Black Friday Benefit Concert at The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, The Kate, on November 23rd at 8pm to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens& Pantries. The featured performers include The Meadows Brothers, Carter Gowrie & Friends, and more! Proceeds from the Black Friday Benefit Concert will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Gowrie Group Annual Challenge which benefits the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. This year, Gowrie Group Annual Challenge seeks to raise $200,000 for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries by December 31st. Purchase $25 tickets now: Online at thekate.org or by calling The Kate box office. Read more »

Join the Gowrie Group Annual Challenge! Gowrie Group challenges the local community to team together and raise money to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. This year, Gowrie Group has set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 for the SSKP by December 31st. Gowrie Group launched this year’s Challenge with a $30,000 matching gift. Five local companies have stepped forward as Partner Sponsors: LC Doane Company, Tower Labs, BrandTech, Lenny & Joes Fish Tale and Sound Rigging Services. Help us reach our goal by donating now at sskp.org Read more »

Our partners at Chubb offer this useful tool for assessing and identifying areas vulnerable to Social Engineering Fraud. Utilizing Chubb’s guide will enable you to take proactive steps to protect against potential Social Engineering Fraud threats. Read more »

On Saturday, October 20th, Gowrie Group's Public Safety & Municipalities Division (VFIS - Firefighter & EMS), donated 20 framed training posters to the Litchfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan during the “Grand Opening” of its new, state-of-the-art, 14 million dollar Litchfield County Regional Fire Training School. The framed posters hang throughout the reminding students of important topics. Gowrie/VFIS was also mentioned in the opening ceremony as a donor to the school. Jeff Rudzavice of Gowrie Group was on the dedication committee. Read more »

Gowrie Group is honored to be selected as an Elite Insurance Agency by Insurance Business Magazine. Out of the thousands of insurance agencies across the country, Gowrie Group was one of only 35 agencies selected for this prestigious recognition. IBA’s fifth annual Elite Agencies report spotlights the 35 selected agencies that are attaining new heights while reshaping the insurance business of tomorrow. Gowrie is the only elite agency selected in Connecticut and one of just two agencies located in New England. Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's most prominent, independent insurance agency, is pleased to announce that the company has once again been ranked in the Top-50 of Insurance Journal's Annual Top-100 Independent Property/Casualty Insurance Agencies nationwide ranking. Within the Top-50, Gowrie Group is the fourth largest in New England and the largest in Connecticut. Read more »

Gowrie Group is thrilled to have been elected as a 2018 Top Connecticut workplace for the eight year running. Gowrie was selected from over 800 companies competing for this honor, and Gowrie is among only seven companies selected eight years in a row. Selection for the Top Workplaces designation is based on a comprehensive survey taken by employees about their employer. The survey is administered by the Hartford Courant, and asks employees for their opinions in all areas including career path, working environment, managers, leadership, company vision, and benefits. Some of the special benefits and core aspects of being part of the Gowrie team that are most valued by Gowrie employees are our G-FIT gym, flexible work environment, management's commitment to a positive workplace culture, our engaging professionals, and Gowrie’s commitment to the community such as Gowrie's longtime support of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Read more »

Gowrie Group has teamed with Chubb Marine to share with you this safety-focused checklist on how to prepare your marina, boat yard, or yacht club for the upcoming off-season. The checklist covers six key focus areas – General Safety, Self-Propelled Trailers, Boat Hoists, Marine Forklifts, Blocking, and Rack Storage – that will help you identify and reduce the likelihood of an accident, injury, or future claim situation. Click here to download a copy of the checklist. Read more »

Gowrie Group was excited to be part of both the Annapolis Sailboat Show and the Annapolis Powerboat Show. The team invited boat show attendees to stop by our booth for conversation, answers to marine insurance questions, and a chance to win a Helly Hansen Duffle Backpack with the Gowrie Group logo!

Gowrie Group is thrilled to be one of Berkley One's first select agent partners in Connecticut. Berkley One specializes in providing insurance solutions for modern, sophisticated individuals and families. Check out the feature story about Gowrie Group on Berkley One's blog. Smooth Sailing with Gowrie Group

As Hurricane Michael approaches Florida and the Gulf Coast, we want you to know Gowrie Group is standing by ready to help you with advice, storm preparation resources, claims reporting information, and recovery support. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Michael will make landfall along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday October 10th as a Category 4 storm. Although the exact storm track is still uncertain, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches are in effect for more than 300 miles of coastline and adjacent inland areas. Potentially devastating storm surge, flooding, rainfall, and wind are expected along much of the Gulf Coast and along the storm’s path. Please keep a close watch on this storm over the next several days and begin preparation steps now.

Our Safety & Loss Control Manager, Kellie Crete had the opportunity to work with the attendees of Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Kellie taught a 10 Hour OSHA General Industry Safety Course for them and provided Respirator Fit Testing. This class was held at the brand new Westerly Education Facility, it is AMAZING! Gowrie Safety Training Services

Gowrie Group was incredibly proud to honor Dawn Riley and Oakcliff Sailing as they were presented with the prestigious Mystic Seaport Museum 2018 America and the Sea Award. The prestigious award recognizes those individuals and organizations whose extraordinary achievements in the world of maritime exploration, competition, scholarship, and design best exemplify the American character. The award was presented at a gala fundraiser for the Mystic Seaport at the Metropolitan Club in New York City October 3. Riley stands alone as the first woman to compete in both the America’s Cup and in the Whitbread Round the World Race, two of the pinnacles in the sport of sailing that prior to her had been all but closed to women sailors. Riley also went on to become the first American, male or female, to sail in three America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World Races.

Benefits Newsletter - 2018 ACA Reporting Draft Forms Now Available, and Two HSA Bills Passed by the House. Read more »

Gowrie is always excited to be part of this vibrant show which kicks off the fall boat show season and features so many impressive yachts, innovative marine products, and valuable services. The Gowrie Team handed out 600 pounds of fresh apples that came from Bishop's Orchard of Guilford, CT. Thank you for stopping by the Gowrie Group booth to say hello, it was our pleasure to greet you in person.

As Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast, we want you to know Gowrie Group is standing by ready to help you with advice, storm preparation resources, claims reporting information, and recovery support. Hurricane Florence continues to intensify and presents extreme danger to the East Coast. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Florence is likely to be a strong Category 4 Hurricane when making landfall along the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic coast on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Although the exact storm track is still uncertain, States of Emergency have already been declared for South Carolina, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. Potentially devastating storm surge, flooding, rainfall, and wind are expected along much of the East Coast and adjacent inland areas. Please keep a close watch on this storm over the next several days and begin preparation steps now.

Gowrie Group and VFIS are pleased to be hosting an Emergency Vehicle Driver “Train-the-Trainer” Class in Springfield, MA, Oct 17, 2018 . This training will take place during the Massachusetts EMS Conference at the Mass Mutual Center. This course is designed to teach the instructional methodology to potential and existing instructors needed to deliver the following program. The operator of emergency vehicles in today’s society carries a heavy responsibility. The penalty for not adequately training your operators also carries legal consequences. Emergency vehicle operators and the entities they represent have been held both criminally and civilly responsible for their actions. This program was developed to teach the emergency vehicle operator (EVO) proper driving technique, the mental as well as the physical aspects of the driving task. The program points out the long-term impact of an accident involving an emergency vehicle on the operator, the emergency service organization and the community in which they serve. To learn more and enroll Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - HBP Guidelines Have Changed: Do You Know Your Risk?, Foodborne Illness is on the Rise: Protect Yourself, and Fruits and Veggies: How Much is Enough? Read more »

On Wednesday August 15th, Gowrie Group employees served their annual BBQ luncheon to the community at Grace Church in Old Saybrook. Gowrie employees worked together to provide, prepare, and serve lunch to more than 65 guests of The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. The Gowrie team was also able to provide to-go meal boxes for many of the guests to take home. This is the 10th year that Gowrie has hosted a lunch for our neighbors in need on the Connecticut shoreline. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to be the corporate sponsor of a very special MJM Rendezvous to be hosted by the Mystic Seaport on August 24th and 25th. Participating owners of MJM boats who register will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum’s Collections Research Center, lunch, in-water vessel tours, and a cocktail party reception. The event will wrap up with a breakfast, curator discussion, and a boat parade out the Mystic River.

Benefits Newsletter - Association Health Plans Expansion, Critical HIPAA Compliance Gaps Exposed by HHS and Amazon announced it will be purchasing the online pharmacy PillPack. Read more »

Health and wellness tips for your work and life. Read more »

One of Gowrie Group’s core principles is to help our marine industry clients and partners manage and mitigate their exposures to risk. In the marine trades segment, understanding environmental responsibilities and the financial consequences of releases of petroleum or hazardous substances into navigable waters, or to adjoining shorelines, is critically important. This Risk Report addresses how to prevent, prepare, and respond to a release or spill into our waterways. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - Sunrays Aren't the Only Thing You Can Catch at the Pool, Trouble Sleeping? Your Phone May Be to Blame, and Are You Up to Date on Your Immunizations? Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - ACA Affordability Percentages Will Increase for 2019 and the IRS Announces HSA Limits for 2019 Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - WHO Calls for a Ban on Artificially Produced Trans Fat, Sweating More Doesn't Necessarily Mean You Burn More Calories and Snack Smart, Save Money, Time and Calories Read more »

Image is of Gowrie Group presenting the 2018 sponsorship check to The KATE (LF to RT) Brett Elliott, Executive Director of The Kate; Robin Andreoli, Director of Development & Community Relations of the Kate; Whitney Peterson, VP of Marketing at Gowrie Group; Carter Gowrie, CEO of Gowrie Group. Read more »

Gowrie Group was excited to support New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) as a sponsor of their annual 12-Meter sailing event. Team Gowrie Group was thrilled to get to race aboard American Eagle, an iconic red 12-Meter built by Luders Marine Construction Co. for the 1964 America's Cup campaign and helmed by Ted Turner. Read more »

Warm Weather is in the Forecast, Remind Employees About Your Dress Code and the HSA limit changed again! Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - IRS Announces Second Change to HSA Family Contribution Limit, and DOL Releases New Resources for Mental Health Parity Compliance Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: Strawberries named dirtiest produce for 3rd year in a row by EWG, Over 200 rare antibiotic-resistant genes found in 27 states, and Intermittent Fasting: What it is and why people are doing it. Read more »

Gowrie Group is looking forward to hosting a very special MJM Rendezvous on August 24 & 25, 2018 and the Mystic Seaport Museum. The MJM Rendezvous is open to all MJM owners. While we expect that most attendees will come by water, we will also welcome MJM owners coming by car as general admission visitors to Mystic Seaport. Read more »

Vin Falcigno, Gowrie’s commercial and environmental insurance specialist, spoke on a panel at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s 2018 Energy & Environment Conference on May 18th. Vin, Rachel Rosen of Burns & McDonnell and Richard Fil of Robinson & Cole discussed Spill Response and Preparedness. Rachel discussed Practical Considerations, Rich discussed Planning Ahead and Vin discussed the scope of Emergency Response Coverage in pollution insurance policies. Link to Article

Raising the roof and raising funds: Gowrie Group is a Gold Sponsor of Raise the Roof’s Habitat for Humanity Build on the Branford Green. Gowrie Group is proud to announce their support and involvement with Raise the Roof’s 2018 Build Project to benefit Habitat for Humanity of New Haven. Gowrie Group has supported both the New Haven and Hartford chapters of Habitat for Humanity for many years, through various donations, and volunteering activities. To compliment Gowrie Group’s financial support, twelve Gowrie Group employees and their family members assembled on the Branford Green on Saturday, May 12 for hands-on construction work. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - May 2018 Worried about DOL Audits? Get Paid and Education Benefits: A trending way to retain talent. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Did You Miss the April 2 ACA Reporting Deadline? Here's What's Next and IRS Updates Employer Guide for 2018 Tax Changes to Fringe Benefits Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce their corporate sponsorship of the 2018 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair. Devon is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. This year's show will take place in Devon, PA from May 24th to June 3rd, and will include some of the finest equestrian competition in the US. Gowrie Group is delighted to be presenting class winner sponsors of the hunter jumper division. Kiley Prime, an accomplished rider and a Personal Lines and Equine Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, will be joining Holly Griffin who manages Gowrie Group's Equine, Farm, and Ranch division at the 2018 Devon Horse Show.

Gowrie Group is looking forward to hosting a very special Eastbay Rendezvous on June 9 & 10, 2018 and the Mystic Seaport Museum. The Eastbay Rendezvous is open to all Eastbay owners. While we expect that most attendees will come by water, we will also welcome Eastbay owners coming by car as general admission visitors to Mystic Seaport. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - Despite CDC Recommendation, Many Adults Still Refusing Shingles Vaccine, Researchers Link New Danger to E-cigarettes, and May is Food Allergy Action Month Read more »

Drone uptake is growing at a steep trajectory, and sailors, sailing organizations, and the sailing industry are taking notice. Before joining in the fun, Gowrie Group recommends that all drone operators and drone owners take time to understand the related FAA regulations, industry requirements, insurance needs, and safety best practices. Significant insurance coverage gaps can arise because there is often an aviation exclusion in standard Commercial General Liability policies for owned drones. Flying a drone without coverage can expose you, your assets, and your organization to significant lawsuits and claims for bodily injury or property damage. To meet this coverage gap, Gowrie Group is pleased to offer our clients two options for purchasing Drone Insurance: an episodic hourly policy by Verifly and an annual policy through Global Aerospace. Both solutions can be purchased online. Gowrie's Drone Insurance Solutions

IRS Announces Revision on HSA Limit for Family Coverage for 2018 Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Compensable Time: What You Need to Know, FBI Warns of Direct Deposit Phishing Attacks Read more »

Gowrie Group has partnered with Verifly, the leading on-demand drone insurance company, to bring our clients flexible drone insurance. Many organizations and individuals may be operating drones without realizing they may have a significant coverage gap. The coverage gap arises because there is often an aviation exclusion in standard Commercial General Liability policies for owned drones. Gowrie Group and Verifly will work together to educate their clients on drone safety, drone regulations, and recommend Verifly's episodic, on-demand drone insurance solution to Gowrie Group’s clients that are looking for a flexible, hourly insurance solution. Learn more about this new on-demand drone insurance solution at www.verifly.com/gowrie and Read Our Drone Risk Report

Benefits Newsletter: How to Handle an ACA Penalty Letter and The Importance of Plan Document Review Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - 5 Healthy Snacks to Satisfy Your Workday Hunger, Signs of a Kidney Stone, and Don't be a Distracted Driver Read more »

Electricity can be an invisible, sometimes fatal, danger in our waters. It most frequently strikes near boat marinas and powered docks. With boating season just around the corner, now is the time to learn what causes Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) and what preventative steps you can take to make sure it doesn't happen. Learn more by reading Gowrie Group’s updated Risk Report on this topic. Read more »

Beginning early Wednesday and continuing through Thursday morning, a nor'easter is expected to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds. Please visit our Gowrie Group Winter Storm Center for storm prep tips, safety recommendations and claim reporting information.

New HHS Secretary is Focused on Opioid Crisis, You Should Be Too and 4 Things You Can Do to Manage Worst Flu in Decades Read more »

Steve Schram, an insurance and safety expert from Gowrie Group, will present a risk management seminar to leaders from sailing organizations and club from GSBYRS on May 3rd. He will cover a range of safety and risk management topics including: fires, storms, medical emergencies, towing & trailers, EPLI, D&O, docks, cyber, safety, and more. Read more »

Beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday, a nor'easter is expected to develop off the East Coast and bring heavy snowfall and strong winds. Please visit our Gowrie Group Winter Storm Center for storm prep tips, safety recommendations and claim reporting information.

Benefits Newsletter - Spending Resolution Affects ACA Taxes, and New Rules for Disability Claims Take Effect Soon Read more »

Ed Gumbrecht, president and COO of Gowrie Group, is featured in The Source of Madison for his unwavering dedication to giving back. He shares, “I have the privilege to lead an organization that believes in community engagement. We all feel how important it is to align our work with the things we are passionate about… We encourage our staff, clients, and business partners to participate in their community—to be engaged and get involved—and we want to be supportive of the great stuff they do. It’s true that when you lead with your heart, good things happen.” Read more

Caution, winter storm dangers linger! Follow these tips for staying safe after a winter storm from the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). Read more »

IRS Reduces HSA Limits for Family Coverage for 2018. Read more »

Please visit our Gowrie Winter Weather Center for storm prep tips, safety recommendations and claim reporting information.

Sailing World magazine article "So, the Kid Wants to Teach Sailing," by Kimball Livingston, addresses the current challenge of finding qualified sailing instructors with strong powerboat handling skills. The demand is high and the supply is low. Whitney Peterson, Gowrie Group's VP of Marketing, is quoted in the article, highlighting her views about the importance of hiring coaches that are not only US Sailing Certified Instructors with solid sailing and coaching skills, but that they also have multiple years of experience operating a powerboat. She believes that one solid strategy to help address lagging powerboat experience in new coaches is to offer an on-site, hands-on powerboat class focused on building the specific skills that instructors need from day one when coaching kids – towing, coming alongside a small boat, capsize recovery, setting marks, hovering in place, slow speed maneuvering, etc. Many clubs find that they can fit this important training in during instructor prep-week at the beginning of each season. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Eating Healthy Doesn't Have to Be Expensive, This Deadly Flu Season is the Worst in Nearly a Decade, and Sleep and your health. Read more »

Chubb's marine loss control specialists offer this helpful list of best practices to educate yacht clubs and marinas on how to ensure their docks are electrically safe and sound. Read more »

Gowrie Group was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the US Sailing Leadership Forum which took place in St. Petersburg, Florida earlier this month. The three day conference brought together 550 inspiring leaders from all aspects of the sailing community, including sailing education, yacht club and sailing organization management, race officials, marine companies, and industry professionals. More than 90 expert presenters and keynote speakers delivered engaging seminars, and being an expert in risk management and safety, Gowrie was invited to present two seminars at this year’s conference. Thank you to US Sailing, and all the sponsors, speakers, industry professionals, volunteers, and attendees, who together helped make Sailing Leadership 2018 such a fantastic learning event! Read more »

Live well, Work well: 2 Chronic Conditions that can cause cancer, Avocados: A Legitimately Healthy Food Craze and A common cold can be contagious for longer than you think. Read more »

Through the generous support of nearly 500 local individuals and companies, the 2017 Gowrie Group Challenge has raised more funds for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries than ever before - a record breaking $173,935! Gowrie Group kicked off this year's challenge with a $30,000 dollar for dollar matching donation, and five companies stepped forward as Partner Sponsors to provide additional matching funds: LC Doane Company, Tower Labs, Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Sound Rigging and BrandTech Scientific. Since Gowrie Group began this challenge 14 years ago, the challenge has raised nearly 1.5 million dollars, which equates to providing over 4 million meals to people in need in our community. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Online Portal for Employment Discrimination Claims and Senate Tax Bill Repercussions Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to be a platinum sponsor of the upcoming US Sailing Leadership Forum 2018! At the US Sailing SLF 2018, leaders from sail training and education, yacht club and sailing organization management, race officials, and industry professionals from across the nation will meet and learn from one-another at this action packed 3-day conference. Gowrie experts will be leading two seminars: "Junior Sailing Program Safety - Docks to Documents” by Kellie Crete and Whitney Peterson, and "Claims Stories - When Insurance Really Matters” by Ed Gumbrecht. Be sure not to miss our seminars and to stop by our table in the exhibitor hall.

