During today's 2023 Big “I" Legislative Conference Breakfast, John Costello, Big “I" chairman and senior vice president at USI Insurance Services in Rochester, New York, presented former Big “I" chairman Jon Jensen, president & CEO of Correll Insurance Group, with the 2023 Woodworth Memorial Award—the highest honor the Big “I" bestows on an individual member. 

The prestigious award, established in 1925 in memory of the second Big “I" president C.H. Woodworth, recognizes the outstanding contributions of an independent agent or broker to the national association, to their Big “I" colleagues, and to the insurance industry. 

Jensen has been a longstanding Big “I" member and proponent of the independent agency system. At the state level, he is a former recipient of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC) Young Agent and Agent of the Year awards. At the national association level, he has chaired both the Government Affairs Committee and the InsurPac Committee, earning the Sidney O. Smith Award the year the PAC surpassed the $1-million mark for the first time. 

“This year's recipient may have set a new threshold for extraordinary feats and the work he has done has helped each of you in the room today," Costello said. “He serves tirelessly for the industry—testifying before Congress, speaking at conferences, and bringing true innovation to help every independent agency in the U.S." 

“When he sees a challenge, he takes it head on, helping the Big 'I' create resources like Big 'I' Hires, championing market access via reform of Big 'I' Markets, and creating a new pledge of performance for Trusted Choice®," Costello said. “His dedication is virtually unmatched." 

In addition to serving as Big “I" chairman between 2019 and 2021—steering the association through the COVID-19 pandemic—Jensen served as the chairman of World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries, an international accolade that no other Big “I" leaders can claim. Further, Jensen is one of the driving forces behind helping the IIABSC win the InsurPac “Triple Crown" three years in a row. 

“There is no greater advocate for our profession, industry, and the Big 'I' as a community—and if you've heard our honoree on stage before, you've likely heard him say 'Insurance is truly a noble profession,'" Costello said. “The Big 'I' and the independent agency system are stronger because of his noble dedication." 

Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief.