IT'S YOUR BUSINESS: Business news releases Thursday, July 2, 2009

Bonita Chamber wins award

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce recently was awarded the Membership Achievement Award (MAA) from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The MAA recognizes the chamber’s excellence in membership during the 2008 year noting the achievement of a top ten placement in the $450,001 to $900,000 total revenue category in the divisions of Number of New Members and New Member Dollars.

The Member Achievement Awards are determined from data compiled annually in the ACCE’s Chamber Operations Survey. Categories include Number of New Members, New Member Dollars and Membership Retention. For the complete survey results please visit http://www.acce.org/index_ektid405.aspx

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce actively supports the growth of more than 1,150 member businesses in Southwest Florida. The chamber is a central resource for local residents, visitors, newcomers, and those wishing to relocate to the beautiful Bonita Springs area.

In 2007, the chamber was honored to receive the prestigious five-star accreditation status, which signifies that the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has met the highest benchmarks set by the United States Chamber of Commerce, an honor only 43 chambers of the 6,936 chambers across the entire United States have attained.

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce strives to serve members, promote an environment where business can grow and prosper and enhance the quality of life of the Bonita Springs area.

- Contributed by the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

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Allstate Floridian announces name change

Allstate Floridian Insurance Co. and Allstate Floridian Indemnity Co., property insurance subsidiaries of Allstate Insurance Co., has announced that their names have been changed to Castle Key Insurance Co. and Castle Key Indemnity Co., respectively.

“While the names of these companies have changed, our commitment to Florida customers has not,” said Mike Sheely, Allstate Insurance Company, Field Vice President-Florida Region. “We anticipate a seamless transition for customers. We will continue to deliver a high level of customer service and timely claim resolution when our customers need us most. ”

The name changes were made in order to better reflect the fact that these property companies are separately capitalized from Allstate Insurance Company – and have been since they began writing business in Florida. These separately capitalized companies were introduced in Florida following Hurricane Andrew in order to help ensure the continued availability of homeowner insurance products in the state of Florida. The name change was approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance and accepted by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR).

“Castle Key is committed to continuing to serve our customers in Florida, and is in a strong financial position to pay claims,” Sheely said.

The Castle Key companies have extensive reinsurance for the 2009 hurricane season to cover projected windstorm losses on their approximately 225,000 policies.

Allstate’s 1,100 agents in Florida represent Castle Key, and will continue to serve these customers. Castle Key customers will still file claims with their Allstate agents, www.allstate.com, or by calling 1.800.ALLSTATE. Customers do not need to take any action with their policies, and they will receive communication concerning the name change.

- Contributed by Allstate Floridian

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After all, it’s your business.

So we have added this feature to naplesnews.com called It’s Your Business.

Have news about your business to share with Southwest Florida? Send it to business@naplesnews.com and to our Business and Government Content Editor Dave Osborn at djosborn@naplesnews.com. We’ll post these on the Business page at naplesnews.com every day and will publish these as space allows in the daily Business section and Business Monday in the Naples Daily News. Start watching online daily for these postings!