Wayne E. McOwen of GUARD Insurance Group is this year’s recipient of the New York Insurance Association’s 2009 Chair’s Distinguished Service Award.

Wayne McOwen

The honor was given to McOwen by the state trade association for the property-casualty industry at its recent annual conference in Bolton Landing, N.Y.

McOwen is the senior vice president of government affairs and industry relations for GUARD, whose home office is in Wilkes Barre, Pa., and also has offices in Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. McOwen works out of the company’s Washington, D.C., office, and is responsible for leading the company’s regulatory, legislative and industry affairs activities.

The carrier provides property-casualty coverage to small- and medium-sized businesses in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

For the past nine years, McOwen has served on the NYIA board of directors, and in 2006 and 2007 served as the association’s chairman. McOwen has served on the public relations, PAC and workers’ compensation committees and was instrumental in the formation of the New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation, the association said.

Cecilia E. Norat, NYIA board chair and director of state relations for American International Group, called McOwen “a champion for not only NYIA, but the entire industry.”

“He is a true advocate for property and casualty insurers and is a big believer in giving back,” she said in a statement. “Wayne brings a wealth of experience and insight to the association. NYIA is fortunate to have such an active and engaged member among our leadership.”

In addition to his affiliation with NYIA, McOwen has also served on the boards of the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board, the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau Board and the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau Board. He is a past chairman of all three groups.

McOwen is also a current member of the NJ CRIB governing committee and a member of the board of governors for the National Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Pool.

To view a photo from this event, click here.