationship.”

“We believe this concept could also be expanded to incorporate other businesses in the County which have continuing educational requirements such as banking, real estate, and financial services,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President. “It doesn’t cost much to run the program, it isn’t difficult to set up, and it produces tangible results. The end result is better educated and more productive employees, which gives companies the best opportunity for long-term growth and ensures customers receive the quality service they deserve.”

The Cumberland Insurance Group is rated A+ Superior by the A.M. Best Company, and currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618.


For more information about this press release, please contact Lee Tofanelli at 856-691-3113.

The Cumberland Insurance Group Recognized As a Super Regional Insurance Company

BRIDGETON, NEW JERSEY: The Cumberland Insurance Group has been recognized as a Super Regional Insurance Company by the prestigious industry magazine, Insurance Journal. The complete inaugural listing of 138 companies appears in the February 12 national edition of the magazine.

A number of property/casualty insurers call themselves “Super Regionals” as a way to differentiate their company in the marketplace. Until now, there has been no industry-wide, objective definition of a “Super Regional.” To open an industry discussion on the subject and to give definition to this important group of insurers, Insurance Journal called upon their official research partner, Demotech Inc., to conduct the necessary research and develop an objective list.

According to Demotech President Joseph Petrelli, “Insurance Journal came to us with the idea of establishing objective financial standards for stratifying property/casualty carriers. We saw this as an opportunity to bring definition to the ‘Super Regional’ term and to recognize these insurers for their achievements.”

In outlining the reasons for selecting Cumberland Insurance, Demotech found that “The Cumberland Insurance Group has successfully competed against national and international insurance companies and forged a significant and well-respected presence in the marketplace they serve.”

Criteria used by Demotech included the following:

  • Active, individual companies not in regulatory supervision as of December 31, 2005.
  • Companies reporting data to the NAIC using the property/casualty annual and quarterly
    statement format.
  • Companies with more than $1 million of direct written premium in each of two to 34 states as of December 31, 2005.
  • Companies with less than 90% of their direct written premium in any one state as of
    December 31, 2005.
  • Companies with less than 90% of their direct written premium in any one line of business as of December 31, 2005.
  • Companies with at least $100 million of surplus as of December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2006.
  • Companies with net written premium of at least $50 million as of December 31, 2005.
  • Companies with direct written premium of at least $25 million as of December 31, 2005 and greater than $0 at September 30, 2006.  “The ‘Super Regional’ list compiled by Demotech and the Insurance Journal is an impressive group of companies who we are proud to be associated with,” said Leo T. Hogan, Cumberland Insurance Group Chairman and CEO. “The management team, employees, and agents who represent Cumberland are to be commended for staying true to the Company’s core principles of providing quality products and quality customer service.”

“Understanding and responding to the needs of our customers has been the hallmark of The Cumberland Insurance Group’s long and distinguished history,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President. “As we look forward to additional growth opportunities in the years to come, we will develop our employees and systems to outperform the competition in order to be recognized as the preferred ‘Super Regional’ carrier by the top independent agents.”

The Cumberland Insurance Group currently serves over 134,000 policyholders in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, In 2006, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $313,885,235 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,421,618.

 


 

For more information about this press release, please contact Lee Tofanelli at 856-691-3113.