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Long Island, NY
Cook,
Hall & Hyde, Inc. (CHH), a leading regional provider of commercial and
personal insurance
,
employee benefits, and risk-management services, recently announced that
Kimet Speed, supervisor, commercial insurance, has received a Long Island
Business News 40 Under 40 Award. Ms. Speed was selected based on her
leadership in business, her support of Long Island nonprofit organizations
and her commitment to the community. She, along with 39 other awardees, was
honored at a breakfast held on January 25th at the Crest Hollow Country Club
in Woodbury.
Since joining CHH in December 2000, Ms. Speed has steadily advanced through
the ranks as her strong customer service, team building and organizational
skills were recognized. She currently holds the position of supervisor in
the commercial insurance division, where her responsibilities include
recruiting, training and managing a team of customer service representatives
(CSRs). Prior to serving in this role, she worked in the personal insurance
division, where she started her career as a CSR and was promoted to
progressively more demanding jobs, culminating in the position of
supervisor. During her tenure at CHH, Ms. Speed has been instrumental in
leading the organization's Agency Management System User Group, which helps
to ensure that CHH remains on the leading edge of information technology.
Ms. Speed has received commendations from the CHH management team for her
business and leadership skills, as well as praise from leading insurance
carriers and CHH clientele for outstanding customer service. Equally
important, Ms. Speed is well-respected and valued by her colleagues at CHH.
As evidence of her continued striving for excellence, she earned her
Certified Insurance Counselor designation last April, placing her in the top
tier of insurance professionals. Ms. Speed also holds a Property and
Casualty Insurance License.
Since graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Musical Theater, Ms. Speed has remained committed to local theater. She is
actively involved in acting and building sets, and helps raise awareness for
both the North Fork Community Theater (Mattituck) and the Riverhead Faculty
and Community Theater. Both of these nonprofit organizations use their
productions to raise college scholarship funds for local high school
students. Ms. Speed has appeared in the North Fork's productions of
Godspell, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, She Loves Me, and No Way to
Treat a Lady, as well as in its annual variety show. For the Riverhead
Theater, she recently starred in How to Succeed in Business Without
Really Trying.
Ms. Speed is also active in the Westhampton Presbyterian Church, where she
currently serves on the Board of Trustees and is a member of its nominating
committee. She previously served on the Board's stewardship committee, which
leads the church's pledge campaign to support global humanitarian efforts.
Ms. Speed is also a regular participant in the church's "Annual Crop Walk,"
which raises funds to fight hunger here on Long Island and nationwide.
Ms. Speed resides in Westhampton, NY, with her husband of eight years.