The Penn Mutual AVP is recognized for her 25-year track record of promoting diversity in the insurance and financial services industry.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) has recognized Evelyn Gellar, LUTCF, as its 2017 Diversity Champion Award recipient. Gellar was recently promoted to AVP, Market Development for Penn Mutual and is recognized for her 25-year track record of promoting diversity in the insurance and financial services industry.

She is the first Latina president of Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), serving for the current 2016-2017 term. She has been a member of the WIFS Circle of Excellence each year from 2012 to present. Early in her career, Gellar was the founder of the National Hispanic Committee at MetLife. At Empire Wealth Strategies, a Penn Mutual New York agency, she developed the Confidence BuildHer program devoted to empowering women within the firm, as well as other diversity initiatives. She is a regular speaker at industry events on the importance of diversity.

“Throughout Evelyn’s career in financial services she has been an advocate for hiring diverse talent and proactive in recruiting quality advisors from various markets in the New York metro area,” said Michael V. Kane, managing partner at Empire Wealth Strategies. “Evelyn is passionate about helping others achieve the career of their dreams and is a thought leader in the industry.”

NAIFA created the Diversity Champion Award to recognize exceptional efforts to promote the full and equal participation of diverse people within the insurance and financial services profession.

A Diversity Champion presents a unique blend of experience, skills, accomplishments, and other qualities. A nominee must be a member of NAIFA in good standing and have at least five years’ experience in the insurance and financial services industry. The Selection Committee considers the nominee’s trailblazing efforts in one or more of the following areas:

• Creating and promoting diverse and inclusive workplaces
• Raising awareness and fostering communication within the financial services industry and the community
• Supporting inclusion and encouraging diverse individuals to reach their professional goals
• Fostering awareness and commitment to diversity and inclusion within the NAIFA membership
• Providing insurance and financial services in underserved and diverse markets

“I am proud to congratulate Evelyn Gellar as the recipient of the inaugural NAIFA Diversity Champion award,” said NAIFA President Paul Dougherty, LUTCF, FSS, HIA. “Evelyn’s leadership in our industry and dedication to promoting diversity among advisors make her an excellent choice for this award. As our nation grows increasingly diverse, it is incumbent upon the insurance and financial services industry to provide crucial financial protection and risk management products and services to everyone. The best way we can do that is by ensuring diversity among our ranks of financial professionals. Evelyn’s work and advocacy provide an excellent example of how we can advance our industry towards that goal.”