Effective July 1st, Victor Muro and Jim Ortenzio will step down from their current positions as General Agents for National Life Group. They will not, however, leave the Company or retire from the vibrant business organizations that they have built. They will, rather, take on new sales and mentoring roles within their respective offices.
Victor and Jim have led the New York/New Jersey Agency for twelve and nine years respectively with the commitment, care, and energy that they are so well known for. Their talent and inspirational leadership has leveraged the New Jersey and New York marketplace for National Life Group and launched the careers of hundreds of successful Agents and dozens of Agency leaders. Together they have built the largest Agency in the Affiliated Channel; an Agency which has consistently led the Company as one of the top three sales organizations for National Life Group.
Victor and Jim are perennial award winners in Life, Annuity and ESI production. They have also earned National Life Group’s highest awards, securing both the President’s and Chairman’s Trophy awards as well as industry recognition for the “Best in Class” with GAMA. Victor is a member of the General Agent’s Hall of Fame and Jim will be inducted into this elite group at President’s conference in August. They are both winners and have built a culture of success and achievement in both New York and New Jersey markets.
In light of Victor and Jim’s decision, Affiliated Channel leadership is also taking the opportunity to position our sales organizations to take advantage of the burgeoning growth of the middle market in the New York/New Jersey Metro marketplace. The New York Metropolitan region has enormous opportunities and, with Victor and Jim’s endorsement and support, we have made the decision to move forward with fully developing two General Agencies; the Metro New York Agency will include the Jericho, Chinatown and Flushing offices; while the New Jersey Agency will include the Red Bank, East Hanover, and the Staten Island offices.
What we are all privileged to witness in the New York/New Jersey Agency is a careful, thoughtful and smooth leadership transition which has a foundation in strength, recognizes boundless opportunities for the future, and -at its heart- honors the continuing stability and service that National Life Group Agents and clients know to expect from the New York/New Jersey Agency.
As part of our Agency Succession Program, and reflecting their ongoing commitment to their Agency and National Life Group, Victor and Jim have actively helped to prepare for this time of transition. They have ensured both the legacy and continuing growth of their organization by mentoring and developing Michael Marino, who in recent years has built his management and organizational development skills to become National Life Group’s top Associate General Agent.
I am pleased to welcome Mike Marino as National Life Group’s newest General Agent! Mike will lead the New Jersey Agency and I look forward to sharing the new leader for our Metro New York Agency next week.
Please join me in congratulating Victor and Jim on their retirement from their General Agent roles, in thanking them their many contributions to National Life Group, and celebrating them for the outstanding service they have provided to our clients. We wish them well in the next chapter of their lives and look forward to their continuing success as part of the National Life Group Family.
Thank you,
Pam Blalock
Head of Affiliated Distribution