By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – MMG Insurance has received yet another award to display in the company’s new trophy case.
The regional property/casualty insurance company based in Presque Isle was honored May 23 with the Professional Insurance Agents of New Hampshire’s Company of the Year award. The award was presented at PIANH’s annual convention in Concord, N.H.
“PIANH presented us its first ever Company of the Year award, which was given on the basis of a survey of its membership,” said Larry Shaw, president and chief executive officer of MMG. “The survey included rankings on products and pricing, technology, claims handling, and overall service. There were 16 categories that they looked at which are important to them.
“Fourteen of the 16 we were in the top five,” he said, “and we scored a 69 out of a possible 80 points. We were the highest-ranking company in the state. Competition for the award included 26 regional and national companies.”
Among some of the positive comments gleaned from the surveys included, “MMG excels in pricing, service, technology, and underwriting,” and “MMG is a terrific regional company with dedicated staff willing and eager to assist the agent in any way possible.”
“That’s really our business model … what we believe in and what we strive for in differentiating ourselves from the competition,” said Shaw. “It’s taking a high tech, high touch approach to the marketplace.”
“That customer service … that ease of service … is what allows us to really grow,” said Matt McHatten, senior vice president of external operations. “New Hampshire is a very competitive state to do business in, so we’re very honored to receive this award.”
MMG entered the New Hampshire market in 1984, and about one-third of its business is written in the state.
Shaw said the award is particularly meaningful as it was presented from an agency outside of Maine.
“This award means a lot to us especially [since it came from] outside of our own state where it’s a very competitive environment and the companies that operate in New Hampshire are highly regarded organizations,” he said. “It’s always nice to receive recognition for a job well done.”
This award follows MMG being named Company of the Year in Maine in 2000 and 2005, and in New Hampshire in 2004 by the States’ Independent Agent Associations.
“MMG values these awards tremendously as it reinforces what our employees do every day … they go out and strive for that additional, higher level of service,” said Shaw. “To get an award like this against such tough competition, confirms why we do what we do and how we do what we do. It’s very exciting for us.”
