The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
105 years representing CNY
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. >> Utica Mutual, a member company of the Utica National Insurance Group, was founded 105 years ago – on Feb. 13, 1914.
Utica National marked this milestone on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, throughout all of the company’s offices, including a celebration at its New Hartford headquarters, which featured a special birthday cake in the shape of “105,” plus hundreds of cupcakes for employees to enjoy.
President and CEO Rich Creedon and Executive Vice President and COO Kristen Martin thanked employees for their ongoing contributions to the company’s success, which in recent years has included the company reaching $1 billion in sales and being named a top workplace by Insurance Business America magazine.
“Relationships have always been the cornerstone of our company and have allowed us to grow and thrive over 105 years,” Creedon said. “Whether an employee, agent or policy- holder is new to our company or has been with us for decades, they all play an important role in our success in achieving this milestone. And what better way to celebrate it than with cake?”
The cake and cupcakes were made by local baker and policyholder Holland Farms, which has coverage through longtime Utica National agent Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy.
On Feb. 13, 1914, company founder Merwin K. Hart personally delivered the papers of incorporation of the Utica Mutual Compen- sation Insurance Corporation, as it was then known, to Albany, N.Y., where they were filed. Today, the company employs more than 1,200 people companywide and is represented by more than 2,200 independent insurance agents.
In addition to its New Hartford location, the company has offices in Utica, N.Y.; Amherst, N.Y.; Woodbury, N.Y.; Wakefield, Mass.; Columbus, Ohio; Richmond, Va.; Duluth, Ga.; Richardson, Texas; Des Plaines, Ill.; and Indianapolis, Ind.