Benefits Newsletter - DOL Delays New Rules for Disability Benefit Claims and ACA Reporting Read more »

According to the National Weather Service, a powerful Nor'easter is expected to bring snow, ice, sleet, strong winds, and rough surf to coastal locations of the Southeast, Middle Atlantic, and New England, starting Wednesday and continuing into Thursday and Friday. Significant potential exists for dangerous travel, scattered power outages, tidal flooding, and dangerously cold wind chills. To help you stay safe and prepare, we invite you to visit the Gowrie Winter Weather Center.

Each year, the employees of Gowrie Group select a local non-profit to donate to on behalf of the company as an end of year thank you gift to the owners and partners of Gowrie Group. For the 2017 gift, Gowrie Group employees selected Bikes For Kids. The monetary donations from Gowrie Group employees will be used to fund bike repairs and purchase new helmets which will be distributed to children for the spring 2018 biking season. The donated bikes from Gowrie staff will be given directly to children who deserve the joy that comes from having their own bike! Read more »

Live well, Work well: January is Thyroid Awareness Month, Winter Sports Safety Tips, and 3 Steps to an Injury-free Workout Read more »

Severe cold weather is forecast for the next week! To help you stay safe, protect your property, and prepare, Gowrie Group invites you to visit our Winter Weather Center to access detailed information and preparation guidelines. Winter Weather Center

Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group’s Safety & Loss Control Expert will be leading a webinar for marine industry professionals on January 3rd, on Blood Borne Pathogens safety in the workplace. This webinar is for you if you or your employees work on holding tanks or marine heads, work at a pump-out dock, are part of a first aid response team, or if you clean your own restrooms. Learn more

We invite you to join the Gowrie Challenge to help us meet our goal of raising $200,000 by December 31st to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Gowrie launched the challenge with a $30,000 matching gift. These matching funds, along with additional matching funds from our partner sponsors, are used to double the impact of additional contributions. Since the Gowrie Challenge began in 2004, Gowrie has raised more than one million dollars to benefit the SSKP. Donate online at www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org or by mail with this form. Read more »

As of November 1st 2017, Vincent M. Falcigno, along with his team and clients of TFG Insurance Specialties (formerly The Falcigno Group), have joined forces with Gowrie Group, a leading independent insurance agency headquartered in Westbrook, Connecticut. This is an exciting combination of our people and our complementary strengths. Together we can provide a broader array of insurance services and markets, enhanced risk management strategies, and other valuable services. Read more »

Suzanne Redden, Gowrie Group's Mid-Atlantic Branch Manager, was proud to attend the annual Markel Personal Lines 2017 Underwriting Roundtable. In addition to educational sessions, peer to peer networking, and learning about new products and improved coverages, one of the main purposes of the Roundtable is for Markel and their valued agency partners to get to meet face-to-face.

Check out the WLIS radio coverage of the launch of the Gowrie Group Challenge to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Bob of WLIS interviews Carter Gowrie CEO of Gowrie Group; Ellen Rabin, Executive Director of The Shoreline Soup Kitchens, and Lindas Dillon, Gowrie Group Benefits Account Manager. Gowrie Group aims to raise $200,000 to benefit the SSKP Read more »

Every year between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, Gowrie Group, Connecticut's largest independent insurance agency, challenges their local community of businesses and friends to team together to raise money to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). This year, Gowrie Group has set an ambitious goal of raising $200,000 for the SSKP through their annual challenge. Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's most prominent, independent insurance agency, is proud to announce that the company has once again been ranked in the Top-100 Independent Property/Casualty Insurance Agencies nationwide by Insurance Journal, and has been named a 2017 Top Connecticut Workplace by the Hartford Courant. Read more »

Announcement! As of November 1st 2017, Vincent M. Falcigno, along with his team and clients of TFG Insurance Specialties (formerly The Falcigno Group), have joined forces with Gowrie Group, a leading independent insurance agency headquartered in Westbrook, Connecticut. This is an exciting combination of our people and our complementary strengths. Together we can provide a broader array of insurance services and markets, enhanced risk management strategies, and other valuable services. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Fight the flu with these simple tips, Starting planning today for a stress-free holiday season, and 6 tips for diabetes prevention Read more »

The latest edition of US Sailing's "This Is What We Do" video series features Carter Gowrie, CEO of Gowrie Group and the architect of the Burgee Insurance Program, discussing the importance of preparing, protecting, and insuring your sailing organization. Watch Video Now

Check out Gowrie Group’s “Always on Watch” fall employee newsletter - company news, events, milestones, accomplishments, and more. Gowrie Fall Newsletter

Kellie Crete, Gowrie’s Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist, will be leading a safety webinar for the International Marina Institute’s Safety Series on November 1, 2017. Her webinar, “Fall Protection & Scaffolding” will educate marine industry professionals on how to work safely in boatyards, marinas, boat building facilities, marine manufacturing environments, and beyond. Learn more and register here: http://marinaassociation.org/ev_calendar_day.asp?date=11%2F1%2F17&eventid=12

Live Well, Work Well: Halloween Safety Tips and Hidden dangers at your child's bedtime Read more »

As fall approaches, many marina and yacht club owners are preparing for haul out and winterization services. These services can be accompanied by significant risk if not handled in a proper and timely manner. Chubb's Marine Facilities' loss control specialists are pleased to share the Preparing Marinas for the Off Season checklist with detailed guidelines to help prevent loss. Read more »

Gowrie Group and National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) invite you to join us for complimentary coffee and conversation during the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis. We invite all exhibitors, marine industry professionals, and ticket holders to stop by the National Sailing Hall of Fame dock each morning for a cup of fresh coffee to start your boat show day. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Senate rejects ACA repeal efforts, and Updated Form I-9 required beginning Sept. 18 Read more »

We are very excited that Rick Bagnall and Al Golden, two of our insurance specialists, will be representing Gowrie at the 2017 Seven Seas Cruising Association Annapolis Gam. Rick Bagnall will be speaking on selecting the right Health Insurance for Cruisers. The event will take place from September 23-24 at Camp Letts in Edgewater, MD. We hope to see you there!

Live well, Work well: Do you know the signs of Opioid Addiction? Read more »

Hurricane IRMA, a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane, continues to head towards the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico with the impact expected to begin later tonight. The current forecast has IRMA remaining a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane and tracking towards the Bahamas, Cuba, Florida Keys, and Florida Peninsula later this week. Although the exact track is still uncertain, a state of emergency has already been declared for the State of Florida. We advise you to keep a close watch on this powerful storm over the next several days and to begin preparation steps now. www.gowrie.com/stormcenter

The 2017 Hurricane Season is fierce and not over until November 30th. Historically the peak of the hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean is from late August through September. Gowrie Group encourages you to update your family’s emergency plan, define your plan to secure your boats and property, and restock your storm kits. We advise you to keep a close watch on approaching storms and to always prepare early. www.gowrie.com/stormcenter

We invite you to stop by our booth (Tent D #27) at the upcoming Newport International Boat Show for a fresh apple and smart advice about how to get the right insurance for your boats/yachts, homes, assets, businesses, and lifestyle. Gowrie Group is proud to be the sponsor of the Annual Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Industry Partnership Breakfast which is held Saturday morning at the show. The boat show takes place from September 14-17th in Newport, RI.

On Wednesday August 23rd, Gowrie Group employees served a BBQ lunch to the community at Grace Church in Old Saybrook. Over 40 Gowrie employees teamed together to provide, prepare and serve a BBQ feast to almost 50 guests of The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). This is the 9th year that Gowrie has hosted a lunch for our neighbors on the Connecticut shoreline. Read more »

We are pleased to share that our Darien office has moved to a new in-town location to accommodate our growing team. Our new address is: 767 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820. Our contact information has remained the same at: 203.656.3644 or 800.262.8911, Fax: 203.656.3970, Email: darien@gowrie.com If you are in the area, please stop in to see our new space and say hello. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Hurricane Harvey continues to intensify and track toward Texas and Louisiana, and is expected to be a major hurricane as it makes landfall. We advise you to keep a close watch on this storm over the next several days and to begin preparation steps early. Visit Gowrie Group's Severe Storm Center to access smart advice and resources for how to best prepare, respond, and recover from severe weather. www.gowrie.com/stormcenter

Benefits Newsletter - HIPAA Cyber Attack Response Checklist and New Fiduciary Rules Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - Prevent Heat Illness, Hepatitis C Rates Triple and Broccoli Strawberry Orzo Salad. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to be the corporate sponsor of a special MJM Rendezvous to be hosted by the Mystic Seaport on August 18th and 19th. Participating owners of MJM boats who register will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum’s Collections Research Center, lunch, in-water vessel tours, and a cocktail party reception. The event will wrap up with a complimentary breakfast Saturday morning. If you are an MJM owner, we invite you to come join the fun! Read more »

In the event you have employees in New York or if there is a possibility you will in the future, Gowrie Group would like to share with you information on the New York Paid Family Leave legislation which will go into effect as of January 1, 2018. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - House passes changes to Overtime rules Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - What Happens if the ACA Employer Mandate is Repealed? Read more »

Gowrie Group, a leading New England independent insurance agency, is pleased to announce that David Geyer has recently joined the firm as the Director of Commercial Lines and Employee Benefits. Geyer will be responsible for the oversight and management of the service and support teams for Gowrie's Commercial Insurance department and Employee Benefits department. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: Simple Summer Activities Your Kids are Sure to Love, Do You Know Seizure First Aid?, Grilling Safety Reminders for Your Summer BBQ and Turkey Burger recipe. Read more »

Steve Prime, CIC of Gowrie Group, Newport was recently honored for his ongoing pledge to education, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the insurance profession. The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) presented Mr. Steve Prime with a formally-inscribed certificate for his continued participation in the CIC Program. Read more »

Chubb Marine offers these tips for how to protect commercial marinas and yacht clubs from severe storms and hurricanes. The guide offers important steps commercial marinas and yacht clubs can take before, during and after a hurricane to help minimize damage and assist in the recovery. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Only One-third of Employees are Engaged at Work and Prevent a PR Crisis from Turning into a PR Disaster Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - American Health Care Act (AHCA) passes House and Pre-existing Conditions under the ACA Read more »

Hurricanes have the power to cause widespread devastation, and can affect both coastal and inland areas. FEMA offers this guide for how to protect yourself and your property, and details the steps to take now so that you can act quickly at a time when every second counts. Read more »

The Hartford Insurance offers these guidelines and safety tips for preparing your business for hurricanes and severe storms. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: Tick and Tick-borne Disease Season is Here, Shop for seasonal produce this summer., and National Fireworks Safety Month: June 1 to July 4. Read more »

Gowrie Group is a proud sponsor of the 15th annual Westbrook Family Day which will be held on Saturday, June 10th (rain date June 11th), at the Westbrook Town Green, from 12-2pm. This event is free, and open to the public. We encourage you to attend or volunteer with the local community.

Gowrie Group is pleased to be the corporate sponsor of a special Eastbay Rendezvous to be hosted by the Mystic Seaport on June 2nd and 3rd. Participating owners of Eastbay boats who register will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum’s Collections Research Center, lunch, in-water vessel tours, and a cocktail party reception. The event will wrap up with a breakfast, curator discussion, and a boat parade out the Mystic River. If you are an Eastbay owner, we invite you to come join the fun! Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) plans to maintain its Bipartisan Enforcement Plan, Trump's Secretary of Labor Nominee Questioned on Overtime Rule Read more »

Soon boats will be launched, kids will be swimming, sailing programs will start, and marinas will be in full operation. With this in mind, now is a the time to increase your understanding of the risk factors which can lead to Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) and learn how to prevent ESD from happening on your watch. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Spring Allergy Alleviation, A Breath of Fresh Air, and Age well in the Workplace Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - ACA Replacement Bill Withdrawn, Now what? and Cost-saving Strategy: Generic Drugs Read more »

Propeller guards can add an important margin of safety for boats operated around children, sailors, and swimmers. However, safe power boat operation should always be the primary safety measure. Read our Prop Guard risk report to learn more. Read more »

The temperatures are rising, the sun is setting later, and boat covers and shrink wrap are coming off. As you dream of summer days on the water, we offer you these helpful tips and resources to ensure you have a safe, trouble-free 2017 boating season. Read more »

Brewer Essex Island Marina will be hosting a marine insurance seminar led by Gowrie Group's boat insurance expert, Mark Gargula on May 20th at 10 a.m. During this exciting seminar, Mark will educate Brewer customers on selecting the best insurance, knowing what to look out for and answer questions. The seminar will take place at "The Shop on the Island" at Brewer Essex Island Marina. Visit Brewer Essex Island

Gowrie Group, a leading New England independent insurance agency, is pleased to announce that Dan Preston has recently joined the firm as an Account Executive, specializing in commercial insurance. Preston will be responsible for bringing Gowrie's insurance solutions and risk management services to businesses, non-profits and organizations alike throughout New England and beyond. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Retirement Uncertainty and Where to Turn, and Saving with Health Care Literacy Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to sponsor the Adams Cup Reunion being hosted by the National Sailing Hall of Fame, May 19-21, in Annapolis, Maryland. This weekend event is for all past Adams Cup participants, including those who sailed in the preliminaries, finals, and/or race committee. Participants will share sailing stories, go sailing, celebrate women in sailing and engage the next generation. On Saturday morning there will be a free panel discussion lead by Dawn Riley which is open to all sailors, including junior sailors, on the topic of "Engaging Sailing’s Next Generation". Other speakers, panelists, and sponsors of this event include, Rachael Miller, Dawn Riley, Jan O’Malley, Pam Healy, Louisa Chaffee, Gowrie Group, Oakcliff Sailing Center, and the Rozalia Project. Read more »

Gowrie Group has joined the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) as an organizational sponsor. In an effort to bolster the RIMTA mission of promoting and strengthening the Rhode Island marine trades, Gowrie Group’s sponsorship will support the organization’s communications as well as key events, including a series of programs designed to cultivate the marine industry’s leaders of tomorrow. Read more »

US Sailing extends its commercial insurance (general liability, marine liability and umbrella) to protect certified instructors (CI). This insurance program is managed by Gowrie Group. Read more »

US Sailing extends its liability policies for the benefit of US Sailing’s certified race officers, certified judges, and certified umpires, and to non-certified officials acting as volunteers for US Sailing (collectively referred to as Certified Race Officials (CRO)). These policies are managed by Gowrie Group. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce a multi-year sponsorship extension with US Sailing, the National Governing Body of the sport. Through this sponsorship, Gowrie Group will serve as the Official Insurance Agency of US Sailing and the US Sailing Team. Chubb will be the Official Insurance Carrier of US Sailing and the US Sailing Team. Read more »

Gowrie/VFIS is happy to announce we are hosting an Emergency Vehicle Driver “Train-the-Trainer” Class in North Smithfield, RI on May 2-3, 2017 at North Smithfield Fire & Rescue. To learn more and enroll. Read more »

Gowrie/VFIS is happy to announce we are hosting an Emergency Vehicle Driver “Train-the-Trainer” Class in South Windsor, CT on May 4-5, 2017 at the South Windsor Fire Department. More than 30 Fire Departments from across Southern New England are expected to attend. To learn more and enroll. Read more »

Employee Live Well, Work Well - Monitor your rice intake to minimize arsenic consumption, Phlegm: A key player in fighting off illness, and recipe Basic Quiche. Read more »

Gowrie Group has officially opened the Gowrie G-Fit Gym & Wellness Center in Westbrook, CT. At the ribbon cutting on March 23rd Carter Gowrie, Gowrie's CEO and Founder shared, "We invested in you so that you can invest in yourselves. We encourage you to take full advantage of all the fitness and wellness activities and classes that are offered through G-Fit." Read more »

Employer Benefits Bulletin - ACA Replacement Bill Announced, Health Care Literacy Pays off, and IRS Change Affecting Individual Mandate Read more »

Benefits Newsletter: House Republicans release legislation to repeal and replace the ACA, American Health Care Act: What won't change. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to sponsor the Mrs. Charles Frances Adams Cup Sailing reunion being held at National Sailing Hall of Fame, May 19-21st. All past Adams Cup participants are invited to attend. The weekend event is for female sailors - Mothers, daughters, granddaughters – to share sailing stories, go sailing, celebrate women in sailing and engage the next generation. Events include: Group sailing on BULL and BEAR, modern reproductions of the 19th century, 28’ LOD, wooden Sandbagger sloops, guest speakers and a panel discussion. Speakers include: Rachael Miller,Co-Founder/Executive Director, Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean Dawn Riley, Executive Director, Oakcliff Sailing Center, Crew, America3, US Sailing's Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Jan O’Malley, US Sailing's Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Winner, First World’s Woman’s Doublehanded Championship Pam Healy,Board, St. Francis Yacht Club ,Olympic Bronze Medalist Louisa Chafee, College Sailing All American US Olympic Sailing Team, Rio Open invitation to all Adams Cup Particpants

Employer HR Brief - Company Culture might be more important than you think and DOL Overtime Rule: Update. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: Workplace Stress Levels Dropping, Prepare for Tax Season, and Spring Break Travel Tips Read more »

Benefits Newsletter: ACA and Employer Health Plans under President Trump, and Block Grants: What you need to know. Read more »

Steve Prime, Vice President at Gowrie Insurance, led an interactive seminar on the insurance needs of active yacht brokers, with a specific focus on the coverage needed for demonstrations, sea trials, and surveys on a client’s boat. Chris McNally, a maritime attorney with the law firm of Sayer, Regan & Thayer, collaborated with Steve on the topic. They discussed the importance of yacht dealers and yacht brokers knowing who is covered and who is not. Together they stressed the importance of examining the contract language of the brokerage listing, the dockage agreement, and most importantly, the employment status of the broker handling the boat.

