The Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association held a panel discussion on Oct. 2, 2025, at Markel Insurance in New York City.
[PHOTO CAPTION] Foreground: Attendees of the PIWA Panel Discussion. Background: (L-R) PIWA President Robert Farella, Janet Pane, CEO and executive director, ELANY, Kyle Oschell, vice president, Lockton Cos. and Andrew Nigri, property/casualty broker, Sancus Insurance.
This panel featured Janet Pane, CEO and executive director, Excess Line Association of New York; Kyle Oschell, vice president, Lockton Cos.; and Andrew Nigri, property/casualty broker, Sancus Insurance. It was moderated by PIWA President Robert Farella, vice president, casualty, of Amwins.
With over 40 insurance professionals in attendance, the panel focused on the concerns of young wholesale agents, and how to achieve success in the wholesale business. It emphasized the importance of establishing strong relationships and business practices with retail agents.
The event also featured a presentation by Janet Pane, which focused on legislative and regulatory issues affecting the excess and surplus lines industry.
PIWA would like to thank the sponsors, partners, facilitators and attendees for making this event possible. We hope to see you at the next event.
A presentation from ELANY
The event began with a presentation by ELANY’s Janet Pane and focused on issues affecting the excess and surplus line industry. ELANY reported continued growth of excess line transactions in New York, which are up over 17% and premiums which reached $8.5 billion by the end of October, a 15% increase over this time last year.
Pane detailed ELANY’s role in promoting a healthy marketplace, through compliance and financial reviews of insurers and legislative advocacy. ELANY and PIWA—through their long-standing working relationship—have and continue to partner to draft and promote legislation that benefits consumers seeking coverage in the excess line market.
She encouraged wholesale brokers to partner with ELANY through education opportunities, broker roundtables, free continuing-education classes, and cyber security training for its active members.
Pane concluded with thanks to PIWA and all in attendance, noting the value of in-person meetings to build industry relationships and promote healthy dialogue and ongoing education for new talent coming into the industry.
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.
