Top Achievers in the Broker Channel Recognized at #IBAOawards

(Toronto, Ontario) Last night, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) acknowledged top performing brokers and brokerages throughout the province at their annual Awards of Excellence Gala. The event was held on the opening night of the association’s 98th Annual Convention in Niagara Falls.

“There’s so much talent and passion in the broker channel. This year’s finalists were especially impressive this year,” said IBAO President Brian Purcell. “It’s important we take time to recognize top achievers across this channel.”

Congratulations to the 2018 IBAO Awards of Excellence winners:

Affiliate of the Year — Insurance Brokers Association of Hamilton (IBAH)

Led by Affiliate President Ashley Manti, the IBAH is a robust and active Affiliate with a strong social media presence. They drive engagement by hosting regular events focusing on education – including seminars, webinars and RIBO licensing courses – which produced approximately 60 new licensed brokers this year. Their considerable charity work includes adopting a room at the Ronald McDonald House by donating a total of $25,000. Their political advocacy work includes informing municipal candidates on the role of IBAH and IBAO. With a consistent presence on all fronts, IBAH is an integral part of the Hamilton insurance community.

Young Broker of the Year — William Chan, BrokerTeam

William is the newly appointed President of BrokerTeam, 2017’s Brokerage of the Year. He was chosen by BrokerTeam’s founding President, Royle Leung to be his successor. William has been a core member of their senior management team to develop and execute various reforms and new initiatives, including digitization, restructuring and their forward-thinking plan to position BrokerTeam as a Commercial insurance expert in the near future. He also makes time to give back to his community, collaborating with the Joy Beyond Vision Community, an NGO for the Chinese-speaking visually impaired in the GTA. Now leading one of the premiere brokerages in Ontario, William Chan is poised to drive change at BrokerTeam and within the broker channel.

Brokerage of the Year — Mitchell & Whale

Mitchell & Whale, led by President Adam Mitchell, is a Whitby-based brokerage known for its culture, innovation and success. 2017’s Innovator of the Year Mitchell & Whale has an internal innovation team that builds, finds and modifies tools to improve workflows and create efficiencies. They develop leading solutions in the industry and share their learnings with company partners and fellow brokers. Along with their signature flip flops the dress code at Mitchell & Whale is casual, but they take their focus on personal growth and self-improvement seriously. This year they expanded into a new office with amenities including a putting green, ping pong tables and full gym. In the past ten years since Adam took over as President, Mitchell & Whale has grown organically from $2.5 million GWP to $25 million. By investing in their staff, incorporating new solutions and evolving proactively, Mitchell & Whale has set itself apart as an exceptional brokerage.