Employer HR Brief - Stay Protected from Phone Tax Scams and Employee Leave-sharing and Donation Programs. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of US SAILING's National Sailing Programs Symposium to be held in Austin, Texas this week! We look forward to presenting two seminars: Kellie Thornell Crete will be presenting a seminar on "Sailing Program Facility Safety." Whitney Connor Peterson will be presenting a seminar on "Practicing Your Emergency Response Plan." http://nsps.ussailing.org/

For the past few months, employees at Gowrie Group, a leading New England insurance agency, have been taking advantage of the new “G-Streakers” challenge provided by the company’s employee benefit program, G-Fit. Read more »

Did you know Gowrie Group offers comprehensive equine insurance solutions, including Equine Mortality with Major Medical Options? Our in-house equine insurance team is ready to help. Contact us at equine@gowrie.com Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce their continued support of The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Inc. (the Kate), with an annual corporate sponsorship. This generous sponsorship from Gowrie Group enables the Kate to continue to develop unique and diverse productions, as it enters into its seventh year of operations. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: Protect your child from E-cigarettes, February is American Heart Month, 3 Tips for Hosting a safe big game party and Recipe of the month "Chicken Vegetable Soup with Kale". Read more »

Each year, the employees of Gowrie Group select a local non-profit to donate to on behalf of the company as an end of year gift to the owners and partners of Gowrie Group. For the 2016 gift, Gowrie Group employees selected Sailors for the Sea. Sailors for the Sea was chosen to thank them because of all they do to unite people to help keep our oceans clean, vibrant, and healthy for generations to come. Gowrie Group employees teamed together to personally donate $1,500 to Sailors for Sea's Ocean Guardian Program at the "Ocean Protector" level. Read more »

Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Prevention Expert, is speaking at the 15th Annual International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) on Jan 27th at the Broward County Convention Center, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Kellie's seminar, "FIRE", will explore the physical and environmental risk factors that can lead to devastating fires, and how smart fire safety and fire prevention practices can help to mitigate fire risk. The seminar will also examine the personal, financial, and environmental toll that often smolder long after the flames have all been extinguished. Read more »

The 2016 Gowrie Group Challenge raised more funds for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries than ever before - a record breaking $172,919! The Gowrie Group Challenge is an annual fundraising initiative where Gowrie Group announces a dollar for dollar match to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens. This approach doubles the impact of generous donations from local businesses and individuals. This year, over 400 individuals and companies donated to the challenge which ran two months, from November 15, 2016 to January 15, 2017. The contributions from this campaign are used to fill the shelves of the SSKP’s five pantries and serve meals to those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families at the SSKP’s eight meal sites along the Connecticut shoreline. Since Gowrie Group began this challenge 13 years ago, over 4 million meals in total have been provided for those in need through the Gowrie Group Challenge. Read more »

"Marine Industry growth through Collaboration, Communication and Education." Steve Prime from Gowrie Group is proud to be a featured speaker at the upcoming Massachusetts Marine Trades Association Professional Development Conference on January 19, 2017. His seminar, "LETS TALK MARINE INSURANCE," will cover important topics such as: Additional Insureds, Jones Act, USL&H, Dock Values, Radius of Navigation, and Social Engineering Fraud. Read more »

The New Year and How it May Affect Your Benefits, New Year's Resolutions: Lifestyle Changes vs. Quick Changes, and January is National Blood Donor Month. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to once again be a Gold Sponsor and the Official Weather Briefing Sponsor of Quantum Key West Race Week 2017. This year marks the 30th anniversary regatta, which is scheduled for January 15-20, 2017. Gowrie Group is one of many prominent brands supporting this annual, exciting regatta. Platinum Sponsors: Quantum Sails (Title Sponsor and Official Sailmaker), Florida Keys & Key West (Presenting Sponsor), B&G (Official Marine Electronics), Gill NA (Official Apparel), Lewmar (Official Marine Hardware), Marlow (Official Rope) and Mount Gay Rum (Official Rum). Gold Sponsors: Classic Harbor Line (Official Spectator Vessel), Foiling RIBs, Gowrie Group, J/Boats, Key West Historic Inns, Red Stripe Beer (Official Beer), Sailing World (Official US Magazine), Seahorse International Sailing (Official European Magazine) and Waterfront Brewery (Official Venue). Silver Sponsors: Chelsea Clocks, Harken, New England Ropes, Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), Rejex, SpinSheet, Team One Newport and Yacht Scoring. Bronze Sponsors: 1800 Atlantic Condominiums, Commander's Weather, Eden House, New England Boatworks, Regatta Ginger Beer and Switlik.

Let's reach into 2017 together Read more »

Let's reach into 2017 together Read more »

Employee Benefits Bulletin - Department of Labor overtime rule update, 2016 Kaiser Health Benefits Summary, The Presidential Election's Impact on Health Care, and 2017 Health Care Compliance Highlights. Read more »

Gowrie Group took on the Mannequin Challenge at our annual holiday luncheon on December 14th. More than 100 Gowrie employees sat still for over 3 minutes while this was filmed. Watch Video Now

As a company, Gowrie Group believes in giving back to our local and surrounding communities. We highlight our 2016 community engagement in this summary. Read more »

Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Prevention Expert, is speaking at the 15th Annual International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) on Jan 27th at the Broward County Convention Center, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Kellie's seminar, "FIRE", will explore the physical and environmental risk factors that can lead to devastating fires, and how smart fire safety and fire prevention practices can help to mitigate fire risk. The seminar will also examine the personal, financial, and environmental toll that often smolder long after the flames have all been extinguished. Read more »

Gowrie Group launches Annual Holiday Food Drive to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries. To honor the holiday season, we are collecting special treats not traditionally found at the local pantries - candies, chocolates, cookies, and more. Read more »

Listen to the WLIS radio coverage of the launch of the 13th Gowrie Group Challenge to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Bob of WLIS interviews Ed Gumbrecht, President of Gowrie Group; Patty Dowling, Executive Director of The Shoreline Soup Kitchens, and Lindas Dillon, Gowrie Group Benefits Account Manager. Gowrie Group aims to raise $125,000 to benefit the SSKP. Read more »

Every year between Thanksgiving and New Years, Gowrie Group reaches out to the local community to help raise funds to feed the hungry on the Connecticut shoreline, through the Gowrie Group Challenge. This year, Gowrie Group will launch the challenge on November 16th, with our largest matching gift ever: $30,000. Our generous Partner Sponsors – The Safety Zone, LC Doane Company, Tower Labs, Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale, and BrandTech Scientific – are providing an additional $23,000 in matching funds. Together we hope to raise over $125,000 to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Read more »

Gowrie Group, is excited to announce we have acquired Mid-Atlantic based International Marine Insurance Services (IMIS). Earlier this fall, Gowrie Group acquired Hartge Insurance Associates. These two acquisitions secure Gowrie Group’s place as the nation’s leading provider of marine insurance. Insurance industry veteran, Suzanne Redden, will lead Gowrie Group’s new Mid-Atlantic Operation. Carter Gowrie, Chairman and CEO of Gowrie Group shared, “We are honored by our new relationship with these two firms and we’re very impressed with the strong business they have built over the past 3 decades. We look forward to working together with their strong teams to bring increased access to insurance solutions to all their clients.” Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's most prominent specialty insurance agency, is proud to announce that the company has once again been ranked in the Top-50 independent insurance agencies nationwide by Insurance Journal. Based on this ranking, Gowrie Group is also the largest independent agency in Connecticut. The list is published by Insurance Journal, which compiles a yearly list of the top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Insurance Agencies nationwide. Read more »

Gowrie Group was proud to be a Silver Sponsor of Mystic Seaport’s America & Sea Award gala that honored Bob & Rod Johnstone and J/Boats. The award recognizes individuals or organizations whose contribution to the history, arts, business, or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American character. Over the past 39 years, the Johnstone family and their company have influenced American yachting and sport of sailing in incomparable ways. For the Johnstone’s, it all started with RAGTIME, the first J/24.

Each year, more than 4,500 workers are killed on the job and approximately 3 million are injured. The following 10 Workplace Safety & Health Violations, which are the most frequent citations reported by OSHA during workplace inspections, account for the majority of those deaths and injuries. Nearly all of these deaths and injuries could be prevented through the implementation of proactive safety training and safe workplace policies. Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England’s premier insurance agency, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the upcoming New England Museum Association’s Annual Conference. The conference is being held in Mystic Connecticut on November 9-11, 2016. The Welcome Opening Reception, presented by Gowrie Group, will be hosted at the Mystic Seaport. Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group’s Safety & Loss Prevention Manager, will be leading an interactive seminar at the conference called, “A Night at the Museum: How to Identify and Mitigate Museum Risk.” Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Overtime and the FMLA Leave Entitlement and IRS ACA Penalty Assessments are Forthcoming. Read more »

VFIS is introducing its latest Emergency Vehicle Driver Training instructor update, the 2016 edition, by webinar. The webinar is free of charge to Gowrie/VFIS clients and non-clients. The webinar is approximately 2 hours of interactive program delivery. November 10, 15, and 17. To learn more and enroll: Read more »

The Dyer Dhow Derby is an annual regatta held in honor of the yacht clubs, sailing associations, and individuals who have donated to or supported the Dyer Dhow fleet of more than 50 boats at Mystic Seaport. Gowrie Group, Mystic Seaport’s insurance partner, is the presenting sponsor of this year’s Dyer Dhow Derby (DDD). Saturday October 15th. Read more »

Gowrie Group was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Massachusetts EMS Conference held Oct 6-7th. There were over 160 attendees and 40 exhibitors at the conference. It was a great opportunity to connect with our customers and build new relationships throughout the New England area.

Live well, Work well - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Prevent backpack-related injuries, and Halloween safety tips. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Get Ready for ACA Reporting Deadlines and Marketplaces to offer "simple choice plans" for 2017 Read more »

Gowrie Group and National Sailing Hall of Fame invite all exhibitors and marine industry professionals to join us for complimentary coffee and conversation before the show opens on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. AT THE ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT SHOW! OCTOBER 6, 8 & 9; 8:30–10AM at the NATIONAL SAILING HALL OF FAME DOCK Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's most prominent specialty insurance agency, is proud to announce that the company has been voted a Top Connecticut Workplace for the 6th year in a row by its employees. From among nearly 1,000 companies that applied, Gowrie Group is among a select group of only 61 companies that were selected to be named as a "2016 CT Top Workplace." Of further distinction, Gowrie Group is one of only 7 companies that have achieved this designation six years in a row. Read more »

The Dyer Dhow Derby is an annual regatta held in honor of the yacht clubs, sailing associations, and individuals who support the Mystic Seaport’s Dyer Dhow fleet of more than 50 boats. Gowrie Group, Mystic Seaport’s insurance partner, is the presenting sponsor of the 2016 Dyer Dhow Derby. We encourage sailing organizations and clubs to create a team and come join in this fun day or racing. All races will be held on the Mystic River near the dock at the north end of the Mystic Seaport Museum grounds. Boat are provided, and registration and admission to the Seaport is free to all teams. Registration is at 11am, racing starts at 12:30. Register online at: www.mysticseaport.org/event/dyer-dhow-derby Read more »

THIS EVENT IS BEING MOVED TO SPRING 2017. Gowrie Group is pleased to be the corporate sponsor of a very special Eastbay Rendezvous to be hosted by the Mystic Seaport on October 1st. Participants in the Eastbay Rendezvous will receive overnight dock-age at the Seaport, admission to the Museum, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum’s Collections Research Center to explore some of the world’s finest collections of scrimshaw, nautical photography, maritime fine art and artifacts; breakfast on Sunday morning; and complimentary tickets to Mystic Seaport’s 37th Annual International Maritime Art Exhibition opening cocktail party. The East Bay Rendezvous coincides with the Museum’s First Annual Oyster Festival and the 37th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, both of which provide a wonderful backdrop to this very special boating experience. Read more »

The Gowrie Group team delivered 600 pounds of apples at the Newport International Boatshow, to marine industry clients and partners. The show was held September 15-18th in Newport, RI. The fresh, crisp apples came from our partners at Bishops Orchard, of Guilford, CT. Gowrie Group boat-show team: Dawn Speros, Sarah Davidson, Carter Gowrie, Nancy Sprigg, Kiley Prime, Steve Prime, Dan Cooney, Kellie Crete, Whitney Peterson, Mark Gargula, John Pugliese, Nancy Young, John Owsianik Jr, Barbara Cooper, Steve Schram, Scott Shiland, and more. Read more »

Gowrie Group was proud to be a Presenting Sponsor of the 2016 A-List Awards by Moffly Media - the premiere home design competition. Congratulations to all the winners! Team Gowrie at the awards ceremony included: Dennis Schmelzer, Scott Shiland, and Steve Schram. https://youtu.be/wvKIHSEpwvs

Gowrie Group is excited to announce that we acquired a leading Mid-Atlantic based marine insurance specialist – Hartge Insurance Associates – on September 1. In conjunction with this new agency combination, Gowrie Group also is pleased to announce that insurance industry veteran and Annapolis resident Suzanne Redden, will be joining the Gowrie team to be the Branch Manager of the new Gowrie Group Mid-Atlantic operation and Annapolis area office. Redden has enjoyed a distinguished career in marine underwriting and business development for carriers and agencies. The joining together of Hartge Insurance, Totch Hartge, and Suzanne Redden with Gowrie Group enables Gowrie to expand its geographic presence and bring its insurance and risk management expertise to the strong, established marine communities found in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - Green Tea - more than just a drink?, Taking responsibility for your retirement fund,and Pokémon Go: Advice for parents Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Significant changes proposed to Form 5500, and DOL's New Fiduciary Rule Impacts HSAs Read more »

Hurricane HERMINE continues to intensify and track in a Northeasterly direction. While the exact track is still uncertain, Hurricane warnings or watches have been issued from Florida to New Jersey. We advise you to keep a close watch on this storm over the next several days and to begin preparation steps early. Visit Gowrie Group's Severe Storm Center to access smart advice and resources for how to best prepare, respond, and recover from severe weather. www.gowrie.com/stormcenter Read more »

Employer HR Brief - August 2016 Employee Leave: Clarifying STD, FMLA, and ADA and The FMLA and Absence Notification: Is Your Policy Being Followed? Read more »

VFIS is introducing its latest Emergency Vehicle Driver Training instructor update, the 2016 edition, by webinar. The webinar is free of charge to Gowrie/VFIS clients and non-clients. The webinar is approximately 2 hours of interactive program delivery. Five webinars slots are offered between Sept 8-14th at various times. To learn more and enroll: Read more »

The Gowrie Group team of Whitney Peterson, Steve Prime, Sarah Davidson, Nancy Sprigg, Claire Gumbrecht, Casey Gowrie, and Scott Gowrie delivered the New York Times paper to the 147 boats participating in the 160th New York Yacht Club cruise. The boats are part of a week long cruise that started in New York Harbor on August 6th and ends in Newport RI on August 13th. The Gowrie team delivered papers to the cruisers at the midway point, the overnight stop in the picturesque Thimble Islands located in Branford, CT. The next stop on the cruise after the Thimble Islands is Fishers Island, NY. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Zika: Why men should be concerned too, Exercising the body and brain, and avoiding sports-related eye injuries in children. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - U.K. Votes to Leave the European Union and New Task Force to Focus on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - The Final White Collar Exemption Rule is Here, EEOC Issues Welcome Guidance on Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to offer US Sailing members an annual Crew Medical Health Insurance Program. This specialized health insurance provides worldwide coverage and is ACA compliant. Open Enrollment is from July 1st to August 31st for a September 1st start date. http://www.gowrie.com/USSailingPrograms/CrewMedicalHealth.aspx

Gowrie Group and The Burgee Insurance Program are proud to offer important safety materials and resources to sailing organizations nationwide. We believe one of the most important documents that all sailing organizations should have in place is an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). As you create and practice your EAP, Gowrie Group recommends you also review these 6 Tips to empower your team to respond to an emergency as quickly, safely, and effectively as possible. Read more »

Many people, even experienced marine industry employees, have never heard of Electric Shock Drowning. And even those that have heard of ESD typically don’t realize how many common situations can put people at risk. Learn more from Gowrie Group’s Risk Report on understanding Electric Shock Drowning.

Employee Brochure "live well, work well": SPF claims fall short for many sunscreens, FDA moves to regulate the sale of e-cigarettes, Food labels get a makeover and recipe for California Avocado Summer Wraps Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - DOL issues new overtime payment rules, EEOC Finalizes wellness rules under ADA and GINA and Guidance for employers on bathroom access rights for transgender employees. Read more »

Employee Benefits Bulletin - DOL issues new overtime payment rules, EEOC finalizes Wellness Rules under ADA and GINA, HHS Launches Phase 2 of HIPAA audit program, and ACA's affordability contribution percentage increased for 2017 Read more »

Health Care Reform: PCORI Fees due August 1, 2016 Read more »

For the past few months, employees at Gowrie Group have been taking advantage of the company’s unique new employee benefit program called GFit. GFit by Gowrie Group is an original initiative that includes exercise classes with a range of focus and difficulty, including GRun, GFree GYoga, GTone, GZoomDance, and a GFit Lecture Series. Through these programs, employees spend an hour or two a week exercising and learning about fitness and nutrition, under the guidance of two trainers Gowrie Group has recently partnered with, Jessica DaSilva and Margot Sherwin. GFit has been a huge success for Gowrie Group so far. On Sunday June 19th, a group of 11 Gowrie Group employees in the GRun program, who had been training since the end of March, participated in the Branford Road Race. Gowrie had competitors in the five mile race as well as the two mile health walk – everyone crossed the finish line. Read more »

Gowrie Group recently made a $1500 donation to New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) specifically for the purpose of purchasing more than a dozen VHF handheld radios. VHF radios are a vital safety and communication resource for NESS staff members throughout the year. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Knowing the difference between exempt and nonexempt; compensation is a rising factor in job satisfaction, and the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued the Employer's Guide to The Family and Medical Leave Act. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to have been a Silver Sponsor of the Ox Ridge Hunt Club’s June Horse Show, which took place from June 14th through June 19th. Gowrie Group provides equine programs for owners, horses, farms, and ranches along with access to the premier equine insurance products and services from the industry’s top rated carriers. Ox Ridge Hunt Club is a regional chapter of the nonprofit organization Pegasus Therapeutic Riding (PTR), located in Darien CT and founded in 1914 to serve people with special needs in Fairfield County through therapeutic horseback riding. At the Ox Ridge June Show, parking fees and other voluntary contributions were donated directly to the PTR charity. Read more »

On Saturday, June 4th, the Connecticut River Museum hosted the annual Essex Shad Bake. This shoreline tradition draws seafood lovers from all over New England to the banks of the Connecticut River for a summer kickoff event full of community bonding and delicious food. The Rotary Club of Essex has kept this cookout alive for 59 years, and this year’s bake marks another successful event! Gowrie Group, a leading New England independent insurance agency, served as a “Captain” level sponsor this year. Gowrie Group has contributed to the Essex Shad Bake for many years, and is proud to continue their support. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to announce our joint partnership with Herreshoff Marine Museum (HMM) and PURE Insurance. Gowrie Group and PURE will be supporting Herreshoff’s mission of educating and inspiring the public through presentations of the history and innovative work of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and the America's Cup competition. As a 2016 Silver Level sponsor of the Hereshoff Marine Museum, Gowrie Group will support several of HMM’s key events such as the Classic Yacht Symposium and the Herreshoff Classic Regatta. Read more »

On June 8th & 9th, Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Control expert, Kellie Crete, is teaching a 10-Hour OSHA Outreach Training Program designed specifically for boatyard, yacht club, community sailing, and marina employees. The program provides training for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. The program also provides information regarding workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint.

