Program book
Jennifer Pulgrano jpulgrano@afcodirect.com 646-515-7915
Jeffrey M. Schmitz, CPCU jschmitz@afcodirect.com 631-332-0880
Joseph Felice jfelice@afcodirect.com 917-301-6734
Matthew Davoult mdavoult@afcodirect.com 631-697-2204
President’s welcome
Welcome to PIANY’s Metropolitan Regional Awareness Program. During this daylong event, take advantage of all that MetroRAP offers. There is also a chance to attend powerful education classes to gain insight into New York City’s unique insurance needs; to take advantage of networking opportunities; and to engage at an energized trade show.
Trade show/buffet lunch
Starting at 10 a.m., the trade show will open—offering you the chance to meet with vendors from across the industry to see the latest products and services that can help you grow your business. Don’t forget to visit all the booths and vote for the Best in (Trade) Show. There will be a buffet lunch from 12:30-2 p.m.—which will allow you to eat some lunch without halting your networking opportunities.
Education
New York City has some distinctive insurance needs—construction and scaffolding come to mind. This year’s MetroRAP is designed to help you navigate those needs. During the morning session, Jon Lipton, CIC, CRIS, will lead Measure Twice, Insure Once? Insuring NYC Contractors, Property Owners & Tenants.
In the afternoon, Christopher Weldon, Esq., will discuss E&O Pitfalls When Insuring Construction/Renovation Projects. Both classes have been approved for continuing-education credits in New York and New Jersey.
More information about these education sessions can be found in this program book.
@MetroRAP
Be a part of MetroRAP. Share your experiences on social media. Keep updated on everything going on at MetroRAP 2025 by following our X feed (@PIA_Northeast), or by liking our Facebook or LinkedIn page (PIA Northeast).
More information about MetroRAP 2025 can be found in this program book. Take part in everything MetroRAP has to offer you and your business. Thank you for helping to make this year’s MetroRAP a success.
R ic hard Andrews
Richard Andrews, LUTC President, PIANY
OFFER YOUR CLIENTS MORE
LINES OF
• Cyber & Privacy Liability
• Environmental
• Errors & Omissions
• Garage Liabilty
• General Casualty
• Inland Marine/Ocean Marine
• Fine Art & Specie
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INDUSTRIES
• Construction
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• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
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• Transportation
Tuesday
Jan. 28
6–9 p.m.
Wednesday Jan. 29
MetroRAP Welcome Reception Hosted by NY-YIP Connolly’s Times Square
7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Registration desk open
8–10 a.m.
10–11 a.m.
Education session: Measure Twice, Insure Once? Insuring NYC Contractors, Property Owners & Tenants
Jon Lipton, CIC, CRIS, Castle Rock Capacity LLC
Continental Breakfast
10 a.m.–2 p.m. Trade show
-Cash door prize drawings
-Exhibitor & grand door prize drawings -Best overall booth experience winner
12:30–2 p.m. Buffet lunch in trade show
2–5 p.m.
Education session: E&O Pitfalls When Insuring Construction/ Renovation Projects
Christopher Weldon, Esq., Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP
Measure Twice, Insure Once? Insuring NYC Contractors,
8–10 a.m.
Property Owners & Tenants
Approved for 2 BR, C3, PA, PC NY CE credits. (NYCR-279546)
Approved for 2 GEN NJ CE credits. (88907360)
This education session qualifies for two-update credit hours toward any Risk & Insurance Education Alliance designation (formerly The National Alliance)
Sponsored by: Excess Line Association of NY
In New York City’s dynamic insurance market, keeping your clients fully protected is no easy task—especially for contractors, property owners, and tenants.
Course Highlights:
• Navigate complex clauses, endorsements, and exclusions commonly found in NYC’s construction insurance.
• Learn essential techniques to balance coverage inclusions and exclusions, helping clients minimize exposure.
• Get actionable knowledge on how to protect your contractor, property owner, and tenant clients in an ever-evolving landscape..
Instructor
With over 28 years of hands-on experience in the property/casualty sector, Jon Lipton is a broker, manager, and operations leader specializing in construction, product liability, hospitality, and real estate. He is the managing director and NYC construction practice leader at Risk Strategies Co., a p/c, employee benefits, and private-client services brokerage.
