RPM Insurance Agency, a 100 Year Old Local Insurance Business Partners with National Organization

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - May 22, 2014 - PRLog -- Staten Island, NY (May 2014)— Insurance mainstay RPM Insurance Agency has announced its partnership with Acrisure, LLC,  among the top 15 largest privately owned insurance brokers in America.  "The partnership promises to broaden the insurance options for existing and new customers yet remains strongly committed to personally and locally helping customers navigate the insurance buying process," said Mark Russo, President, RPM Insurance Agency. The principals of RPM Insurance, Russo and Frank Picciurro, Jr. Acrisure's Division Chief Executive Officer- RPM Agency operations continue, along with their 24 employees, to be the faces of the company as well as the people on the phone.  Acrisure’s goal in partnering is to offer the mechanism for local experts, such as RPM Insurance Agency to offer a broad range of products while keeping the identity and culture of the local company intact.

“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and in the throes of the Affordable Care Act now more than ever insurance companies need to be resources rather than stumbling blocks,” said Russo.  The partnership with Acrisure offers RPM the ability to remain a locally based, locally focused independent company yet brings with it  capabilities that offers RPM Insurance Agency customers resources including Affordable Care Act attorneys that makes the transition for customers more efficient and painless.  The opportunities now available through the partnership offer customers in vulnerable areas and situations options not otherwise available.

Founded in 2005, Acrisure, LLC is among the top 15 largest privately owned insurance brokers in America and one of the fastest growing as well. The company has grown 58% per year on a compounded annual basis since inception and is poised for further acceleration given its recent partnering with Genstar Capital.

History of RPM

The history of Staten Island’s RPM Insurance Agency and the entities, from which RPM was formed, spans over 100 collective years. The Russo-Picciurro Agency was formed in 1976 with the merger of The Russo Agency, founded in 1926 by James Russo and The Picciurro Agency, founded in 1962 by Frank Picciurro. Prior to the 1976 merger the two Staten Island firms were affiliated through their combined ownership of Joint Agencies, LTD, formed in 1972 as one of the first insurance agency “cluster” operations in North America. The Russo-Picciurro Agency grew as an insurance agency catering primarily to Staten Island businesses, and their families, as Staten Island’s business population was rapidly expanding.

In 1998 The Russo-Picciurro Agency, LLC acquired the insurance operations of Frank B. Sterner and Company, Inc., which was founded, on Staten Island, in 1913.  Frank B. Sterner & Company was a Staten Island independent insurance agency, based in Port Richmond, with a reputation of maintaining high standards of service to its property and casualty clients. These operations were merged into Russo-Picciurro Agency LLC in May of 1998.

The Maloy Agency, Inc., which was incorporated on Staten Island in 1918, was acquired by The Russo-Picciurro Agency, LLC in 1999. At the time of its acquisition The Maloy Agency, Inc. was a large highly respected Staten Island independent insurance agency and the trusted insurance advisor to, among others, Staten Island Savings Bank. The operations were merged into The Russo-Picciurro Agency LLC in September 1999 and the trade names Russo Picciurro Maloy and RPM Insurance Agency were created.

Today, with its 2013 merger with leading national insurance broker Acrisure LLC, RPM Insurance Agency is the largest retail independent insurance agency based on Staten Island, catering to Staten Island businesses and families. RPM’s core retail insurance business continues to grow through the dedication and professionalism of its employees, though its solid insurance company and brokerage market relationships, through its very active community involvement and through the national resources of its agency partner Acrisure.

Frank Picciurro Jr., CPCU

Frank Picciurro Jr., CPCU is currently the “Division Chief Executive Officer” of RPM Insurance Agency an agency partner of Acrisure LLC a national insurance brokerage . Frank is responsible for the general management of the business.

Frank joined his father, Frank Picciurro, at the Russo-Picciurro Agency in 1986 and became a partner in 1988. Starting out as an insurance producer Frank managed the insurance sales and service operations of the agency until 1995 when he became a Managing Partner. In this capacity he was responsible for the operational, financial and regulatory interests of the company. In 1999 Frank was named the Chief Executive Officer of Russo Picciurro Maloy, LLC and acted in this capacity until its 2013 merger with Acrisure LLC, when he was named Acrisure's Division Chief Executive Officer- RPM Agency Operation.

After graduating high school, in 1978, from Christian Brothers Academy , Lincroft, Frank attended Fairleigh Dickinson University , Madison , and in 1982 received his Bachelor of Science college degree from FDU's school of business. As a dedicated student of his profession Frank holds the insurance designation "Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter” conferred on him, in 1998, by the American Institute for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, Malvern.

Mark E. Russo, CIC

Mark E. Russo is President of Russo Picciurro Maloy ( RPM ) Insurance Agency.  Mark  manages company, employee and community relations as well as the sales, marketing and advertising for the firm. Mark was named The Young Agent of the Year for New York State in 2004. He is licensed as an insurance broker in New York and New Jersey . Mark received his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 2000.

Mark has kept close active ties in the Staten Island community by serving on a multitude of organizations boards of directors. Civic Affiliations that include:

President of the South Shore Kiwanis Club and is currently on the Board of Directors of the South Shore Kiwanis Charitable Foundation.

Past Distinguished Lt. Governor for the Metropolitan Division of Kiwanis International 2004-2005.

Mr. Russo is a Board Member of the NYC Economic Development Corporation.

He is a Member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association (PIA), the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC designate) and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Russo’s educational background includes Fairleigh Dickinson University, POHS Institute of Insurance, The Hill School of Insurance, The Aetna Commercial Insurance Institute and The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.