Seasonal cheer was spread, ugly sweaters were worn, industry professionals were honored—the NJYIP Holiday Social was nothing short of a holly jolly success. This year, the social was held on Dec. 3, 2024, at The Horseshoe Tavern, in Morristown, N.J.
[PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) NJYIP of the Year and Second NJYIP Vice President Walter Conroy of Liberty Insurance Associates; Cumberland Mutual Senior Marketing Executive Steve Fitzsimmons; and NJYIP President Tim Latimer of the JS Braddock Agency.]
The annual holiday social had over 60 professionals in the industry attend to honor the 2024 NJYIP of the Year—NJYIP’s Second Vice President Walter Conroy of Liberty Insurance.
The NJYIP of the Year award acknowledges the efforts of a director serving on the Young Insurance Professionals Board. Conroy earned this distinction through his active engagement in board activates, his attendance for meetings and events, and his outstanding involvement and excellence in committee work.
“Our distinguished honoree began his insurance career in 2009 and joined Liberty Insurance Associates in 2018, after the sale and merger of his 100-year old family owned agency,” said NJYIP President Tim Latimer during the presentation of the award. “He started as the personal lines manager and is now a senior account executive managing some of the agency’s most valuable clients. His extensive knowledge of the markets, with a focus on the Flood Insurance Rating, maximizes the quality of his client’s needs.”
While Conroy was the individual being honored, there was enough fun to go around to make everyone feel like an industry superstar. The event featured an open bar, light appetizers and dinners, and DJ Ray Sikora spinning holiday tunes. Cumberland Mutual, which was the main sponsor for the event, also sponsored a photo booth for attendees who wanted to memorialize the evening.
Additionally, NJYIP would like to thank the other sponsors for this event, which included: the bar sponsors, Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance; the dinner sponsor, Ironpeak (formerly Iroquois); the DJ sponsor, The Service Insurance Co.; and the Ugly Sweater Contest sponsor, FMI.
Speaking of the Ugly Sweater Contest, this year the sweaters were hilariously hideous, and perfect for the holiday season. The winners this year—from “Ugly” to “Ugliest” sweater—are Liam Oberlander of Axis Insurance Services LLC; Scott Wisniewski of FMI; and Steve Fitzsimmons of Cumberland Mutual.
NJYIP thanks everyone who was able to sponsor and attend this annual tradition! Without their support, events like these wouldn’t be possible. For more photos of the event, visit the Flickr album here.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
