In his role as Board Chair, Connelly will help lead the Southeast Division’s philanthropic and diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the region, building relationships throughout the community and championing initiatives that provide essential support to those in need.
“Joe has been a valued and respected member of both the insurance and Southeast communities throughout his career,” said Sarah Conway, Executive Director of the IICF Southeast Division. “Throughout his involvement with IICF, Joe has been an advocate for those in need and a champion of diversity and inclusion initiatives within the industry. I look forward to working together with Joe and our division and chapter boards in achieving greater success for the Southeast region as we give back and lend a hand up to our neighbors.”
At AIG, Connelly leads the strategy, execution and delivery of their commercial insurance business and service capabilities in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Prior to joining AIG, he worked at Chubb as Executive Vice President in the North America Major Accounts Division and at ACE USA as the Regional Executive Officer of the Houston region.
Connelly succeeds Richard Gergasko of Texas Mutual Insurance Company and Mark Shults of The Hartford, who served as Co-Chairs of the Southeast Division Board or Directors for two years.
“In my years working within the insurance industry, I have seen firsthand just how powerful IICF’s initiatives are and the greater impact we can make in our communities when working together,” said Connelly. “As Board Chair of the Southeast Division, I look forward to leading our division forward along with Sarah and all board members as we provide our region with the support they need in these challenging times.”
Connelly earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University and his MBA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas (Houston). In addition to leading IICF’s Southeast Division board, he also is a board member of the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.
Since the founding of the IICF Southeast Division in 2012, more than $4.8 million has been granted to more than 140 nonprofits in the region focused on the areas of education, children at risk, military veterans and disaster preparedness and relief. The division is based in Dallas and serves 13 states, with IICF chapters in Atlanta and Houston, along with plans to expand across several states.
For more information on the Southeast Division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, contact Executive Director Sarah Conway at (214) 228-2910 or sconway@iicf.com.
About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF has served as the philanthropic foundation of the insurance industry for more than twenty-five years, contributing $42 million in community grants along with 300,000 volunteer hours by more than 110,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations, for maximum community impact. IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on social media: @doubleicf.