Representatives from the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc., met with state legislators at the Legislative Office Building in Albany, as part of the association’s 2023 Albany Lobby Day program.
Participants spent the day on May 2, 2023, visiting with state Senate and Assembly representatives discussing the association’s 2023 legislative priorities, which include standardizing the definition of windstorm; allowing carriers to waive photo inspections; repealing the anti-arson application requirement in New York City, and ensuring consumer protections from carrier “bait-and-switch” activities.
PIANY was represented by:
- PIANY President David L. Sidle II, CIC, CPIA, of Trumansburg, N.Y. Sidle is president/CEO of David L. Sidle Agency Inc., in Montour Falls.
- PIANY President-elect Gary Slavin, CLTC, CIC, of Massapequa, N.Y. Slavin is financial services representative and investment adviser representative for MassMutual in Massapequa.
- PIANY Vice President Richard Andrews, LUTCF, of Lowville, N.Y. Andrews is president of Andrews Agency Inc., in Ithaca.
- PIANY Immediate Past President Tim Dean, CIC, CRM, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.Dean is chairman of the board of Marshall & Sterling Inc., in Poughkeepsie.
- PIANY Past President Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS, of Williamsville, N.Y. Holender is director of administration with Lawley LLC in Buffalo.
These volunteers were accompanied by PIA Northeast Director of Government & Industry Affairs Bradford J. Lachut, Esq., and PIANY Lobbyist Patrick Zlogar.
The PIANY members met with legislators throughout the day, including Senate Insurance Committee Chairperson Sen. Neil D. Breslin, D-44, Assembly Insurance Committee Chairperson Assemblyman David I. Weprin, D-24, as well as representatives from the offices of Sen. Pamela Helming, R-54, and Sen. Jeremy A. Cooney, D-56.
Photos from the meetings can be found here.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq., joined PIA as government affairs counsel for the Government & Industry Affairs Department in 2012 and then, after a four-month leave, he returned to the association in 2018 as director of government & industry affairs responsible for all legal, government relations and insurance industry liaison programs for the five state associations. Prior to PIA, Brad worked as an attorney for Steven J. Baum PC, in Amherst, and as an associate attorney for the law office of James Morris in Buffalo. He also spent time serving as senior manager of government affairs as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, a chamber of commerce serving the Buffalo, N.Y., region, his hometown. He received his juris doctorate from Buffalo Law School and his Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics from Utica College, Utica, N.Y. Brad is an active Mason and Shriner.