Soon boats will be launched, kids will be swimming, sailing programs will start, and marinas will be in full operation. With this in mind, now is a good time to increase your knowledge of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD). Many people have never heard of ESD, and those that have typically don’t realize the common situations that can be putting people at risk for ESD. Read more »

Employee brochure "live well, work well": How to turn a bad day around, Detergent packet poisoning and potential Zika spread mapped by NASA. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to announce that Scott Shiland has recently joined the firm’s as a Senior Vice President and head of the Boston office located on Federal Street. Shiland will be responsible for delivering Gowrie’s broad insurance capabilities to individuals, families, and organizations throughout Massachusetts and New England. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - ACA's Affordability contribution percentage increases for 2017, Updated HIPAA self-audit tools, and this spring Exchanges will begin notifying employers that they may be subject to ACA penalties if any of their employees are deemed eligible for health insurance subsidies through an Exchange. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to announce that Steve Schram has recently joined the firm as a Senior Vice President and leader of the agency's Family Risk Management practice area. Schram will be responsible for bringing Gowrie's insurance solutions and risk management services to individuals, families, and organizations throughout New England and beyond. Steve has severed on more than 20 corporate boards from a diverse universe of companies and nonprofits, including serving on the board of the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and the advisory board of Boston Private Bank. He is a trustee and former Commodore of Shelter Island Yacht Club. Steve graduated from University of Wyoming and has an MBA and MAAP from Duke University. Schram will operate out of Gowrie's office in Darien. He can be reached at steves@gowrie.com. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce their corporate sponsorship of the 2016 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair. Devon is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. This year’s show will take place in Devon, PA from May 26th to June 5th. Gowrie Group is sponsoring the Ladies Side Saddle division as well as providing the Champion and Reserve Champion of each division with a saddle pad. Kiley Prime, an accomplished rider and a Personal Lines and Equine Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, will be joining Holly Griffin who manages Gowrie Group’s Equine, Farm, and Ranch division at the 2016 Devon Horse Show. Read more »

Raising the roof and raising funds: Gowrie Group is a Silver Sponsor of Raise the Roof’s Habitat Humanity Build on the Guilford Green. Gowrie Group is proud to announce their support and involvement with Raise the Roof’s 2016 Build Project to benefit Habitat for Humanity of New Haven. Gowrie Group has supported both the New Haven and Hartford chapters of Habitat for Humanity for many years, through various donations, including a long time involvement in golf tournament fundraiser Sticks for Bricks. To compliment Gowrie Group’s financial support, fifteen Gowrie Group employees assembled on the Guilford Green on Saturday, May 21 for hands-on construction work. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Tips for Implementing Progressive Discipline and Continue to Use Current Form I-9 Read more »

Line of Duty Injury and Disability Retirement Seminar sponsored by Gowrie Group. Chief Roy McNamee (ret.) representing Gowrie Group, and Attorneys John J. Clifford Esq. and Jaime L. Kenny Esq. representing Clifford and Kenny LLP will present information and answer questions on how to effectively manage a line of duty injury claim and disability retirement claim in your organization. May 17, 2016; Barnstable, MA. Read more »

The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) and Gowrie Group are excited to announce the continuation of their partnership to collect, preserve, and present maritime stories – this year with a focus on stories related to the Adams Cup. This partnership is a continuation of Gowrie Group’s ongoing support of the NSHOF. In 2015, Gowrie Group was the lead sponsor of the NSHOF’s initiative to collect and preserve Yacht Club stories. Read more »

Insurance companies are becoming less restrictive – and offering more competitive pricing – for insuring direct waterfront homes and homes near the water. That means now is the time to consider new markets for insuring your coastal properties and island homes. The coastal insurance experts at Gowrie Group have the solutions you need to best insure and protect your valuable coastal, waterfront, and island properties. Our team also has extensive expertise in helping clients navigate the complex seascape of primary and excess flood insurance, flood zone determinations, elevation certificates, and FEMA. www.gowrie.com/coastal

Live well, Work well - Healthy Lifestyles and May is National Stroke Awareness Month Read more »

Despite background checks, “bad actors” sometimes slip through the cracks. If one of these individuals is your nanny, driver, housekeeper, or gardener, they may represent your greatest threat for a significant lawsuit, especially if your relationship with them takes a turn south. In addition to the risk of mis-hiring, employer behavior can be misinterpreted and mistakes made. Affluent families with household help should talk to their agents about the benefits of a standalone employment practices liability insurance policy (EPLI) or an endorsement to their existing personal liability policy. While many states don’t require employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance for their domestic employees, purchasing workers compensation for domestic help is prudent risk management. Lacking this, you could face significant exposure if one of your domestic workers is injured on the job or becomes ill, and choses to file a lawsuit. www.gowrie.com/frm

Benefits Newsletter - Supreme Court hears contraceptive coverage case, Phase 2 of HIPAA Audit program and a tweak to the tax code could allow employers to pay back employees' student debt. Read more »

You’ve worked hard to build a great life for your family. How do you protect what you’ve earned going forward? You’ve built a life full of promise. The question is, are you properly covered to protect your way of life should any number of perils that did not exist even five years ago present themselves? The professionals at Gowrie Group, Connecticut’s largest independent personal insurance agency, lie awake at night worrying about all you have to lose, so that you don’t have to. Read more »

Waterfront homes, coastal properties, island homes, and homes near the coast all by nature face a higher risk of damage from wind, water, flooding, storms, hurricanes, nor’easters, and extreme weather. Gowrie Group understands the complex, multidimensional risks these properties – and their owners – face. Our team has great expertise at creating comprehensive insurance programs to protect these often hard to insure coastal properties. Our team also has extensive expertise in helping clients navigate the complex seascape of primary and excess flood insurance, flood zone determinations, elevation certificates, and FEMA. Coastal Home Insurance

Employer HR Brief - EEOC proposes revised guidance on retaliation, and IRS: Payroll and HR Targets of new phishing scheme. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Coffee may combat alcohol's effect on the liver, Loneliness considered a public health problem, and avoiding spring allergies. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Affordable Care Act litigation may affect employers and ACA rule changes for 2017 Read more »

It is time to prepare for the upcoming boating season. As you ready your boats and family for a safe and enjoyable season, we encourage you to take the time to review these helpful resources. Read more »

The Burgee Program and Gowrie Group have developed an Emergency Response Plan "Card" Template to give clubs and community sailing programs a strong starting point from which to create an Emergency Card for their specific location. This template has been developed collaboratively with input from safety experts at Gowrie Group, US Sailing, and sailing programs across the country. The card is designed to be posted in the sailing facility and to be laminated for use in safety boats. Read more »

Meet The Burgee Insurance Program, the most comprehensive insurance program available to sailing clubs, community programs, and sailing organizations. The program is endorsed by US Sailing, underwritten by Chubb, and managed by the marine insurance experts at Gowrie Group. Gowrie Group is proud to say that we insure more than 1,000 sailing organizations nationwide, including more than 100 community sailing programs. One of the best things about the Burgee Insurance Program is the special coverage that is built into the program to protect sailing organizations when they are doing what sailing organizations always do - run regattas, host social events, teach sailing, sponsor rendezvous, and borrow boats. The program also has the right coverage in place for your historic clubhouse, treasured trophies, docks & floats, club owned boats, flag officers, members, volunteers, employees, and more. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Department of Labor Standards for Joint Employment and Political Discussions in the Workplace Read more »

Important recommendations from ACE to prepare your boat or yacht for fire emergencies: where to locate, what type(s) you need, how to maintain, how to use, and more. Learn what you need and how to handle emergency fire situations on boats. Read more »

Employee Brochure "live well, work well": Lead Water Poisoning, Zika: What you should know, and 3 diets to help you follow the new dietary guidelines. Read more »

Our insurance carrier partners and our clients continue to see a dramatic increase in attempted – and successful – Social Engineering Fraud attacks. We advise you to take the time to understand what these attacks look like, train your employees, evaluate your internal controls, and contact us to discuss strategies to improve your crime and cyber coverage. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Recent court rulings raise questions about FMLA and IRS clarifies ACA rules for employer-provided coverage Read more »

Gowrie Group proudly supports the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center with an annual sponsorship for 2016. The generous sponsorship from Gowrie Group enables the Kate to continue to develop unique and diverse productions, as it enters into its seventh year of operations. Brett Elliott, the Executive Director of the Kate shared, “We are thrilled to partner with Gowrie Group this year to produce wonderful entertainment with creativity and wit, just like our namesake. Carter Gowrie has been instrumental in numerous initiatives here at the Kate, since his time joining the Board of Trustees. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Carter and the Gowrie Group into the family here at the Kate.” Read more »

Employer HR Brief - February 2016: Form I-9 Self-audit Guidance and educate employees on 401(k) loans Read more »

Steve Schram’s focus is to actively manage wealthy families’ insurance coverage in the same way they would expect their investment manager might handle their finances — remain constantly vigilant for oversights and gaps and consistently scout for the best policies from carriers. At one time a senior executive with the Boston Celtics, Schram today is an insurance specialist in the Darien office of Gowrie Group, Connecticut's leading insurance brokerage firm for whom Schram is spearheading the development of Gowrie Group's Family Risk Management practice. Read the full article in the Stamford Advocate or Greenwich Times to learn more. Read more »

Listen to the radio interview of Ed Gumbrecht, Gowrie COO & President, being interviewed for the “Small Business Report” by CBS radio personality, Joe Connolly. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - The Importance of Good Posture, FDA aims to ban minors from tanning beds, and preventing foodborne illnesses. Read more »

Gowrie Group's 150 employees worked together to collect $750 from each other to give a holiday gift to the partner/owners of Gowrie Group. The gift, a $750 donation on their behalf to the Veteran Angler Charters of West Haven, CT, was presented to the seven partners of Gowrie Group. The Gowrie Group partners were so inspired by their employees' outreach and generosity that they doubled the donation, bringing the donated amount to a sizable $1,500 contribution. Veteran Angler Charters is a non-profit organization based in West Haven, Connecticut. The organization offers memorable fishing trips for active duty, retired, wounded, and recovering veterans and their families at no cost. Gowrie Group is Connecticut's top independent insurance agency and one of the Top-50 agencies in the nation. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - ACA reporting deadlines delayed and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes increased out-of-pocket maximums Read more »

The Gowrie Group Challenge has passed the "Million Dollar Mark!" Over the past 12 years the annual Gowrie Challenge has raised over one million dollars for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Donations from this year's challenge (which ended 1/15/16) reached over $150,000, breaking all previous records for total dollars raised. The Gowrie Group Challenge is an annual fundraising challenge where Gowrie Group announces a $25,000 dollar for dollar matching donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to be the Platinum Sponsor of the US Sailing Leadership Forum 2016, to be held Feb 4-6th in San Diego. Our presentations include: Insurance Doesn't Matter Until it Does, Junior Sailing Program Safety, JR Sailing Volunteer Chair Survival Guide, and Regatta Safety. More than 1000 yacht clubs, community sailing program, and sailing industry leaders will be in attendance. Representing Gowrie Group will be Whitney Peterson, Steve Prime, Dan Cooney, Kellie Crete, and Rick Bagnall. Read more »

Employer Benefits Bulletin - New spending bill delays Cadillac Tax, Final ACA market reform rules released, IRS releases tax guidance on same-sex marriage issues,and ACA automatic enrollment requirement repealed. Read more »

Dawn Speros and Steve Prime of Gowrie Group will be giving an e-seminar on "Social Engineering & Funds Transfer Fraud" to members of the Yacht Brokers Association of America in February. Dawn Speros and Steve Prime are both marine insurance experts; Dawn specializes in yachts and Steve in marine companies and yacht clubs. Seminar Description: There is an increasingly common type of crime known as “Social Engineering” funds fraud, and 59% of attacks are directed at small and medium sized businesses. Social Engineering Fraud Defined = when an employee is intentionally misled into spending money or diverting a payment based on fraudulent information that is provided to them in written or verbal communication such as an email, fax, letter or even a phone call. Read more »

Our partners at VFIS have published a free cyber self-assessment check list for organizations and companies. 1. Take stock. Know what personal information you have in your files and on your computers. 2. Scale down. Keep only what you need for your business. 3. Lock it. Protect the information that you keep. 4. Pitch it. Properly dispose of what you no longer need. 5. Plan ahead. Create a plan to respond to security. Download the PDF for the full list. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - ACA Reporting Requirements - A Basic Overview, and End-of-year Employee Communications. Read more »

In today's world, where hacking is the new home break-in, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to protect themselves and their assets from new and emerging threats. Gowrie Group's Family Risk Management (FRM) solution is an innovative new approach to help affluent families reduce and manage their overall exposure to new and latent risks, including cyber-crime, social engineering fraud, teen drivers, domestic help, and more. To announce this innovative new program, Gowrie authored an informative white paper and infographic – New and Latent Threats to Affluent Families – to assist people with understanding the new and emerging risks families and individuals are facing today. Read more »

To support the announcement of Gowrie Group's Family Risk Management solution, Gowrie has published an informative white paper and infographic – New and Latent Threats to Affluent Families – to assist people with understanding the new and emerging risks families and individuals are facing today. This white paper and accompanying infographic are available for complimentary download on Gowrie's website. Download Here.

Employee Brochure "live well, work well": In defense of coffee, sugar substitutes, and New Year's Resolutions Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - ACA repeal passes Senate, Veto Expected and Government investigating rising drug costs Read more »

In December, Gowrie Group’s 150 employees worked together to collect $750 from each other to give to the partner/owners of Gowrie Group as a holiday gift. The gift was presented to the seven partners, Carter Gowrie, Ed Gumbrecht, Skip Young, Chris Pesce, Brad Preston, John Fisher, and Chris Brodeur, as a $750 donation, on their behalf, to the Veteran Angler Charters of West Haven, CT. The partners were so inspired by their employees’ outreach and generosity that they offered to double the donation, bringing the donated amount to a sizable $1,500 contribution. Read more »

ACA Reporting Deadlines Delayed - On December 28, 2015, the IRS issues Notice 2016-4 which extends the deadlines for 2015 ACA reporting under Sections 6055 and 6056. Read more »

Wishing all our clients, colleagues, and friends a Happy Holiday for Gowrie Group at the North Pole! Read more »

Listen to the WLIS radio coverage of the launch of the 12th Gowrie Group Challenge to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Bob of WLIS interviews Carter Gowrie, CEO and Founder of Gowrie Group; Patty Dowling, Executive Director of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens, and Lindas Dillon, Gowrie Group Benefits Account Manager. Gowrie Group aims to raise $125,000, which will put the lifetime total of the Gowrie Challenge at One Million Dollars to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Read more »

On November 15th, Gowrie Group launched its 12th annual Gowrie Challenge with a matching gift of $25,000 to The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Our partner sponsors –The Safety Zone, LC Doane Company, Tower Labs, Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale, and the Tariq Farid Foundation - are providing an additional $22,500 in matching funds. Meeting this year's goal of raising $125,000 will put the lifetime total amount raised by the Gowrie Group Shoreline Soup Kitchen Challenge over the Million Dollar mark. We are challenging local businesses and individuals to join together to help us reach our goal. The number of people in need in our communities continues to rise; the SSKP has seen a 14% increase in the amount of food distributed at their five local pantries already this year. Now is the time to help. The Gowrie Challenge runs from November 15th to December 31st. Read more »

Live well, Work well: Remember to get a flu shot, Simple tips to reduce food waste, Pack a work lunch to stay healthy and save money and vegetable chili. Read more »

Your accounting department receives new wiring instructions from a trusted vendor. No problem, right? It could be fine, but what if they are mistaken and the email is from someone posing as your vendor. There is an increasingly common type of crime known as “Social Engineering” funds fraud, and 59% of attacks are directed at small and medium sized businesses . In today’s digital and connected world, attackers of this type hide in the anonymity of cyber space; and they pose as a trusted vendor, prospect, client, or employee to deceptively gain the confidence of an employee and induce them to part with money. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2015 New England Museum Association annual conference. We look forward to spending 3 days in Portland, Maine with vibrant, engaged museum professionals, as we all come together to learn, grow, connect, and expand our vision of museum excellence. Gowrie's museum and non-profit experts, Dan Cooney, Rick Bagnall, and Chris Brodeur will present an interactive seminar on November 4, 2015, called "Insurance to Protect Directors, Volunteers, Employees and Yourself!" Seminar Overview: What you don’t know can hurt you. This session will explore why executive protection including D&O insurance and Employment Practices Liability is so important and why Executive Directors and board members must take a pro-active role on insurance matters. You will walk away from this session with specific questions to ask your agent, risk management best practices, and smart advice related to D&O and EPLI, Social Engineering Cyber Funds Fraud, Liquor Liability, ACA, and Volunteer Protection. www.gowrie.com/museums Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Be Informed on Transgender Accommodation, Uber Case Highlights Employee Classification Enforcement, and Did you know giving employees the option to telecommute and work flexible hours may garner loyalty from your current employees and help attract and retain new ones. Read more »

Gowrie Group Claim Services will be presenting a seminar on November 5th in Stoneham MA to municipal officials. The seminar will cover Chapter 41, Sections 100 and 111F Claims, and their administration for municipal officials. Presenters include Chief Roy B McNamee, EFO Ret. Managing Director of Gowrie Claims Services; and John Clifford, Esq., and Jaime Kenny Esq. of Clifford & Kenny, LLP. To RSVP, contact Gowrie Group at 781.536.6920x1603. Read more »

A strong team of Gowrie Group marine insurance experts will be heading to the Annapolis Boat Shows - Power & Sail - October 8th to 18th. Our team looks forward to meeting with clients, marine companies, and the more 150,000 attendees.

