Business Insurance launched the Alonzo Herndon Award in 2021, recognizing an individual dedicated to supporting diversity and inclusion efforts in the insurance industry.

The Alonzo Herndon Award is named in honor of an extraordinary businessman who, more than 100 years ago, founded what would become the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the United States’ largest and most successful black-owned businesses.

Mr. Herndon was born into slavery in 1858 and worked as a laborer from a young age. With almost no schooling and no money, his perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit drove him to great success, opening service businesses in Atlanta that were joined to form a landmark company. Today, the Alonzo Herndon Foundation honors his legacy and supports programs and policies in keeping with his vision.

The annual award, which is also made in observance of Juneteenth, recognizes an individual who exemplifies Mr. Herndon’s courage, leadership and extraordinary good will toward others, bolstering their progress and success.

The Business Insurance DEI Institute recognized the 2023 Alonzo Herndon Award winner, Rebekah Ratliff, at the annual DEI Conference on 14, 2023 in Chicago.

Rebekah Ratliff, 2023 Alonzo Herndon Award recipient

Business Insurance has concluded its seventh annual survey on diversity, equity and inclusion in the insurance industry in 2023.

Signet Research Inc., an independent market and media research company, conducts the survey, which provides insights on workforce demographics, talent recruitment and retention, diversity and inclusion successes, and challenges to work on. 

The survey responses were presented live during the DEI Conference on September 14th and published in the October issue of Business Insurance.

2023 DEI Survey Results