Lipton is an insurance industry expert witness. He consults on construction access agreements across New York City’s five boroughs, representing developers and general contractors. He has negotiated coverage terms and limits in access agreements, subcontractor agreements, and lease agreements. He is a former member and deputy chair of the NYC advisors board for PIA, and a board member for PIANY.
E&O Pitfalls When Insuring Construction/ Renovation Projects
2–5 p.m.
Approved for 3 BR, C3, PA, PC NY CE credits. (NYCR-279547)
Approved for 3 GEN NJ CE credits. (88907373)
Approved for E&O loss-prevention credit by Allianz and Utica National. This education session qualifies for three-update credit hours toward any Risk & Insurance Education Alliance designation (formerly The National Alliance).
Sponsored by: Utica National Insurance Group
As the insurance landscape grows increasingly complex, avoiding E&O pitfalls when insuring construction and renovation projects in NYC requires specialized knowledge
Course Highlights:
• Avoid E&O risks: Learn how contractor classifications, certificates, and contracts impact E&O exposure.
• Understand NYC regulations: Examine recent court cases and review essential insurance regulations affecting your clients.
• Claims & documentation: Gain practical guidance on claims handling and documentation best practices, as well as basics of flood insurance for construction projects.
Instructor
Christopher Weldon started his legal career as a Westchester County, New York assistant district attorney. Then, he continued his career in litigation, handling professional malpractice lawsuits and complex contract and corporate disputes. In 1999, Weldon joined a multistate law firm, at which he focused his practice on professional liability— defending a wide array of professionals, including insurance agents and brokers.
In 2008, he co-founded a law firm and focused his practice in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Weldon headed up the Corporate and Business Practice, focusing on corporate start-ups, compliance issues, M&A, drafting business agreements, employment disputes, noncompete litigation, and other general business litigation.
Trade Show
Meet vendors and discover markets that will help your business.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Our trade-show floor is brimming with opportunities waiting to be seized. Browse for the newest innovations and products for your business. With a diverse range of exhibitors representing the best of the industry, it’s a dynamic marketplace of ideas, products, and services.
Back this year: “Best in (Trade) Show” contest—a chance for you to be the judge and crown the most outstanding booth on the floor. Attendees will vote for their favorite booth based on overall experience, creativity, and innovation.
Brooks Insurance Agency excels in servicing the standard market and brokering complex lines of business.
• Commercial
• Professional/Non-Profit
• Personal Lines
With access to 80+ quality carriers and a wide range of products in both admitted and non-admitted markets, agents find the coverage their clients need. Contact a Brooks Wholesale Broker to start a quote. Email us at info@brooks-ins.com or call 732.972.0600 WHOLESALE OFFERINGS:
• Special Events
• Cyber
• Surety We
3H Corporate Services/
Creative Compliance Software www.3hcs.com
David J. Louie Inc. www.acrisure.com
AFCO Direct www.davidjlouie.com
Distinguished www.afco.com
Amwins www.amwins.com
Applied Underwriters
www.distinguished.com
Empire State Brokerage Services LLC
ARC Excess & Surplus LLC www.elany.org
Friedlander Group Inc. www.arcbrokers.com
Axis Insurance Services & PL Risk Specialty
Garlic Insurance www.bassuw.com
Bernard Fleischer and Sons Inc.
www.friedlandergroup.com
Gaps Insurance Services LLC www.gapsinsurance.com www.empirebrokerage.com
Excess Line Association of NY www.auw.com
www.garlicinsurance.com
gotoPremiumFinance www.belfor.com
Brooks Insurance Agency
Bass Underwriters www.whgreene.com
Datalot www.datalot.com www.brooks-ins.com
BELFOR Property Restoration www.granadainsurance.com
Granada Indemnity Co. www.bfbond.com
Hagerty Insurance Agency LLC www.axisins.com
Capital Premium Financing www.hagerty.com
Chenango Brokers LLC
Acrisure www.hamondgroup.com
www.gotopremiumfinance.com
Hamond Safety Management LLC www.chenangobrokers.com
Highview National Insurance Co. www.capitalpremium.net
Comcast Business www.highviewins.com
Greene & Associates business.comcast.com
Imperial PFS CRC Group www.crcgroup.com
www.ipfs.com
Integrated Specialty Coverage (ISC)
The Premins Company www.iscmga.com
Ironpeak
www.ironpeak.com
Jencap Group
www.jencapgroup.com
Jimcor Agencies
www.jimcor.com
Johnson & Johnson Inc.