Live well, Work well: Monitor physical activity with a fitness tracker, Sleep and your health, and Health benefits of Oatmeal. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Guidelines finalized for electronic reporting under sections 6055 and 6056,IRS clarifies section 6055 reporting for HRAs and some workplaces are considering offering repayment assistance for student loan debt. Read more »

Hurricane JOAQUIN continues to intensify. While a complicated atmospheric pattern is making its exact future track difficult to predict at this time, a potential East Coast landfall is possible. Extreme flooding is also a strong possibility. We advise you to keep a close watch on this storm over the next several days and to begin preparation steps early. Gowrie Group's Severe Storm Center contains smart advice and resources for how to best prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather. Read more »

The Gowrie Group team had a very successful 2015 Newport International Boat Show, September 17-20th. Our team delivered over 500 pounds of Bishop's Orchard apples to all our clients and friends. Thanks to all our clients that came by and visited with us, we enjoyed seeing everyone. Congratulations to the NIBS team for hosting a fantastic show! Read more »

The Dyer Dhow Derby is an annual regatta held in honor of the yacht clubs, sailing associations, and individuals who have donated to or supported the Dyer Dhow fleet of more than 50 boats at Mystic Seaport. Gowrie Group, Mystic Seaport’s insurance partner, is the presenting sponsor of the 2015 Dyer Dhow Derby. We encourage organizations and clubs to field a team and come race. All races will be held on the Mystic River across from the dock at the north end of the Mystic Seaport Museum grounds. Registration and admission to the Seaport is free to all teams. Registration is at 11am. Racing starts at 12:30. Divisions include: Juniors (under-14), Men’s, Women’s, Double’s, Quarter-Ton. Registration online (free) at www.mysticseaport.org/learn/sailing/dyer-dhow-fleet/dyer-dhow-derby-registration/ Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Department of Labor (DOL) clarifies worker classification and educate employees on cyber security. Read more »

Live Well, Work well - September is fruit and veggie month, Blood pressure readings demystified, understanding food expiration dates and storing food in the refrigerator. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Final Rule on Religious Exemptions to Contraceptive Coverage, PCORI Fee FAQs and did you know the IRS released the 2015 draft instructions for reporting under Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Read more »

Come visit Gowrie Group at the 2015 Newport International Boat Show, September 17-20th. We will be in Tent D #24. Once again we will be giving out 500 pounds of Bishop's Orchard apples to all our clients and friends. Read more »

Once again, Gowrie Group is named as one of the Top-50 independent property/casualty insurance agencies nationwide by Insurance Journal, in their annual Top-100 Independent Property/Casualty Agencies report. The Top-100 list is ranked by total property/casualty agency revenue for 2014. Read more »

Summer is here and that means hotter weather and higher risks for heat related illnesses such as heat stress. Many occupations require work in hot environments for long periods of time. Following these safety guidelines can effectively reduce the risk of heat illnesses. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - U.S. Supreme Court Legalizes Same-sex Marriage and DOL Issues Proposed Rule to Expand Overtime Protections Read more »

Our 7th Annual Luncheon to benefit the Old Saybrook Soup Kitchen site was a tremendous success thanks to over 40 Gowrie employees who united to generously donate cash and or ingredients, bake, schlep or volunteer at the site. The Gowrie crew worked in wonderful tandem to provide a nutritious meal, a warm and inviting venue and take home cookie bags. As always, the Soup Kitchen guests shared rave reviews. Claire Bellerjeau, the Director of Development for the SSKP, offered her appreciation by providing a collage photograph. Thanks also to our hardworking intern, Mary Brodeur. Gowrie Group's annual Soup Kitchen Challenge, kicks-off on November 15, 2015; with a goal of raising more than $125,000 for the SSKP. Read more »

Hurricanes have the potential to cause significant disruption in the operations of facilities. In order to minimize the potential for a public impact and to provide continuity of operations, consider the following actions before and after a hurricane impacts your facilities. Each facility/town should have a site specific Emergency Response Plan. Read more »

Barbara Cooper speaks to C5 Crossroads for Kids: C5 New England is a community program run by Crossroads for Kids, a prominent youth development organization that has served Massachusetts since 1936. C5 New England inspires high-potential youth from risk-filled environments to pursue personal success, to prepare them for college, work and life, and to motivate them to become role models for others in their communities. Barbara Cooper and 2 Chubb professionals met at Brook & Whittle’s Guilford office on 8/11 to speak with a group of eight C5 kids and 2 facilitators from the program including Allyson Gunn, the Director of Strategic Partnerships. Chubb sent two individuals who participate in their Diversity Council in the Simsbury office - Shana Stodolski a Specialty Lines Underwriter and Michelle Aroko from the Specialty Claims Service Center. They spoke to the kids about insurance as a business, how to get into insurance, and about education and how important it is to stick with it no matter what. Each speaker shared a story about the unexpected turns life takes and the important of being adaptable and open to change. Barbara shared her thoughts on personal brand and conducting yourself with integrity and excellence no matter what the job or task is. http://www.crossroads4kids.org/index.cfm/page/C5-Teen-Leadership-Program/pid/10272

Safe storage of propane cylinders/tanks, combined with understanding how propane responds to environmental conditions, helps ensure that tanks are not damaged and do not cause damage to surrounding property. Proper storage prevents explosions and prevents having tanks “rocket” through facilities and/or properties. This Gowrie Group Risk Report provides an overview of safe propane storage and handling. Read more »

New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) and Gowrie Group are proud to announce that Gowrie Group will be the Presenting Sponsor for the third annual Mystic Oyster Fest. August 16th, at the Mystic Art Center. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - U.S Supreme Court Upholds ACA Subsidies in Federal Exchanges, Final Rule Updates the SBC Requirement, the IRS releases 2015 draft versions of the forms that employers will use to report under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Read more »

Employer HR Brief - Supreme Court Rules on Abercrombie Religious Discrimination Case, Department of Labor sends proposed Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Regulations to OMB, Department of Labor has posted new model FMLA medical certifications and notices with an expiration date of May 31, 2018. Read more »

Health Care Reform: PCORI Fees due July 31, 2015 Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - The Effect of E-cigarettes on Health, Shop the Farmers Market, Outdoor summer activities, Pesticides and Produce, and a delicious recipe for Ratatouille. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - Family plans must embed out-of-pocket limits in 2016, IRS issues new Q&As on section 6056 reporting, the ACAs excise tax (or the "Cadillac tax") is set to take effect in 2018. Read more »

Employer Benefits Bulletin - Quarter 3 Abercrombie discrimination case, King v. Burwell on ACA subsidies, Embedded out-of-pocket maximum for family coverage, PTO trends revealed in recent survey Read more »

Employer HR Brief - June 2015: Making the Case for Good Job Descriptions, EEOC Issues Proposed Rule on ADA and Wellness Programs and Recent survey conducted by Gallup regarding female managers. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - The health benefits of sunlight exposure, swimming for exercise, and cataract awareness month. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter: Agencies plan to issue final rules for SBC Requirements, Plan offerings now diverging by group size and IRS releases inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) for calendar year 2016. Read more »

The 2015 Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30. Gowrie Group encourages you to take time now to update your family’s emergency plan, outline your plan to secure your boats and protect your property, and restock your storm kits. Visit our Hurricane Storm Center to access detailed preparation resources and guides. Hurricane Storm Center

Dawn Speros, Gowrie Group's marine insurance veteran and licensed USCG captain’s, will educate boat owners and future owners about marine insurance, navigation territories, coverage, and claims. Topics will include liability coverage, international medical coverage, north/south restrictions, named windstorm deductibles and the differences between the agreed value and actual cash value policies. She will be giving two seminars on Thurs June 4th on this topic, as a stand alone seminar and as part of the "Boat Buyers Survival Guide" panel. The International Cruising Boat Expo will be held June 4-7 at Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, Connecticut. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to team with the Connecticut River Museum and the Rotary Club of Essex to sponsor the 2015 Essex Shad Bake on June 6. For shad lovers, the lure is the secret ingredients and the authentic method of preparation and cooking handed down from Connecticut natives. Done in front of the fire, the fish picks up the smoky flavor of the fire with the seasoned oak boards on which it is cooked. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce our corporate sponsorship of the 2015 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair. Devon is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. It is internationally recognized, USEF-A rated, and one of the most exciting equine events of the year. The event draws top competitors from around the world. This year’s show will take place in Devon, PA from May 21st to 31st. Gowrie Group is partnering with Great American Insurance Group to sponsor the Championship and Reserve Championship of each division and will be giving away saddle pads to the winners. Gowrie Group is proud to insure both the Devon Horse Show and the show grounds.

Gowrie Group / VFIS are proud to be on the scene helping local communities by providing safety training to local fire departments. More than 30 students from fire departments and EMS organizations from across Connecticut and Rhode Island attended the engaging “train-the-trainer” Emergency Vehicle Driver Class held at the CT Fire Academy in Windsor Lock on May 7th & 8th. The course was organized and sponsored by Jeff Rudzavice of Gowrie Group. The attendees were taught the instructional methodology needed to deliver this program to others. The operator of emergency vehicles in today's society carry a heavy responsibility. This program teaches emergency vehicle operators proper driving technique and the mental as well as the physical aspects of the driving task. View class photo >> Read more »

Kiley Prime, an equine insurance expert for Gowrie Group, was interviewed by Equine Journal. She shared smart and practical advice for college seniors, about how to transition from college and barns, to the "real working world." Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - May is skin cancer detection and prevention month, The importance of resistance training, Save money by shopping for In-Season Produce, and monthly recipe. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to be sponsoring the 2015 Tour-de-Lyme bike ride and to be conducting a bike drive to benefit Bikes-for-Kids. Bike drive to Benefit “Bikes for Kids” at Gowrie Group on May 21st. Do you have old bikes taking up space in your garage or shed? Great news, you can clear out space and donate your bikes to “Bikes to Kids”. They accept bikes of all types, sizes, and conditions – kids bikes, adult bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and more. Donated bikes are repaired, tuned, and then given away with a helmet to needy kids and families in CT. “Bikes For Kids” collects, refurbishes, and distributes refurbished bikes to needy families primarily in New London, New Haven, Middletown, and Hartford. Gowrie Group is sponsoring the 2015 Tour de Lyme bike ride which is taking place on May 17th. The Tour de Lyme is a charity cycling event organized to help support the Lyme Land Conservation Trust’s preservation and stewardship activities of its scenic recreation properties, natural woodlands and wildlife and fish and fowl water, habitats. If you would like to ride, you can register online, make sure to select “Team Gowrie.”

Benefits Newsletter - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Issues Final Rule affecting ACA for 2016, Few employers cutting hours to avoid ACA fines, and introducing Telemedicine. Read more »

Portable fire extinguishers can be found everywhere; in homes, in the workplace, on boats, in vehicles. But just having extinguishers around is not enough, especially in the workplace. When extinguishers are provided for use by employees, OSHA’s standards for placement, use, maintenance, and testing must be complied with – both for safety and to avoid multiple $7,000 fines. Read more »

As you ready your boat for a safe and enjoyable season on the water, take the time to review these helpful preparation resources. Spring is also a good time to double check your insurance policies and make sure your specified launch date (lay-up) and cruising area (navigation) align with your boating plans for the year. Read more »

Kristen Lincoln, a member of Gowrie Group’s museum insurance practice, attended the first-ever Advocacy Day for History, Humanities and Preservation at the Connecticut State House. This event was assembled by the Connecticut Humanities, the Connecticut League of History Organizations, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Connecticut Historical Society in an effort to raise awareness about the proposed elimination of state support for many of the heritage and cultural organizations statewide in Governor Malloy’s proposed two year budget. There were a number of guest speakers, tours of the Capitol, and a reception including an exhibition of over 20 historic objects from 19 organizations across the state. Ms. Lincoln was one of over 200 attendees at the Rally and was happy to assist these important institutions in their fight to get the word out to prevent the budget cuts and to advocate for their future survival. Ms. Lincoln states, “Museums and other cultural institutions form the backbone of our communities and are integral to a number of industries, including tourism and education. Their importance to the State of Connecticut cannot be overemphasized enough.”

Every company, regardless of size and industry, is a potential target for crime and fraud. Statistics and surveys show this to be one of the fastest growing problems business face today. External forces such as the changing economic environment, advancements in technology and media, rapid expansions, mergers & acquisitions, coupled with internal forces such as increased employee trust, inadequate supervision, entitlement attitudes, and poor morale, are driving the increase in and prevalence of employee fraud. To manage the risk of employee fraud, companies should implement smart loss prevention measures and speak to their insurance agent to secure adequate Crime Coverage. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: New guidelines - cholesterol is not so bad, Spring training - 5K run, Google has partnered with the Mayo Clinic, Identity Theft Protection and monthly recipe. Read more »

Soon boats will be launched, kids will be swimming, sailing programs will start, and marinas will be in full operation. With this in mind, now is a good time to increase your knowledge of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD). Many people have never heard of ESD, and those that have typically don’t realize the common situations that can be putting people at risk for ESD. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - New guidance for employer payments of individual premiums, IRS releases ACA reporting forms and instructions, and Cadillac Tax. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce their sponsorship, in collaboration with US Sailing, of the Standards Collaboration Initiative Leadership Team 2015 Conference. At this conference, grantees will explore ways to collaborate on the Coast Guard’s Collaboration initiative to Finish, Organize and Distribute/Use the menu of standards that will be part of a National System of Standards For Recreational Boat Operation. This System of Standards will be recognized by the Coast Guard and used to raise the overall quality and availability of recreational boating education across the country. The goal is to maximize the impact each grant has on raising the overall quality and availability of entry-level recreational boating instruction across the country. The conference will be held March 30th in Miramar Beach, FL. Read more »

Spring is in the air and the snow is melting. Gowrie Group is proud to sponsor the Rhode Island Marine Industry Networking Event on March 25th at the Clarke Cooke House in Newport, RI. This is part of a weekly marine industry networking series hosted by Brooks Marine Group. All are welcome. For more information, email us at newport@gowrie.com.

Dawn Speros, Senior Yacht Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, will present an e-Seminar titled “Who is Liable?” to yacht brokers affiliated with YBAA (Yacht Broker Association of America) on April 8, 2015. She will address in detail some of the scenarios and factors that surround the complicated question of liability as it applies to the marine industry. In many cases, brokers, salespeople, mechanics, and/or boat yards (for care, custody, and control) are involved in unwinding the scenario. Yacht brokers can be particularly vulnerable during exhibition, demonstration, sea trials and deliveries. This seminar will help marine industry professionals understand what they personally are covered for and by what policies.

Gowrie Group, a leading independent marine insurance agency, is proud to be joining the international shipping community at the Connecticut Maritime Association’s 30th Annual Shipping Conference and Exhibition (CMA) - March 23, 2015. This conference is the biggest shipping conference in North America; more than 2,500 people from the international shipping community will be attendance. Rick Bagnall, Gowrie Group’s Crew Medical expert shared, “The working international marine industry is very important to Gowrie Group. We look forward to our involvement with CMA’s Shipping Conference in March and continuing to deepen our relationships in the shipping industry.” Rod Clingman and John Fisher of Gowrie Group will also be attending the event on behalf of Gowrie Group. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well: March is National Nutrition Month, How much exercise do you need?, Acid Reflux, Re-evaluating binge drinking, monthly recipe. Read more »

Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Control expert, will be presenting a safety seminar to sailing program directors from 40 clubs/programs on March 7, 2015 at Larchmont Yacht Club. Her session, "360 Degrees of Risk Management" will focus on educating the group on how to make their Junior Sailing teaching areas safer for all. Participants will learn about simple modifications and changes that can be made to greatly improve a program's overall safety standards and prevent problems before they even happen. This event is sponsored by JSA of Long Island Sound.

Benefits Newsletter - Individual mandate penalty cap, Supreme Court rejects presumption of lifetime retiree benefits, and wellness programs. Read more »

While Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) remains a persistent threat, heroic efforts are being made to encourage boaters and the industry to help prevent these needless fatalities. Through the lens of a boating family’s first-hand account, this article explores the danger, causes and solutions for the deadly phenomenon of ESD. Read the article by ABYC Master Technician Mike Telleria, as originally published by Boating Magazine. Read more »

Winter weather creates a variety of hazards and risks that can significantly impact everyday tasks and work activities. People that are outdoors in cold environments for extended periods of time can be at risk for Cold Stress and other cold induced injuries. Learn more about the risk factors, common cold induced injuries (hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot), and safety guidelines for prevention. Read more »

Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Control expert, Kellie Crete, will be offering a 10-Hour OSHA Outreach Training Program designed specifically for boatyard, yacht club and marina employees. The program will provide training for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. The program also provides information regarding workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Dates: March 30/31, 2015. Register online. Read more »

Gowrie, VFIS and the Connecticut Fire Academy are partnering to present this helpful risk management program to the state's municipalities and public safety providers. The program is designed to teach the instructional methodology to potential and existing instructors needed to deliver Emergency Vehicle Driver Training. Date - March 7 & 8, 2015. Location - Windsor Locks, CT. Read more »

Message from Gowrie about the Cyber Attack on Anthem - Anthem Inc., parent company of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is the victim of a highly-sophisticated cyber attack. This attack affects current and former members. For more in-depth and ongoing information Anthem has created a website www.anthemfacts.com for more information. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well - Avoiding the flu, take care of your eyes, 10 minute workouts and going gluten free. Read more »

Gowrie Group and VFIS are sponsoring an Emergency Vehicle Driver Training Seminar for instructors. This course is designed to teach the instructional methodology needed to deliver the training to others. This program was developed to teach the emergency vehicle operator (EVO) proper driving technique, the mental as well as the physical aspects of the driving task. Date: May 9, 2015. Location: West Barnstable Fire Department, MA Read more »

More than 425 local businesses and individuals came together and donated an incredible $137,747 to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) through the Gowrie Group Challenge. To launch this annual challenge on November 15, 2014, Gowrie Group announced a $25,000 dollar-for-dollar matching donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens. LC Doane Company, The Safety Zone, Tower Labs, Andre Prost and All Waste, each stepped up to be partner sponsors, and provided an additional $22,500 in matching funds. Read more »

Gowrie Group and The Burgee Program are excited to announce that we have released an updated version of our Junior Sailing Safety Manual. This useful manual helps clubs and sailing organizations develop and grow safe, successful junior sailing programs. New content includes updated class ratio recommendations, emergency response template, media release forms, discipline policy, walk around inspection check-lists, and more. To inquire about obtaining the complete editable copy email the Burgee Team. Download a copy of the extract to review now. Read more »

Employee Benefits Bulletin - Agencies prohibit all employer reimbursement of individual premiums, Health Plan Identifier (HPID) delayed indefinitely, Minimum Wage increases, and Overview of trends from the 2014 Wellness Benefits Survey. Read more »

Whitney Peterson and Kellie Crete of Gowrie Group will lead a safety seminar at US Sailing's 2015 National Sailing Symposium in New Orleans on January 24th. Their seminar - Virtual Safety Fieldtrip: Making your Docks, Junior Room, and Teaching Areas Safer - will take participants on a virtual tour of yacht clubs and marine facilities from across the nation. During the tour, the audience will learn how to identify and resolve safety issues; with the goal of making docks, junior sailing rooms, and teaching areas safer. Participants will learn about simple modifications and changes that can be made to greatly improve a program's overall safety standards and prevent problems before they even happen. Seminar participants will also receive the 2015 new edition of The Burgee Program Junior Sailing Safety Manual. http://nsps.ussailing.org/

Each December, Gowrie Group employees make a donation to a local non-profit in the name of the owners of Gowrie, as a holiday gift from all the employees. In 2014, the employees of Gowrie Group chose the Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL). PARL is a remarkable, 100 year old nonprofit organization led by an energetic group of people. The PARL team is comprised of animal advocates who accept and place domestic animals, help reduce pet overpopulation, and provide education to the public on animal well-being and rights issues. In total, Gowrie employees donated more than $1,000 and a large supply of animal toys, blankets, and treats. Brad Preston and Kristen Lincoln of Gowrie Group presented the check and goods to PARL on January 5, 2015. Link to photo and News Release. Read more »

Live well, work well - Goal setting in 2015, National Blood Donor month, battling January gym crowds and calories outside the kitchen. Read more »

Benefits Newsletter - HHS issues proposed benefit and payment parameters for 2016, ACA affordability percentages increase for 2016 and HIPPA certificates of creditable coverage no longer necessary due to the prohibition of pre-existing condition exclusions (PCEs) by the ACA. Read more »

Happy Holidays from Gowrie Group. On watch for 40 years! Read more »

Gowrie Group, a leading independent insurance agency, celebrated a year of great milestones throughout the 2014 year. These milestones are capped with marking the company’s 40th year in business. Read more »

Carter Gowrie: Doubling the Community’s Effort. Over the past decade, Carter Gowrie and the Gowrie Group have raised nearly $1 million for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. For the 11th straight year, the Gowrie Group of Westbrook is holding its annual Gowrie Group Matching Challenge, this year seeking to raise $125,000 to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). Read the article

Gowrie Group is proud to have sponsored the New England Museum Association conference. What an amazing event and group of committed professionals! We enjoyed getting to know to the greater NEMA community and learning about the important work you all do for our communities. We would welcome the opportunity to get to know your institution better over the coming months. Gowrie Group has a long history of providing risk management and insurance services to non-profits and cultural institutions that face complex and broad risks. We are proud to insure many prominent not-for-profits across New England and beyond, including Mystic Seaport, Maritime Aquarium Norwalk, Mystic Arts Center, Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 1000 non-profit sailing organizations, 600 municipal public safety and emergency organizations, and more. Gowrie brings to institutions trusted expertise and specialized services such as fine arts appraisals, directors and officers liability, programs for protecting traveling/visiting collections, special events coverage, coverage for youth-related programming/camps, and risk management/reduction techniques. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like an insurance review. We would be more than happy to come visit you to learn more about your institution. Contact us at museums@gowrie.com

Gowrie Group's Benefits division is featured in Rough Notes magazine for providing outstanding service, growth, and innovation in employee benefits and health insurance solutions. Read Article

Giving back to the Connecticut community in a significant way each year is one of Gowrie Group's most important outreach initiatives. This year the CT food pantries are seeing nearly a 20% increase in the number of neighbors coming for help. Which is why Gowrie Group is launching our 11th annual matching challenge with a $25,000 donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Read more »

Meet Gowrie's Connecticut’s public safety insurance specialists and review the latest coverage enhancements. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to be a sponsor of The Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs’ Foundation. Brad Preston, a senior vice president at Gowrie, is a board member and volunteer for the Foundation. On 11/1/2014, the foundation conducted its 8th Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. The flight was comprised of 25 World War II veterans, and an equal number of chaperons, from Rhode Island and Massachusetts who traveled to the Washington to visit our military memorials. For the trip, Brad escorted a retired Marine, who enlisted at age 17 and served for more 30 years on active duty. Highlights of the trip including visiting the World War II memorial, the Tomb of the Unknowns to present a wreath and watch the changing of the guard, and visiting with federal legislators.

