New York, NY, April 6, 2016 — APIW, Inc. (the Association of Professional Insurance Women) announced that Erin Hamrick, Founding Partner, Sterling James, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the APIW Insurance Woman of the Year Award. A cocktail reception and award ceremony honoring Ms. Hamrick will be held on Monday, June 20, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Marriott East Side at Lexington and 49th Street in New York.
In announcing this year’s award, APIW President Cheryl Vollweiler said: “APIW is proud to bestow this honor on Erin Hamrick. She is a tireless promoter of women in the industry. She is an outstanding role model, who is well known for mentoring, advising and actively supporting insurance professionals. Her leadership and accomplishments, as well as her commitment to supporting and advancing women, are exceptional examples of the qualities that APIW looks for in the recipient of this highly prestigious honor. She has portrayed exemplary professionalism in all of her endeavors and is highly respected in the insurance industry and beyond.”
Ms. Hamrick is the Founding Partner of Sterling James, an executive recruiting firm with a sole focus on insurance, reinsurance, brokerage and insurance related services. Recognizing that professional services firms were being burdened with increased real estate costs relative to the actual time spent in the office, Ms. Hamrick launched Sterling James as a “virtual” company. Through writing for Carrier Management Magazine, speaking engagements and supporting academic research Sterling James quickly established itself as a recognized name in the insurance industry. Ms. Hamrick is consistently working to further women in the insurance industry. She has sponsored studies with Saint Joseph’s University to understand gender disparity in the insurance industry and advance the roles women play in the business world, and has taken a clear position on the importance of diversity in her many public speaking engagements – a theme that is consistent with APIW’s mission. Her team includes a total of four women in the United State and an affiliation with a team in London.
Ms. Hamrick is a graduate of Villanova University. Upon graduation, she joined The Hartford in Atlanta, where she worked in all areas of underwriting and field marketing. She later moved to the broking side of the business with Hamilton Dorsey Alston in Atlanta, Thereafter, she joined Heidrick & Struggles as an Associate in their Insurance Practice and was later promoted to Principal and then Partner. In 2000, Erin relocated to the Wall Street office of Heidrick & Struggles and it was from there she witnessed the events of September 11, 2001. When Erin was asked to join the Department of Defense to help assist with the reconstruction of Iraq, she obliged in the opportunity to give back and took a leave of absence. Upon returning from her leave, she re-joined Heidrick & Struggles and was later recruited to Spencer Stuart’s insurance practice. In 2011, Erin founded Sterling James, which is known for being a true partner to its insurance industry clients and has an exceptional track record placing female executives relative to its industry peers.
In 2014, Ms. Hamrick was named in Reactions Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Women in Re/Insurance.” She is a frequent contributor to Carrier Management Magazine.
The APIW Insurance Woman of the Year Award, first presented in 1976, recognizes an exceptional woman who has achieved prominence in her profession and has made significant contributions to the insurance industry. All nomination forms for APIW Insurance Woman of the Year are sent directly to an independent Woman of the Year Committee appointed by the APIW Immediate Past President. The Committee is comprised of no more than six accomplished professionals representing various segments of the industry.