My Official Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Peter van Aartrijk
peter@Aartrijk.com; (703) 912-7970
Tech Marketing Veteran Rick Morgan Joins Aartrijk
SPRINGFIELD, VA (Aug. 11, 2008)—Rick Morgan, who has four decades of experience in innovative technology, marketing and publishing in the independent insurance agency system, has joined Aartrijk, a Washington, D.C.-area branding firm, as senior associate.
Morgan will provide strategic support to clients needing focus on Web site development, building social networks and blogs, and emerging technology issues. He also will support Aartrijk’s leadership role with industry organizations, such as the Real Time Campaign, ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange (AUGIE), and the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), part of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
“Rick’s experience—as an agent, company executive, technologist, consultant and journalist—brings invaluable depth to Aartrijk’s holistic approach to branding within the Independent Agency System,” said Peter van Aartrijk Jr., CIC, managing director of Aartrijk. “Online positioning is an increasingly important brand element, and Rick’s contributions will enable us to advise clients on the most effective Web strategies for their businesses.”
Morgan joined Aetna Life and Casualty as a personal lines underwriter after graduating Colorado State University and reached the position of Senior Underwriter. He became co-owner of an independent agency, Holtgrewe-Morgan & Associates Insurance, based in Boulder, Colo. As an agent, Morgan helped develop the process of transactional filing, which ultimately brought new efficiencies to thousands of independent agencies. He also served as a national director on the GEMINI advisory council and was instrumental in the development of the GEMINI Users Group, of which he became national president.
He went on to serve in marketing positions for Delphi Information Systems and as executive vice president of ConfirmNet Corp. With two partners, Morgan also launched Insurance Reference Systems, which created Silver Plume, the insurance reference material CD-ROM. Agencies, technology providers, agent associations and insurance companies have retained Morgan to help them develop and implement their technology strategies.
Morgan also was co-founder of HIGH-TECC, an industry-wide educational event. He was the founding editor of The Automated Agency Report, and his articles have appeared in Rough Notes and Independent Agent, among other publications.
Morgan’s most recent industry position was as senior vice president of marketing for Applied Systems, a leading agency management system vendor, from which he retired in October 2007.
About Aartrijk: Founded in 1999, Aartrijk provides an experienced team of strategists, marketing-communications experts, designers and publishing professionals to enhance the multiple elements of the client’s unique brand. The firm, with offices in six states, offers brand and communications audits; brand identity development; Web strategy, design and content management; advertising, marketing-communications, public relations and public affairs; and publishing and editorial services. Clients range from small local businesses to international corporations to trade associations. For more information: www.Aartrijk.com.