The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) will celebrate a milestone in November when industry members from throughout the region gather in Rhode Island to mark the organization’s 50th anniversary. This industry-wide celebration sponsored by Gowrie Group, the nation's largest independent marine insurance group, will take place on November 6 and draw a throng of industry members from the organization’s past and present. Read more »

Gowrie Group provides insurance and claims solutions for more than 500 public safety organizations and communities across New England. In Rhode Island, we’re known for our work with fire departments and EMS providers. Read more »

For the first time since Hurricane Irene, our carrier partners are relaxing their guidelines and becoming less restrictive when insuring homes in Connecticut, including direct waterfront homes and homes in coastal areas. Read more »

An energetic team of Gowrie employees worked together to hosted a lunch for the Soup Kitchen community at Grace Church in Old Saybrook, CT. 40 Gowrie employees helped to provide, prepare, and serve a BBQ feast to over 50 Soup Kitchen guests. Read more »

Non-profit, public access community sailing programs are one of the fastest growing aspects of sailing nationwide. These active, engaged, diverse programs need comprehensive protection. The Burgee Insurance Program meets these needs, with broad protection that can span across all aspects of the program’s activities, programs, outreach, and facilities. Read more »

Gowrie Group October 2014 BenefitsBuzz newsletter includes: communicating with employees during Open Enrollment, new rules on contraception for Religious Employers, and new IRS reporting requirements for IRS Code 6055 and 6056. Read more »

The Gowrie team just returned home from the fantastic 2014 Newport International Boat Show in Rhode Island. To complement the excitement and energy of the show, Gowrie Group continued their annual tradition of delivering fresh apples to many of the show’s exhibitors. The Gowrie team delivered custom made bucket-bags filled with more than 600 pounds of apples to their marine industry clients and contacts that were exhibiting at the show. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce a new partnership with the New England Museum Association (NEMA). Through this partnership, Gowrie Group will offer risk management services and customized insurance solutions to NEMA’s museum and cultural institutional members. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce that the company has been voted a Top Connecticut Workplace for the 4th year in a row by its employees. From among 778 companies that applied, Gowrie Group is among a select group of only 60 companies that were selected to be a “2014 CT Top Workpace.” Of further distinction, Gowrie Group is one of only 13 companies that have achieved this designation 4 years in a row. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce that we have joined forces with the Shoreline Insurance Agency. The Shoreline Insurance Agency is a strong Connecticut-based insurance firm with niche specializations in commercial insurance, boat/yacht insurance, and marine insurance. Together the two agencies are the largest marine insurance agency in the nation and the largest independent insurance agency in the Northeast. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce its continued partnership with the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA) as a Silver Sponsor of the Certified Professional Yacht Broker program (CPYB) and YBAAU. Dawn Speros, a twenty-five year veteran of the marine insurance industry and Senior Yacht Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, leads Gowrie’s relationship with YBAA. Dawn will be speaking at the upcoming Yacht Broker University (YBAA U) in Providence, RI on July 24th. Read more »

Gowrie Claims Services, a division of Gowrie Group which specializes in claims management services to police officers and firefighters injured in the line of duty (IOD), announces continuation of its widely successful educational seminar series. Over the past 12 months, Gowrie Claims Services has hosted multiple seminars for Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Town Administrators, and HR Directors throughout Massachusetts. These seminars focused on educating public officials about the challenging aspects that they face related to IOD claims. Read more »

VFIS / Gowrie Group were a featured exhibitor at the June 2014 New England Fire/EMS Expo, the region’s largest conference for emergency responders. Gowrie Group and VFIS also provide the insurance for this event, which is held each year in West Springfield, MA. Jeff Rudzavice, a member of Gowrie’s municipal team commented, "The show continues to be a great opportunity to meet with our 600+ municipal clients from Maine to CT. We also count exhibitors as our customers too, so it was an enjoyable reunion with our many friends in public safety.” Read more »

The National Sailing Hall of Fame and Gowrie have partnered to collect, present, and preserve yacht club stories. Much of the rich history of American sailing has roots in yacht clubs and sailing organizations. The NSHOF, with the support of Gowrie, is committed to preserving America’s sailing legacy by gathering the stories that yacht clubs have to tell, and presenting them to the public in digital and print formats for future generations to enjoy. Read more »

The Gowrie team of Rod Clingman, Chris Brodeur, and Whitney Peterson went out by boat today to watch the Charles W. Morgan’s sea trials, being held off the coast of New London, CT. Strong NE winds and steep waves resulted in a short day of sailing, and the Charles W. Morgan was towed safely back to the dock at City Pier. Gowrie Group is proud to be Mystic Seaport’s insurance partner and protect the nation’s maritime history – insuring the museum and its vessels, fine arts, and the 38th voyage of the Charles W. Morgan

Gowrie Group announces a new multi-year sponsorship with US Sailing, the National Governing Body of the sport, and Chubb Insurance. "Chubb and Gowrie are committed to advancing the goals of US Sailing. We are sailors, educators and flag officers ourselves. We see this longstanding partnership as an expression of our mutual commitment to our sport,” said Ed Gumbrecht, Gowrie Group’s President Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce a sponsorship of New England Science & Sailing's New London STEM Leadership Program. The program serves students attending the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in New London CT. This exciting program for middle school students promotes interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through sailing, kayaking, marine science and adventure sports. Read more »

Live Well, Work Well. Tips on how to bust fat myths, practice safe stretches such as Pilates, information on strokes/stroke awareness month, and how to save monthly for an unexpected emergency. Read more »

Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 eliminated the Affordable Care Act annual deductible limit for small group health plans. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce a corporate sponsorship of the 2014 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair. Gowrie Group is sponsoring three classes at Devon: Ladies Side Saddle Hack, Ladies Side Saddle Champ, and A/O Hunter. Kiley Prime, an accomplished rider and a Personal Lines & Equine Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, will be showing in the Amateur Owner 18-35 year old 3’6” division Read more »

With spring here, it is time to prepare for the upcoming boating season. To ensure your boat is ready for a safe, enjoyable season on the water, take the time to review the below boating safety and launch preparation resources. Read more »

Financial Advisers need to understand the basics of flood insurance to help their clients make smart decisions related to coastal and flood prone properties. Example questions: What should be recommended to a client buying a coastal home? What if they already own a flood prone home? Read more »

Gowrie is excited to announce that Rick Bagnall has joined the company's growing benefits and healthcare division. Rick will focus on Crew Medical Insurance, Association Marine Health Insurance, and Employee Benefit Consulting. Rick brings to Gowrie Group deep marine industry expertise and a unique ability to create new medical insurance programs for marine oriented teams, groups, and industries Read more »

Sailors are known for enjoying themselves in the party tent after a day on the water. How can your sailing organization ensure members and sailors drink responsibly and ensure the organization is protected if an accident does occur? Read more »

Getting the right insurance in place requires thinking ahead and smart planning. With the right protection in place, your club or sailing organization can confidently run regattas, borrow boats, teach sailing, hold social events, weather storms - and keep your club, board members, flag officers, volunteers and employees well-protected. Avoiding a serious financial loss will enable your organization to preserve the traditions and heritage that make your club special. Read more »

Superstitious people consider walking under a ladder to be bad luck, but most real ladder danger arises from misuse or defective ladders. Falls are a common occupational hazards; falls from ladders make up nearly a third of fall related deaths. Common sense, thinking before climbing, and following safe usage and selection guidelines can help prevent ladder falls, injuries, and deaths Read more »

More than 35 leaders and directors from sailing organizations across New England attended the first 2014 US Sailing Regional Symposium in Marion, MA on March 7th. This symposium, the first of 20 planned across the country during the 2014 year, was hosted by US Sailing and sponsored by Gowrie. Dan Cooney and Steve Prime, commercial and yacht club insurance experts from Gowrie Group, led an engaging discussion on insurance topics that matter most to community sailing programs and sailing organizations. The group tackled coverage questions related to liquor liability, policy exclusions, and student transportation. The Burgee Program is the only comprehensive insurance program developed to meet the unique needs of yacht clubs, community sailing programs, schools, and associations. The program is endorsed by US Sailing, underwritten by Chubb, and managed by the marine insurance experts at Gowrie Group. Learn more at www.burgeeprogram.com or contact dancooney@gowrie.com or steveprime@gowrie.com. Read more »

An engaged group of business owners and HR professionals participated in an interactive Affordable Care Act seminar lead by expert Tom Davidson, Benefits Consultant from Gowrie Group. The seminar was hosted by the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce in Norwich, CT on March 6th. The seminar educated the group on the 2014 modifications to the law and the interactive discussion focused on lessons learned since the law went into effect on 1/1/2014. The group had a lively discussion on several topics including rating changes, ACA associated fees, new prescription drug coverage, delays to the employer mandate, and the status of the exchange. Contact Tom Davidson to schedule a seminar at your location or to learn more, 860.399.3676 or tomd@gowrie.com

2014 was quite the year for the insurance industry. When considering the billions of dollars in claim settlements resulting from Sandy, it is not a surprise that yacht valuations are at the forefront of conversations among boat owners, boat brokers, surveyors, and marine underwriters. What can we expect going forward? Join Dawn Speros in a discussion of what yacht sales professionals need to know in the new marine insurance environment.

"Gowrie Group was recognized with a special award by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs’ Foundation (RIAFC) at their Annual Dinner. The event was attended by more than 200 people. The award was in appreciation of Gowrie Group / VFIS’s support of the RIAFC Honor Flight Network. The RIAFC Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the state’s association of fire chiefs. The association also acts as a local hub or chapter of the Honor Flights Network (HFN). HFN is a nonprofit organization which transports America’s military veterans to Washington, DC to visit their memorials and recognize their service and sacrifices. Chief George Farrell, president of the association said when presenting the award, “Gowrie Group has been a friend and strong supporter of not only the association but also in particular our Honor Flights project. Brad Preston, of Gowrie, is also a veteran and we appreciate his involvement in our work.” Brad Preston, partner of Gowrie Group, said when accepting the award, “We’re honored. We cannot imagine a better group of people or a more important cause. We’re fortunate to be a part of the Foundation’s work on behalf of both the state’s fire service and local military veterans.” "

Gowrie Group is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2014 US Sailing Leadership Forum. Gowrie's experts will be panelists in these interactive breakout sessions: Lawyers, Nuns, Money - OSHA and USCG (Kellie Crete & Steve Prime); Club Insurance Is Like Gybing - Think Ahead (Dan Cooney & Steve Prime); Pitch Perfect - Sponsorship (Whitney Peterson); Regatta Safety (Dan Cooney); Financial Bench-marking & Yacht Club Data (Dan Cooney). Read more »

The 2014 Marine Industry is off to a very active start. Brokers are connecting with Dawn Speros, Gowrie Group's Senior Yacht Consultant, at these recent and upcoming events: January 31st: Providence Boat Show; February 13-17th: Miami Boat Show; Feb 22nd-March 2: New England Boat Show; March 5th: YBAA e-Seminar: "Post Sandy Observations: Valuation and Due Diligence are Critical"; March 20-23rd: Palm Beach Boat Show

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to post OSHA Form 300A each year from February 1st to April 30th. This summary form must include the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2013 and that were logged on OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Read more »

Thanks to 400 local businesses and individuals, the Gowrie Group Challenge raised an incredible $145,000 to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). Because of this increased participation and generosity, the 10th Annual Gowrie Group Challenge was by far the most successful ever. This year we surpassed our goal by $25,000, and raised 22% more than ever before. Read more »

Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group’s Safety & Loss Control Manager, presented an engaging seminar on the impact of OSHA regulations on boatyard and marinas. She was a featured speaker at the 2014 International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC), held this year in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her seminar focused on helping marina and boatyard owners, operators, and managers, as well as dock masters, harbormasters, and boat builders and repairers, understand how they can build working relationship with OSHA. The discussion also addressed boatyard and marina safety as well as how OSHA regulations apply to these types of business. IMBC Seminar Manager, Sarah Devlin, wrote to Kellie, “The seminar series overall at the 2014 IMBC was very positive and you [Kellie] had a lot to do with that. You knocked it out of the park. Again.” One seminar participant said, “Kellie’s session should be a ‘mandatory’ session for every attendee of IMBC.” IMBC is the leading marina and boatyard conference. IMBC is where dedicated marine professionals gather to exchange information, talk about the future of the industry, explore new methods and techniques, receive updates on revised standards and established rules, and discover new products. The conference is produced by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI).

  
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Roy McNamee, Managing Director of Gowrie Claims Services, and his team presented a morning-long best practices program for public safety officer injuries-on-duty. The event, held in Mansfield MA, drew more than 40 public officials from 21 towns. Other presenters included Attorney John Clifford, Attorney Jaime Kenny, and Brad Preston of Gowrie Group. The speakers reviewed Massachusetts statutes, case law, and model approaches for handling claims. In the words of one town official who attended, “The seminar was excellent…everyone was so informative and helpful. Thanks for inviting me!” Learn more about Gowrie Claims Services.

Kellie Crete is proud to announce that she is a featured speaker at the upcoming ABBRA 2014 Annual Boatyard Business Conference entitled “Reflect, Rethink, Refocus: Business Leadership for Tomorrow’s Boat Building and Repair Industry.” The conference will be held January 22-24, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The two-day event will focus on the business issues impacting boatyard owners, operators, managers, boat builders, and boat repair businesses. Kellie, Gowrie’s Safety & Loss Control Manager, will present a session with Michael Keyworth of Brewer about “Building Working Relationships with OSHA.” Gowrie Group is a sponsor of the conference.

  
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Giving back to the Connecticut shoreline community in a significant way each year is Gowrie Group's most important outreach initiative. For the past 10 years, since 2004, Gowrie Group has focused its charitable giving on supporting The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). Gowrie Group is launching their 10th annual matching challenge on November 15th with a $25,000 donation to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Read more »

A new OSHA standard is being put in place to bring the US into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Chemical users need to continue to update safety data sheets when new ones become available, provide training on the new label elements and update hazard communication programs if new hazards are identified. Chemical producers must review hazard information for all chemicals produced or imported, classify chemicals according to the new classification criteria, and update labels and safety data sheets Read more »

Volunteer workers are often the lifeblood of a non-profit. Whether it’s performing hands-on labor, working at a front desk, delivering meals or cleaning animal cages, volunteers help an organization further its mission in the community. Have you ever thought about what happens if one of your volunteers get injured or hurt? Remedies made available to your employees through workers compensation are not typically extended to volunteer workers. Read more »

Many New England boaters choose in-the-water winter storage during their lay-up period. Following these smart tips will help to keep your boat damage free in the cold months. Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's renowned marine and specialty insurance agency, launched their adopted, refurbished Dyer Dhow Dinghy named "Gowrie Group" just hours before the start of the 64th Dyer Dhow Derby sailing competition at the Mystic Seaport. Gowrie Group adopted the 9-foot boat as part of the Seaport's "Adopt a Dyer Program" - a program which uses donations to restore Dyer Dinghies that have been abandoned and are no longer usable. Read more »

Kristen Lincoln of Gowrie Group was selected to be an expert panelist at the annual "Teaching With Small Boats Alliance Conference," held at the Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut. The workshop was entitled "Taking Care of Basics" and addressed organizational issues typically faced by emerging non profit organizations. Kristen was invited to participate as the insurance expert and addressed such topics as finding the right broker, what coverages are essential for a growing organization, and various risk management techniques that an organization can undertake that will make them less exposed to risk. A breakout session took place after the panel of speakers so participants could ask their own questions and get advice.You can reach Kristen at kristenl@gowrie.com, 860.399.2862.

John Fisher, Gowrie Group Principal and Personal Lines President, was part of a distinguished expert panel on the "Real Value of Art." This fantastic event, sponsored by Gowrie Group and US Trust, took place at the Florence Griswold Museum on October 9th in Old Lyme, CT. Details about the panel discussion: A fine art collection holds both aesthetic as well as economic value, and can play an important role in helping you pursue your wealth planning and philanthropic goals. Care and management of this asset requires the knowledge of qualified specialists to help you make informed choices that fit into your overall wealth management strategy. The panel shared advice on how to consider your art collection as part of your comprehensive financial assets. Topics covered included: different strategies for the purchase of art, support of non-profit organizations through your art collection, leveraging an art collection to create liquidity for other investment purposes, how to protect a collection, and all the wealth and financial considerations of stewarding artwork for the next generation.

