Jimi Grande Senior Vice President, Federal & Political Affairs | National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has awarded West Bend Insurance Company the 12th Annual Award in Innovation. The award, sponsored by Guy Carpenter, was presented at NAMIC’s 2025 Management Conference. West Bend Insurance Company, based in West Bend, Wisconsin, was recognized for its creation of EZ•Upload, a tool designed to improve the efficiency and affordability of writing small-market business.
Rob Jacques, president and CEO of West Bend Insurance Company, expressed gratitude for the recognition. "At West Bend, we work each and every day to be the company of choice for our associates, agents, and policyholders," he said. Jacques highlighted that EZ•Upload addresses underwriting inefficiencies and reimagines the business submission process to benefit both the enterprise and its agency partners.
The EZ•Upload initiative has transformed West Bend's quoting platform by automating commercial business submissions and integrating data. This innovation has significantly reduced processing times while enhancing user experience and maintaining a focus on policyholder protection through agent expertise.
Neil Alldredge, NAMIC president and CEO, praised West Bend's efforts during the award presentation. “West Bend’s focus on collaboration through technology proves that efficiency and strong relationships can go hand in hand to achieve success," he stated. He added that "EZ•Upload is the hallmark of innovation at West Bend" and acknowledged their commitment to agents and policyholders.
NAMIC represents a broad spectrum of insurance companies across America. Its members write $383 billion in annual premiums covering significant portions of homeowners', automobile, and business insurance markets.
West Bend Insurance Company has been providing insurance solutions for over 130 years. Known for its agency relationships and ethical practices, it offers property, casualty, workers’ compensation in 14 states, along with nationwide surety coverage.
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