Governor Bentley Commends 2016 Alabama State Employee of the Year

By: Mark Fowler, Alabama Department of Insurance

MONTGOMERY (Governor’s Office) – Alabama Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner and Chief Actuary Charles Angell has been named the 2016 Alabama State Employee of the Year.  Angell has a highly accomplished career spanning some five decades in both the insurance industry and government service.

“He is highly deserving of this honor and, in many ways, exceeds its challenging requirements and expectations,” Department of Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling said. “Charles is a nationally recognized insurance professional, often called on by other state Insurance Departments for his expertise and wisdom.”

Angell has become a highly sought-out expert and public speaker on property and casualty insurance issues by state leaders and legislators, business groups, professional organizations/societies and citizen groups, especially in the area of coastal property insurance.  He is a frequent visitor to Alabama coastal counties, meeting often with local government and business leaders, media outlets and citizen groups on coastal property insurance issues and reform efforts.

Angell has been a strong and passionate advocate for coastal home fortification.  He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the ALDOI with local coastal area governments and business leaders, national standard setting organizations such as Smart Home America, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and local consumer groups.  He was also instrumental in the 2012 passage of state legislation to establish the Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) program allowing the state to make grants to coastal area residents to fortify their homes against storm damage.

Angell was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley as a member of the Coastal Insurance Working Group (CIWG), consisting of insurance experts, consumers, legislators, policymakers and the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research.  Governor Bentley asked the CIWG to focus their attention on public policy to address the cost of property insurance along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. While legislation was introduced, at the same time, Charles entered into negotiations with the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (the wind pool) leadership that led to an agreement between the ALDOI and the AIUA Board which accomplished many of the goals of the legislation without need to change the law.

The agreement marks a significant accomplishment in coastal insurance reform, which the Governor promised during his first campaign.  For the first time since rates began to markedly rise in 2005, coastal residents will see a reduction in property insurance as current Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost Value policy rates are reduced. In addition, the majority of Actual Cash Value policies will be converted to Replacement Cost Value policies for only 2.5%, down from the current charge of 20%.  The AIUA will also offer up to a 10% deductible.  A vast majority of AIUA policy holders, approximately 25,000, will benefit from the coverage enhancements, signifying a promise kept to Alabama’s coastal residents.  The agreement became effective June 1, 2016.

“I appreciate Charles’ dedication to the Department of Insurance and his drive to directly help citizens of Alabama, specifically those on the Gulf Coast,” Governor Bentley said. “Charles is a large part of our Coastal Insurance Working Group and helped me secure improved affordability of property insurance for coastal residents. This honor is well-deserved and Charles should serve as an example to other state employees.”

“In addition to all his other accomplishments, Charles has worked side-by-side with me on some very successful industrial recruiting efforts to bring more than a dozen new property insurers to Alabama coastal counties,” Commissioner Ridling said. “I can’t think of anyone in state government more deserving of this recognition of service to the people of our state than Charles Angell.”

Under Angell’s leadership, the ALDOI currently licenses and monitors the activities of 145,000 individuals and 9,600 agencies.

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