With more than 40 years of experience in coastal risk management, Gowrie Group, a local insurance agency, has seen it all when it comes to hurricane damage. John Fisher, Gowrie’s president of personal insurance, insures many homes on the Connecticut Shoreline hardest hit in the last two years. While damages sustained in the past two storms were tremendous, Fisher reminds us of a critical point: Both Sandy and Irene were downgraded to tropical storms before they made landfall in our state. Read more »

From the hundreds of Gowrie clients and friends that visited us at the 2013 Newport Boat Show, we selected 5 lucky people to win a 2013 Gowrie Bucket-Bag. Congratulations to the winners: Alan Desrosiers, Gail & Dave Allen, Howard Goldfarb, Linda & David Lee, and Patrick Canavan. Read more »

Gowrie Group continued the annual tradition of bringing a fresh approach to the Newport International Boat Show. The Gowrie team delivered 60 custom bucket-bags filled with apples to marine industry clients and friends that were exhibiting boats and products at the show. In total, the buckets contained nearly 600 pounds of apples. The Gowrie team also provided apples to the hundreds of clients and visitors that came by the Gowrie display to learn more. The apples were grown locally at Bishop's Orchards of Guilford, CT. Read more »

Gowrie Group is proud to announce that we have been voted as a Top Connecticut Workplace for the 3rd year in a row by our employees. The selection for the Top Workplaces program is based on a comprehensive survey which asks employees to complete a battery of questions about working at Gowrie Group. From more than 600 entrants, 55 winning companies were selected based on overall score. Gowrie was named as a winner, and is also part of a select group of companies, called the “Terrific Twenty,” that are three-peat winners of this designation. Read more »

On August 14th, employees of Gowrie Group, Connecticut's largest and most prestigious independent insurance agency, spent the day preparing and serving its fifth annual barbecue lunch to the guests of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries (SSKP). In addition to this annual barbecue, from November 15th to December 31st of each year, Gowrie sponsors a matching challenge to benefit the SSKP. Gowrie Group matches the first $25,000 in donations, and partner sponsors match the next $25,000. In 2012, the Gowrie Challenge raised a record $119,000 to benefit the SSKP. Over the past ten years, Gowrie Group has raised over $720,000 to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries. Read more »

Flexible extension cords are widely used at marinas, construction sites, yacht clubs, homes, businesses, and more. Because these cords are often exposed, flexible, and unsecured, they are highly susceptible to damage and misuse that can result in significant hazards. Following safety guidelines can enable effective and safe use of flexible extension cords in most common applications Read more »

Gowrie Group's successful Burgee Insurance Program provides nearly 1,000 yacht clubs and sailing organizations nationwide with customized, comprehensive insurance protection. Gowrie is pleased to announce that we have expanded our outstanding program to include select qualifying beach clubs. With diverse features and activities - cabanas, historic structures, snack bars, weddings, swim meets, tennis instruction, and more - beach clubs require protection that cannot be compromised. Gowrie's insurance experts understand the unique risks faced by beach clubs and coastal properties. We put our expertise to work for you, creating a complete, cost-effective insurance program tailored to your beach club's specific needs. Read more »

Dawn Speros of Gowrie Group will be presenting a seminar on Saturday 9/28 at 10:30 on HURRICANE SANDY, A GAME CHANGER FOR THE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE. Hurricane Sandy was a game changer for the insurance industry. An estimated 65,000 recreational boats were damaged or lost – totaling an estimated $650 million dollars in damage. Coastal homes also took a beating from Sandy, and more than 140,000 flood claims were filed. As a result carriers are tightening their underwriting guidelines, increasing premiums, decreasing capacity, and abandoning traditional markets. Yacht owners need to understand this new insurance marketplace to be able to make smart decisions about how to best protect their boats and other assets. Read more »

Gowrie Group, as managers of The Burgee Program, recommends that propeller guards be installed on all outboard motors used for teaching junior sailing, coaching sailing, running races, and supporting recreational water sports (skiing, tubing, swimming, etc). Experienced boaters know that things happen fast. A typical recreational propeller can travel from head to toe on a person in the water in less than one tenth of a second. Propeller guards add an important margin of safety for boats operated around children, sailors, and swimmers Read more »

Small businesses and non-profits are not immune to cyber attacks. According to a recent study, over 72% of all data breaches occur in small-to-medium sized business. Most general liability policies do not cover the costs associated with mitigating a data breach; cyber liability insurance is a smart addition to your existing insurance program. Read more »

Gowrie welcomed summer this Tuesday with an al fresco lunch provided by the Big Green Pizza Truck of New Haven, CT. Employees enjoyed the sunshine along with gourmet pizza, gelato, and espresso. Gowrie Group CEO Carter Gowrie and President Ed Gumbrecht strummed guitars and sang for the crowd.

Boating incidents can be much bigger than the vessels involved. Beyond the emotional and physical magnitude of these incidents, boat owners are at risk for enormous financial losses when claims arise from personal injuries on the water. Read more »

Gowrie Group believes strongly in connecting with the local community. Several Gowrie employees and summer interns made a trip to Westbrook's Elementary School to teach a 2nd grade class the basics of the insurance industry. Emily Gumbrecht and Lizzie Baker, Gowrie's summer interns, led the students through a fun and interactive lesson on what insurance is and why it is important, using Monopoly money and matchbox cars. Read more »

Super Storm Sandy in October of 2012 was a real wake up call for the Northeast and for those in hurricane prone states in general. Sandy led to nearly 1.5 million insurance claims, including 1.1 million homeowners’ claims, about 250,000 vehicle claims, and more than 200,000 commercial insurance claims. Sandy was the single-largest recreational boating industry loss ever recorded, with more than 65,000 boats damaged or destroyed, resulting in $650 million in losses, across all types of property. Furthermore, Sandy was the first really powerful storm to hit the metropolitan New York area, in years. Those of us working along the coast felt Sandy’s impact in many ways. Applying lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy will enable you to better protect your business in the future. Read more »

All major weather sources are predicting an active or extremely active 2013 Hurricane Season (June 1 to November 1). NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting 7 to 11 hurricanes, of which 3 to 6 could be major hurricanes with 111 mph winds or higher. Visit Gowrie's Severe Storm Center to access our detailed hurricane preparation resources and videos. Early season is the time to focus on preparedness. Read more »

OSHA has an "emphasis program" on Forklifts. Which means if you have a forklift, you have a greater chance of being inspected. And if you are inspected, there will most likely be a great amount of focus on your forklift, your drivers, and the accompanying paperwork. Gowrie Group recommends that you take the time now to make sure you are in compliance with OSHA's Powered Truck Regulations and to implement these smart forklift safety guidelines. Read more »

Dawn Speros, Senior Yacht Insurance Specialist, and Steve Prime, VP of Commercial Insurance, have been selected to present e-Seminars to an audience of marine brokers affiliated with YBAA (Yacht Broker Association of America). These engaging seminars will be presented online to an invitation only audience Read more »

Gowrie is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the Connecticut Shoreline Yacht Summit: “Enjoy Every Moment Aboard Your Yacht." Dawn Speros, a Senior Yacht Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group, will present an engaging session on the “Opportunities in the Changing Marine Insurance Marketplace". Read more »

Gowrie Group’s Safety & Loss Control Manager, Kellie Crete, will be teaching a Hydraulic Trailer Safety Training Class in partnership with Brownell Trailers. This class is designed to teach new and seasoned marine employees the proper methods of safely moving boats and using hydraulic trailers. The 3-hour class will include classroom and hands-on training, and will be held on June 21st at Mystic Shipyard. Read more »

Gowrie Group and VFIS are proud to jointly sponsor an important upcoming regional seminar series called Emergency Planning and Response for School Shootings. By teaming up with the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Gowrie and VFIS are working to help protect our schools, first responders, and students. Read more »

Gowrie Group is pleased to announce Kristen Lincoln joined the company as an Account Executive within the commercial insurance department. She will focus on bringing Gowrie’s niche insurance programs and services to municipalities and non-profits throughout New England. Read more »

Gowrie Group is quickly becoming known as the preeminent expert on how Healthcare Reform will affect Connecticut businesses. Skip Young, President and Principal of Gowrie’s Benefits Division, is presenting a series of seminars on this topic. The first two sessions filled quickly and were extremely well received; additional sessions have been schedule. Read more »

Gowrie Group paid tribute to the first day of spring this week with a spirited sock burning bonfire. While it remains a relatively unknown tradition, annual sock-burning parties are hosted by marine businesses all along the East Coast on March 20th to welcome the start of the spring season. Read more »

Gowrie Group's Safety & Loss Control expert, Kellie Crete, is teaching a 10-Hour OSHA Outreach Training Program designed specifically for boatyard, yacht club and marina employees on March 12 & 13th. The program provides training for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces. The program also provides information regarding workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. CT and RI Marine Trades Association members receive a 20% discount. contact Kellie at kelliec@gowrie.com. Read more »

Gowrie Group wants to help ensure the safety of all your members, including your smallest members - children. Over the years, the insurance and safety experts at Gowrie Group, who manage The Burgee Program, have worked with yacht clubs across the country to put in place a variety of effective dock and child safety programs. In most cases, the solutions are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement. These best practices can help to prevent tragic accidents from happening at your yacht club. Read more »

Gowrie Group is excited to announce that Kiley Prime has joined the company as a Personal Lines and Equine insurance specialist. Kiley furthers the expansion of Gowrie's established equine insurance practice. Kiley brings to Gowrie Group her deep equine experience as a rider and horse expert. In her new role, Kiley will work with Gowrie's personal insurance equine team to advise clients on insurance solutions for all of their personal and equine assets. Read more »

Healthcare Reform is here and there are things employers need to know. Twenty-five clients attended Gowrie Group’s Healthcare Reform Seminar on February 26th to learn about the new requirements, timelines, and how this will affect their businesses. Topics covered included: Legal Status of the Affordable Care Act, Reforms Currently in Place, 2013 & 2014 Compliance Deadlines, and The Health Insurance Exchange. The next Healthcare Reform Seminars will be held at Gowrie on March 12th and April 4th.

Kellie Crete, manager of the Safety & Loss Prevention division at Gowrie Group, was a key speaker at US Sailing's National Sailing Symposium in Clearwater, FL. The National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) is the premier event for sailing education in the US. NSPS is the only conference of its kind that brings together program directors, instructors, volunteers, parents and industry representatives to share and learn best practices with one another about running, maintaining and improving sailing programs. Kellie spoke about safety issues and safety best practices as they apply to yacht clubs and community sailing programs. Read more »

The 9th annual Gowrie Challenge to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) raised a record $119,000! In total, Gowrie Group has raised nearly three-quarters of a million dollars ($720,000) to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchen since this annual challenge was begun in 2004. This translates to Gowrie Group funding more than 2 million meals to patrons of the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Read more »

January has delivered a mix of nearly record highs, bitter lows, and some wild storms across much of the country. To help you stay safe, protect your property, and prepare for more winter storms and deep freezes to come, Gowrie Group invites you to visit our Winter Weather Center. Read more »

Gowrie Group, a prominent independent insurance agency, is excited to announce the expansion of their established equine insurance practice through the addition of Holly Griffin. Holly brings to Gowrie Group her long time equine and farm clients, along with decades of equine experience and expertise. In her new role, Holly will work with Gowrie’s equine team to advise her current clients and further build Gowrie’s equine segment. Gowrie Group’s equine programs provide protection for owners, horses, farms, and ranches. These premier equine insurance products and services are accessed from the industry’s top rated carriers. Read more »

Gowrie Group, New England's premier independent insurance agency, focuses much of its charitable giving on supporting The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) which serves residents of 11 Connecticut shoreline towns. Gowrie Group's primary outreach to benefit the Soup Kitchen is the annual Gowrie matching challenge which runs from November 15th to December 31st. The campaign is underway now, and there is still time to donate and help Gowrie reach their ambitious goal of raising $115,000 for the Soup Kitchen. Throughout the year, Gowrie employees also donate time and services to support the SSKP, most recently with a generous lunch served from the Rough House Food Truck Read more »

We wish to make our clients aware that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has made resources available to the public through its site: www.fema.gov. Businesses and individuals in a disaster-declared county in CT, NY, and NJ can contact a local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). FEMA is encouraging all affected parties in disaster-declared counties to register with FEMA for possible assistance with "uninsured" losses. Parties may be eligible for Individual Assistance (IA) or for a SBA loan. Individuals and businesses should not wait for the outcome of any insurance claim, as this could adversely impact their ability to recover through FEMA. (Note that registering with FEMA is not the same as filing a claim for a flood loss through a flood insurance policy.) Parties only have 60 days from the date of the storm to register. Registration is offered online or by phone at: Read more »

Giving back to the surrounding shoreline community in a meaningful way each year is Gowrie Group's most important outreach initiative. To help the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries meet the increasing and ever present demand for food services, today Gowrie Group is launching its 9th annual matching challenge to benefit the SSKP. Gowrie Group is matching, dollar for dollar, the first $25,000 in donations. Read more »

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy our highest priority continues to be facilitating client claims. Our agents and account managers have been reaching out to clients throughout the storm-effected areas initiating the recovery process. Our goal is to help our clients achieve timely and equitable settlements. We have committed additional resources to that end, and have established a Gowrie Catastrophe Claim Team specifically focused on the storm losses. The team members and their contact information are listed below. They will be working with your regular account managers to expedite the claim process. Gowrie Catastrophe Claim Team Commercial (business entities): Eileen Silverstein, eileens@gowrie.com Personal (home, auto): Jesse Kane, jessek@gowrie.com Boat/Yacht: Nancy Sprigg, nancys@gowrie.com Burgee Program (clubs and sailing organizations): Denece Herrera, deneceh@gowrie.com

Steve Prime of Gowrie Group was honored by the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association for 24 years of Exemplary Service on their board, and decades of advocating for marine entities and giving back to the marine industry in general. Steve Prime specializes in commercial, marine, and yacht club insurance. Prime is also known to his colleagues and friends as the unofficial “Mayor of Newport”. Read more »

With hurricane SANDY threatening the South and East coast, now is the time to review your storm plans, prepare your hurricane kit, and focus on active preparation. We invite you to take advantage of all the hurricane resources on our Severe Storm Center (www.gowrie.com/stormcenter). Materials include: guidelines for protecting your homes, boats, yacht clubs and businesses; storm preparation how-to videos, step-by-step guide for making a disaster supply kit, and live storm tracking links. If you have any questions regarding your insurance policies, storm preparation, or claims situations contact your account manager directly or call the main Gowrie line at 800.262.8911 or info@gowrie.com.

Gowrie Group, New England’s premier independent insurance agency, is excited to announce that Dan Cooney has joined the company’s growing commercial insurance division. Dan will work with marine businesses, commercial entities, and yacht clubs across the US to help them put in place comprehensive business insurance solutions and risk management plans. Read more »

Gowrie Group, Connecticut’s premier independent insurance agency, has recently been recognized for multiple prestigious achievements. These recognitions showcase how Gowrie Group continues to differentiate itself in the marketplace as a leader and an innovator: in the view of employees, among competitors, based on industry rankings, and as rated by their own clients. Gowrie’s recent 2012 recognitions include: Voted Top Workplace of Connecticut (by employees, among companies with 50-150 employees) Ranked #1 in CT and #4 in New England (by Insurance Journal, among privately-held insurance firms) Barbara Cooper, Commercial Lines Manager, recognized as 2012/2013 Professional Woman of the Year (by the National Association of Professional Women) Read more »

Beyond the risk of injury to riders and horses, equestrians bear increased personal and commercial liability exposures that need to be individually considered in their personal and family-risk management plans. Here are some of the key questions horse owners can ask to assess their expo-sures to risk and the adequacy of their current risk management plan Read more »

How do insurance brokers with specialized expertise improve protection in individual and family risk-management plans? By looking at the customer’s situa-tion individually. Active, successful people with deep passions and unique assets cannot be properly insured by generic or commodity insurance offerings. Yet, too many smart, successful individuals leave insurance protection to generic insurance policies. Read more »

VFIS of Southern New England, a member of Gowrie Group, is a sponsor of and will be exhibiting at the 2012 New England Fire/EMS Expo on June 20-24 at the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA. With more than 6,000 attendees, the event is the largest annual gathering of first responders in New England. Gowrie has also been selected as the insurance provider for the event. VFIS of Southern New England is a regional insurance provider focusing on a select client groups, including municipalities, public safety organizations, nonprofits, and others niche groups. The company was formed in 1997 and provides insurance and benefits programs directly to clients and through brokers across New England. VFIS of Southern New England became a member of Gowrie Group in early 2012.

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Gowrie Group's Winter Weather Guidelines and Tips. Visit our Storm Center at http://www.gowrie.com/stormcenter. Read more »

Happy Holidays from Gowrie Group - Winter Scene

News Alert: For Immediate Release

As you are aware, the House of Representatives passed the Senate health care bill and a reconciliation bill on Sunday, March 21, 2010. This bill has significant implications for employers who offer health care benefits and the employees and families covered by those plans.

We know you have a lot of questions and concerns about health care reform and how the legislation will impact your benefits. We have been closely following the health care reform legislation and the implications for employer-sponsored health care and benefits.

Listed below are some of the package's provisions that will affect employers:

• Employer Mandates. Effective in 2014, most employers with 50 or more employees must offer coverage to employees. Employers who do not do so may be subject to hefty penalties. The benefit plans offered will also have to meet certain requirements.
• Individual Mandates. Citizens and legal residents will be required to have a certain level of health coverage, or pay a tax penalty. These rules could restrict the usage of high deductible health plans and will decrease the chance that your employees will decline coverage under your plan.
• Coverage Subsidies. Small employers that provide health insurance for employees will be eligible for a tax credit. Also, employers who provide insurance to retirees over age 55 who are not eligible for Medicare are eligible for a temporary reinsurance program.
• Health Benefit Exchanges. In 2014, state exchanges will be established for small businesses and individuals to shop for health insurance. Larger businesses will be able purchase coverage in the exchanges in the future.
• Insurance Reforms. These reforms require policies to provide dependent coverage for children through age 26. They prohibit lifetime coverage limits, rescission of coverage except in cases of fraud, and imposing pre-existing condition exclusions on children. Many of these provisions will take effect in 2010. They may affect your benefits and how you administer your benefit programs.

Gowrie Group Can Help You Get Ready for Changes

Health care reform will almost certainly involve sweeping changes to the benefits you provide your employees and how you provide them. However, it will most likely affect each business differently. Gowrie Group will review your company's current employee benefits to make sure you are prepared for the changing landscape. We will work with you to maximize the value of your employee benefits and minimize your costs and risk. As always, we will continue to monitor the developments regarding health care and keep you informed.

Please contact your Gowrie Group employee benefits representative at 800.262.8911 with any questions.

Gowrie Group, Connecticut’s largest and most prestigious independent insurance agency recently celebrated the 80th birthday of longtime employee, Carol Bastian.

This treasured employee has been part of the Gowrie Group team for over 24 years. Over the years she has served the company in many different functions including account manager. She is currently an active employee in the Commercial Insurance department and maintains relationships with many key Gowrie clients. She is looked to for everything from insurance advice, to career guidance, to laughter. Interestingly, Gowrie also threw her a festive retirement party when she turned 70 (10 years ago!). However, a few months later she returned to the company because she missed the Gowrie spirit, working with clients, and the daily enjoyment of working with the exceptional team at Gowrie.

Carter Gowrie, Gowrie’s CEO, offered a tribute to Carol when he played his guitar and sang a customized and touching version of a Loudon Wainwright song. He entitled the song “80 Years Old”.

Carol is known within Gowrie and beyond for her dedication to her clients, loving animals of all types and sizes, and her commitment to the Gowrie team. Everyone at Gowrie looks forward to working with Carol for many years to come.

Burgee Program’s Best Practices for Dock & Children Safety. Read more »

News Alert: For Immediate Release

Farley Towse joins Gowrie Group as a producer and insurance advisor.

Westbrook, Connecticut. Gowrie Group, Connecticut's largest and most prestigious independent insurance agency, announced that Farley Towse joined the company in early February as a producer and insurance advisor in its Darien office. In his role at Gowrie, Farley will be focused on advising clients throughout New England on their insurance needs, including home, auto, umbrella, and yacht insurance.

"Farley is a strategic addition to the growing Gowrie team who will enable us to bring insurance expertise, customized solutions, and the Gowrie service experience to many new clients across the region," said John Fisher, president and principal of Gowrie's Personal Insurance Division.

Prior to Gowrie, Farley served in various capacities at Secured Marine Trust, a marine oriented financial services software company. At the company, his roles included sales, business development, treasurer, and operations manager. He is a licensed property & casualty agent in Connecticut.

Farley graduated from Trinity College with a BA in American Studies. He is an avid and accomplished offshore sailor, having won major events such as the Newport Bermuda Race, Marblehead Halifax Race, Vineyard Race, and Block Island Race. Farley currently resides in Duxbury, MA with his wife.

