The Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association (PIWA) and the New England Surplus Lines Association have merged. The combined organization will operate under the PIWA name and serve excess-and-surplus wholesalers throughout the Northeast.

The organization serves as a resource for wholesale brokers and specialty insurance companies through advocacy, education and networking.

PIWA’s accomplishments have included legislation to require retail agents to notify premium finance companies; and legislation to allow security guards who purchase insurance as part of their licensing requirement to use non-admitted carriers.

“This merger marks an important chapter in the lifetimes of both associations,” said PIWA President Robert Farella. “By combining our resources as a single association, we can provide the best possible service to wholesalers in the Northeast.”

“We are proud to join forces, and our work shall continue under the banner of PIWA,” said NESLA President Rich Martino. “Wholesalers in the Northeast will now have a broader influence and a bigger voice in the industry.”

PIWA was created in 1978 as the New York Excess and Surplus Lines Association Ltd. In 1984, the association became the Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association Ltd. In 1989, the name was changed again to the Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association of New York State Inc.