Lancer Insurance Co.
www.lancerinsurance.com
www.premins.com
PIA Northeast
www.pia.org
Program Brokerage Corp.
RMS Hospitality Group www.programbrokerage.com
www.rmshg.com
ShelterPoint Life Insurance Co.
SIR Services NY Inc. www.jjins.com
Lovell Safety Management Co. LLC
www.lovellsafety.com
Morstan General Agency, a division of Hull & Co.
Motiva Networks
www.shelterpoint.com
www.simonagency.com
www.sirservicesny.com
Tapco Underwriters
NEXT Insurance
www.gotapco.com
U.S. Risk LLC www.motiva.net
www.usrisk.com
Wilkoff Bonds www.nextinsurance.com
Novatae Risk Group
XS Brokers www.morstan.com
Simon Agency www.novatae.com
www.wilkoffbonds.com
www.xsbrokers.com
NY Automobile Insurance Plan
Young Insurance Professionals www.aipso.com
www.younginsuranceprofessionals.org/ny
NYSIF
www.nysif.com
PA Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co.
www.plmins.com
Perfect Restoration & Cleaning
www.perfectrestoration24.com
SIR SERVICES
Specialty underwriters for commercial habitational buildings in New York for the past 30 years, utilizing niche programs and package policies.
•A Rated carriers
•Competitive rates
•Same-day turn around
•In-house binding authority
• Comprehensive coverage
• Brick or better construction
•Lead coverage available
•Apartment buildings with/ without commercial exposure
• Boiler
• Property
•Casualty
NO MINIMUM PREMIUMS
Contact your underwriters: (800)989-4772
John Stazzone Ext. 117 jstazzone@sirservicesny.com
David Nazario, Ext. 121 dnazario@sirservicesny.com
Nicole Saucedo, Ext. 123 nsaucedo@sirservicesny.com
Bruce Golub, Ext. 110 bgolub@sirservicesny.com
Ryan Mathie, Ext. 107 Rmathie@sirservicesny.com
Sponsors
AFCO Direct Platinum Host
BELFOR Property Restoration Gold Host
Brooks Insurance Agency Coat Check
Comcast Business Gold Host
Datalot Charging Station
David J. Louie Inc. Shoeshine Booth
Distinguished Buffet Lunch
Excess Line Association of NY Education Session
Greater New York Insurance Cos. RAP Event Host
Highview National Insurance Co. Gold Host
Interboro Insurance Hand Sanitizers
Platinum Host Ironpeak
CP The Premins Company
Jencap Group
Professional Digital Headshots
Lancer Insurance Co.
Grand Door Prize
Morstan General Agency, a division of Hull & Co.
Continental Breakfast
Novatae Risk Group
Platinum Host
PA Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co.
RAP Event Host
The Premins Company
Tote Bag Booth
Seneca Insurance Co.
AM Meeting Refreshments
Utica National Insurance Group
E&O Education Session
Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP
PM Meeting Refreshments
XS Brokers
Name Badges
Committee
2025 MetroRAP Committee
Chair:
Leslia Rogoff, Madison Avenue Brokerage Corp.
Vice Chair:
Maria Thomas, Friedlander Group Inc.
Members:
Dina Bruno, CPIA Franklin Mutual Insurance
Eric Cohen Benefit Quest Inc.
Peter Conte, CPIA, MSRE
Honig Conte Porrino Insurance Agency Inc.
Frank Conte
Honig Conte Porrino Insurance Agency Inc.
Matthew Davoult AFCO Direct
Bill Faba
Greater New York Insurance Cos.
Marshall Glass, CPIA Ironpeak
David Louie Jr., CPCU, MBA David J. Louie Inc.
Damiano Nicolosi Honig Conte Porrino Insurance Agency Inc.
Peter Resnick Interboro Insurance
Scott Richards Hilltop Strategies
Greg Somers Distinguished