News Alert: For Immediate Release

Gowrie Group corporate challenge raises $70,760 to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

Westbrook, Connecticut. This year marked the 6th annual Gowrie Group corporate challenge to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Each year the leadership team and employees at Gowrie make it a goal to give back to the shoreline community in a meaningful way. The Gowrie team feels the Soup Kitchen's mission of providing food and fellowship to people in need, along with their focus on educating our communities about hunger and poverty, is particularly critical today.

The focus of our annual corporate challenge, which ran from November 15th through December 31st, was to raise much needed money for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). As in the past, Gowrie matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000, and the LC Doane Company matched the next $5,000. Almost 175 businesses and friends contributed to the challenge, resulting in an amazing $70,760 in total to benefit the Soup Kitchen and our neighbors in need. This amount provides 283,040 meals worth of food.

To compliment our financial support, Gowrie employees also donate their time as volunteers at the SSKP. In the early weeks of December, when the soup kitchens typically see a lull in support, Gowrie employees focused on the SSKP. On December 2nd, almost 50 Gowrie employees helped prepare, cook, and serve lunch at the Old Saybrook Grace Church soup kitchen. Throughout December, a Gowrie employee food collection resulted in multiple car loads of additional food donated to the SSKP. Throughout the year, Gowrie employees also assist at food distribution sites and spend time planting and harvesting from the SSKP's garden.

While this past year has certainly been challenging for all, it has been particularly hard on families in need, and those families that have had to turn to the food pantries for the first time in the lives. In 2009, the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries distributed 873,137 meals, up 25% over the amount provided in 2008.

All of us at Gowrie Group are grateful for all the generous donations to our annual corporate challenge. Gowrie would also like to give a special thanks to our large contributors this year, The Essex Community Fund and Tom & Diane Neligon of Webster Bank Mortgages. In these difficult economic times, we are proud to be part of a very generous shoreline community.

News Alert: For Immediate Release

Insurance agency unveils new online presence as part of overall corporate rebranding strategy.

Westbrook, Connecticut. Gowrie Group, a leading insurance, employee benefits, and finance company announces the launch of the company’s new website – www.gowrie.com

The new website is a key element of the company’s rebranding initiative. In 2009 Gowrie Group consolidated its multiple trade names and began offering its employee benefit and insurance solutions under the Gowrie Group brand.

“Our new website is yet another resource through which we can keep communication simple, provide expert advice, and deliver the creative and customized solutions our clients need and deserve today,” said Carter Gowrie, President and CEO of the Gowrie Group.

The new Gowrie.com website uses bold crisp imagery, an intuitive navigation scheme, and concise messaging to optimize the user experience. The new user-friendly interface features a simplified navigation and always present full sitemap displayed in the footer to enable site visitors to quickly and efficiently explore and learn about Gowrie’s complete offerings. The site also allows visitors to request a quote directly online. Gowrie.com is designed to meet the needs of multiple audiences, including prospects first experiencing Gowrie Group, and current clients learning about new services, seeking claims reporting information, or searching for specific contact information. Designed to give prospects and clients all the resources necessary to make informed decisions about their insurance and benefits, the new site brings to life the Gowrie Group brand in a digital format for a growing online audience.

The new Gowrie Group website was developed by Mascola Group, and its partner, Caffeine Interactive, a multi-discipline marketing firm based in New Haven, CT. Please visit us at www.gowrie.com

News Alert: For Immediate Release

Dawn Speros Relocating to Gowrie Group's Newport
RI Office.

Newport, RI. Dawn M. Speros, a twenty year veteran of the marine insurance industry and Senior Yacht Advisor at Gowrie Group, is relocating to Gowrie's thriving Newport RI office. The office is located in the recently restored Aquidneck Mill Building, which is on the waterfront campus of the International Yacht Restoration School.

Dawn says, "While my office address is different, the quality service and personalized attention I have always provided my clients will not change. The Gowrie team and I will continue to provide all my current and new clients the advice and solutions needed to best protect their boats and other assets."

Gowrie's COO, Ed Gumbrecht says, "Dawn joins Steve Prime, our EVP, who has operated out of the Newport area for years. Together they will focus on providing the individuals and companies in the boating community and beyond, insurance advice, solutions and services to best protect their assets, businesses, and life styles."

Please stop in and see Dawn and Steve the next time you visit downtown Newport.

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News Alert: For Immediate Release

Gowrie launches corporate challenge to raise $60,000 for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries

Westbrook, Connecticut: This year marks the 6th annual Gowrie Group corporate challenge to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. The leadership team and employees at Gowrie make it a goal to give back to the shoreline community in a meaningful way. Gowrie feels the Soup Kitchen's mission of providing food and fellowship to people in need, along with their focus on educating our communities about hunger and poverty, feels particularly critical today.

The focus of our annual corporate challenge, which runs from November 15th through December 31st, is to raise much needed money for The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP). As in the past, Gowrie will match dollar for dollar up to $25,000. For the second year, the LC Doane Company will match the next $5,000 for funds raised over $25,000. Between the two companies and generous donations of other local companies, we can raise $60,000 and more, which will provide 240,000+ meals! In the past, the support of local companies and Gowrie clients has been generous and greatly appreciated; last year in our challenge we raised an amazing $74,289 for the SSKP.

While this past year has certainly been challenging for all, it has been particularly hard on families in need, and those families that have had to turn to the food pantries for the first time in the lives. In 2008, the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries distributed 691,379 meals. In the first half of 2009, the SSKP distributed almost 500,000 meals. Every donation is meaningful when you consider that the SSKP can provide 1 meal for 25¢, 4 meals for a $1, and feed 10 children for a full year for $1000.

To compliment our financial support, Gowrie employees also donate their time as volunteers at the SSKP. Employees can be found helping out at the food distribution sites and spending time planting and harvesting from the SSKP's garden. This year during the campaign, in the early weeks of December when the SSKP typically sees a lull in support, Gowrie employees will be cooking and serving lunch at the Old Saybrook SSKP location on December 2nd and having an employee canned food drive at their Westbrook, Darien, and Newport locations.

Gowrie and its employees believe strongly in the need to support the SSKP and our community at this time. All the funds raised through the Gowrie corporate matching challenge will be used to purchase and provide healthy meals for those in need in our community.

Chris Brodeur Joins Gowrie as a Commercial Insurance VP.

October 2009, Westbrook, CT:
Gowrie Group is pleased to announce that Christopher T. Brodeur has joined the company as a Vice President in its commercial insurance division. In his role at Gowrie Mr. Brodeur will work with business owners and executives throughout Connecticut, New England, New York and New Jersey to customize property and casualty insurance programs to best fit the unique needs of each client.

Mr. Brodeur is a commercial lines agent with over twenty years experience in the business insurance industry. He began his career with the Hartford Insurance Company, and embarked on his agency career in 1989 with the Levine Agency of Waterford, which was acquired by the Webster Insurance Agency and more recently USI, Inc.

“Chris is one of the most respected commercial insurance professionals in the state,” said Ed Gumbrecht, Gowrie’s Chief Operating Officer. “His decision to join Gowrie reflects his confidence in our ability to bring creative insurance solutions to a wider audience.”

Brodeur commented, “The Gowrie organization is unique in its customer focus, and in its niche expertise. I look forward to contributing my knowledge and experience to this truly exceptional organization.”

Chris is a graduate of the University of Connecticut school of Business with a major in Risk and Insurance. He resides in Glastonbury, and will operate from Gowrie’s Westbrook headquarters.

Gowrie provides insurance, employee benefits, and financial services to individual and businesses throughout the US.

http://www.gowrie.com/pdfs/Carter_Shoreline_Times_09202009.pdf

Gowrie’s Dawn Speros Sees Opportunity for Boaters in the Current Marine Insurance Market.

Newport, RI. Dawn M. Speros, a twenty year veteran of the marine insurance industry and Senior Yacht Insurance Specialist at Gowrie Group presented to marine industry leaders at the Newport International Boat Show Seminar Series last week. She portrayed the changing marine insurance landscape as one with hidden opportunities for boaters. Key insights included:

• How marine insurance carriers are showing an expanding appetite for boat and yacht business - which is resulting in competitive pricing for customers
• How to avoid liability exposures by understanding what to look for at marine facilities and how to interpret hold harmless clauses required by those facilities
• How focusing on yacht valuation, navigation plans, and usage schedules can improve pricing and ensure appropriate and needed coverage is in place
• How to get credits for consolidating yacht, home, auto and umbrella insurance, and the advantages of a thorough, annual account review

Gowrie provides insurance, employee benefits, and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the US, and specializes in marine insurance products and services.

Gowrie Group supports the non-profit program, “Dress for Success”.

Westbrook, Connecticut: The Gowrie Group, an insurance, employee benefits, and finance company, strongly believes in the need to support the greater CT community through outreach and philanthropy.

In late June, to benefit “Dress for Success”, Gowrie held a clothing drive which collected over 300 women’s clothing items, for the “Dress for Success” Fairfield branch. Items collected from employees and clients of Gowrie included business suits, business attire, shoes, handbags, and accessories.

“Dress for Success” is a national non-profit which promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Their efforts help disadvantaged women achieve a polished look, both inside and out. While the suiting program provides polish on the outside, the Career Success Coaching Program provides woman the support needed to polish their interpersonal skills and successfully manage business relationships and job responsibilities.

Lindas Dillon, the Gowrie employee who spearheaded the effort said, “The generosity of our employees and clients who contributed to this overwhelmed me! The Dress for Success office was thrilled to receive our bounty of items, which will provide needy women in our state with appropriate interview clothing, as well a confidence boost.”

Gowrie plans to host another clothing drive to benefit the Hartford branch of “Dress for Success” in September of this year. In addition to these clothing drives and Gowrie’s ongoing commitment to community activities, Gowrie’s primary outreach effort is through the corporate challenge it hosts each year to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Gowrie matches donations up to $25,000. In the 2008 challenge, almost 150 businesses and individuals contributed, raising an amazing $74,298 in total. This year’s Gowrie Soup Kitchen challenge will begin in November 2009.

The Gowrie Group provides insurance, benefits, and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the US, and specializes in customized business, home, auto, and marine insurance products and services. For more information about Gowrie Group visit www.gowrie.com or 800.262.8911.

The Burgee Program - Wherever Your Junior Sailors Go, Your Yacht Club is at Risk. The Burgee Program is the only comprehensive insurance program developed to meet the unique needs of all types of sailing organizations - yacht clubs, community programs, schools, classes, fleets, paper clubs, and more. Read more »

Gowrie Group launches new branding upgrade.

Insurance firm consolidates services, identity, and message.

Westbrook, Connecticut: The Gowrie Group, an insurance, employee benefits, and finance company formerly known as Gowrie, Barden & Brett, announces its new branding, effective immediately. The Connecticut and Rhode Island based organization is making the name change, along with a new logo and message, to reflect the consolidation of the increasing number of services it offers.

“The new Gowrie Group name and branding clearly represents Gowrie’s commitment to keeping communication simple, providing expert advice, and delivering the creative and customized solutions our clients need,” said Carter Gowrie, President. “The new name and branding ties together all of Gowrie’s services, programs, and companies – under one unified platform.”

Over the years, Gowrie’s services have grown to encompass insurance, employee benefits, and finance, and have been provided to clients through many linked companies and programs – Gowrie Barden & Brett, Gowrie Brett & Young, Fisher & Fisher Associates, Brewer Preferred Insurance, The Burgee Program and Customer One Financial.

While all of the Gowrie companies share the same values of insight, analysis and service, the organizational identity needed to reflect a single, dedicated team. The Gowrie Group name serves that purpose.

The new name and logo is accompanied by a new message: “Always on watch.” This is intended to reflect Gowrie Group’s understanding of the complexity of clients’ lives, whether they are at home, managing a company, or out on the water. The tagline represents a commitment to vigilance and a proactive stance in protecting client’s assets, interests, business, and traditions

“Gowrie Group and its employees are excited about the new unified name and refreshed branding,” added Carter Gowrie. “We look forward to continuing to provide the expert advice, service, and partnerships that all of our clients need and deserve.”

The new Gowrie Group identity was developed in conjunction with Mascola Group, a multi-discipline marketing firm based in New Haven, CT.

The Gowrie Group provides insurance, benefits, and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the US, and specializes in customized business, home, auto, and marine insurance products and services. For more information about Gowrie Group visit www.gowrie.com or 800.262.8911.

For Immediate Release: Gowrie Group opens new office in downtown Newport, RI

Newport, RI:
The Gowrie Group has officially opened its new office in the boating capital of the world, Newport, RI. The new office space is located in the newly renovated 1831 Aquidneck Mill, which shares a 2.5 acre waterfront campus on the Newport waterfront with the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS). The location was chosen to strategically align with one of Gowrie's core growth and focus areas - providing customized insurance to meet the complex needs of boaters and marine businesses.

The mill building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of only two remaining structures of its kind on the Newport waterfront and is constructed of native green slate and brick encasing a traditional post and beam interior. The building offers programming space for the IYRS School, a maritime research library, and 15,000 square feet of commercial office space dedicated to marine trades. Gowrie will be joined in the space by other important marine companies such as Sparkman & Stephens, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Nautor Swan, Jamestown Distributors, and the Museum of Yachting.

Two members of Gowrie's sales team, Steve Prime and Jim Johnstone, will serve existing and new clients out of this exciting new location. They will focus on providing the individuals and companies in the boating community and beyond, the insurance advice, products, and services they need and deserve to best protect their homes, boats, businesses, and life styles.

The Gowrie Group provides insurance, employee benefits, and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the US, and specializes in customized business, home, auto, and marine insurance products and services. For more information about the Gowrie Group visit www.gowrie.com

For Immediate Release: Gowrie challenge raises $74,298 to benefit Shoreline Soup Kitchens

Westbrook, Connecticut:
The 5th annual Gowrie corporate challenge to benefit The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) was a huge success. During the campaign, which ran from November 15th to December 31st, Gowrie matched donations up to $25,000 and LC Doane matched the next $5,000. Almost 150 businesses and individuals contributed to the challenge, raising an amazing $74,298 in total. The SSKP is able to provide 4 meals for each $1 raised, so this equates to over a quarter-million meals for people in need in our community. The past five Gowrie challenges combined have provided over one million meals for individuals and families in our shoreline communities. Gowrie is a leading insurance agency on the Connecticut shoreline which specializes in providing customized business, home, auto and marine insurance products and solutions.

Thank you to the following generous business and corporate donors:
A&W Sanitation, Co., Inc., Albin Holdings, LLC, Andre J. L'Heureux, Andre Prost, Inc., Andros, Floyd & Miller, PC, Aqua Arts, AR Mazzotta Employment Specialists, Auxiliary Lyme Volunteer Fire Co, Bogaert Construction Co. Inc., Burgess Cleaning, LLC, Buttendorf Bldg & Remodeling, LLC, Castle Marina, Chester Woods, Inc, Coast to Coast Produce, Coffee's Country Market, Congregational Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, Cooper Capital Specialty Salvage, LLC, Deep River Design, Dermatology of Clinton, Eight to the Bar, Essex Community Fund, Essex Garden Club, Food For Thought Concert, George Penniman Architects, LLC, Gregory Gallery Interiors, Inc., Harbor Motors, Higganum Electrical Contractors, Hi-Rel Products, Inc, Industrial Surplus of Connecticut, Inc., JC Remodeling and Painting, JH & H, Inc. Realtors, Krezel Law Associates, Lucy Foundation, Lyme Art Association, Inc., Mather & Pitts Insurance, Inc, Middlesex Shoreline Association of Realtors, Inc., Nutmeg Hill Computer Services, LLC, Old Saybrook Pizza Palace , Pickett Properties, Pier 76 Marina, Inc., Pine Island Marina, Point One architects & planners, Post Road Physical Therapy Sports Medicine Clinic, LLC, Saybrook Hardware, Seaworthy Systems, Inc., Sheds OR US Inc., Sheehan & Reeve Attorneys at Law, T. Grandfield, LLC, The Appraisal Department, LLC, The Cushing Group, LLC, The Sherwood School, The Village Chocolatier on the Guilford Green, Tiezzi Construction, LLC, Tom Fetta Plumbing & Heating Co, Inc, Topside Computer, Triangle Building Associates, Inc., Wal-Mart Foundation, Webster Bank, Women's Club of Old Saybrook

Thank you to the following generous individual donors:
Ms. Dorothy Adkins, Ms. Mary Aery, Ms. Tracy Alexander, Ms. Betty Anderson, Ms. Betty Anderson, Ms. Florabel Babcock, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Barry, Mr. & Mrs James Beardsley, Jr., Mr. Michael Belanger, Mr. Martin Bell, Dr. Paul J. Bied, LLC, Mr. & Mrs Burton Boardman, Dr. James Cammarona, Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Caulfield, Mr. & Mrs.Robert Chase, Mr. Kevin Cole, Mr. & Mrs. James Dee, Jr, Ms. Sharon Dickinson, Mr. & Mrs. John Dillon, Mr. Theodore Doucette, Mr. & Mrs. Lester Duchnowski, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Dudek, Dr. & Dr. Michael Dunne, Ms. Alice Edwards, Ms. Linda Esty, Mr. & Mrs. William Fogarty, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Foley, Dr. & Mrs. Robert Frew, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Gazda, Mr. & Mrs. William Gilbert, Jr, Dr. Richard Goldfeder, Mr. & Mrs. James Guerrera, Sr, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hall, Ms. Merrie Harrison, Ms. Barbara Hessler, Mr. Jeff Hubbard, Mr. & Mrs David Johnson, Jr., Ms. Mary Beth Joyce, Ms. Margaret Lord & Mr. Arthur Kover, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Kritzman, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Landrey, Mr. & Mrs. William Logiodice, Mr. & Mrs. William Lowe, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Lund, Ms. Audrey Lyons, Ms. Lea Macchiaroli, Mr. & Mrs. Franck Malin, Jr, Mr. & Mrs. Dave Mann, Mr. James Mason, Ms. Gay McPhee, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Mierzejewski, Mr. & Mrs. Jessie Modzelewski, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Neligon, Ms. E O'Donnell, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Parson, Mr. & Mrs. Valentino Paterini, Mr. & Mrs. Neil Payne, Ms. Donna Peterson, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Powers, Ms. Maryla Radziszewski, Mr. Michael Rapini, Sr, Dr. Stephen Rothman, Mr. & Mrs. David Royston, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Russo, Ms. Pamela Rustemeyer, Mr. Thomas Santello, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Santovasi, Mr. & Mrs. Gary Sharpe, Ms. Pamela Sibley, Mr. & Mrs. John Sikora, Mr. Brian Simpson, Ms. Sonya Skalandunas, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Sonn, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence M Stefanski, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Stone, Mr. & Mrs. James Stopa, Mr. & Mrs. Bradford Sullivan, Mr. & Mrs. Sweeney, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Thomas, II, Ms. Karen Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Weeks, Mr. Russell T Westcott, Mr. & Mrs. Bradley Wolff, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Wollack, Mr. & Mrs. George Young, Jr

The Gowrie Group of Companies provide insurance, benefits, and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the US, and specialize in customized business, home, auto and marine insurance solutions. For more information about The Gowrie Group of Companies, go to www.gowrie.com

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