WHEREAS, Leland M. Nye, the general manager and secretary of the Virginia Property Insurance Association, retired in 2012 after more than two decades of exemplary service to the residents of the Commonwealth and the Virginia insurance industry; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of the College of Insurance in New York, Leland "Lee" Nye earned a master's of business administration degree from The College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye joined the Virginia Property Insurance Association (VPIA) in 1989 as the assistant manager, becoming general manager one year later; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye led VPIA with a strong focus on highly trained employees and commitment to treating people fairly and consistently, resulting in its designation as the Charter Property and Casualty Underwriters Society Organization of the Year in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye possessed an in-depth knowledge of the many facets of VPIA and oversaw the automation of numerous processes to increase the organization's efficiency and reduce costs; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye realized the importance of continuing education for employees in order to provide better service to policyholders and enhance the insurance industry in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye's commitment to education resulted in over 60 percent of his staff holding professional designations and over 90 percent being actively involved in continuing education at the time of his retirement; and

WHEREAS, a leader in the industry, Lee Nye served on technical committee boards and as president of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Society, growing the chapter's education program and revamping its accounting program, efforts that earned him the chapter's Charter Property and Casualty Underwriter of the Year award in 2006; and

WHEREAS, a tireless promoter of the work of VPIA, Lee Nye educated insurance professionals across the Commonwealth about the work of the association; and

WHEREAS, Lee Nye's dedication and foresight and relentless pursuit of education have made the Virginia Property Insurance Association unequaled in the nation for quality of service to the public, value to the insurance industry, and professionalism and efficiency in its daily operation; and

WHEREAS, a man of tremendous integrity and compassion, Lee Nye and his wife opened their home and hearts to 70 foster children over 10 years, providing a stable and loving environment to children with nowhere else to go, while pursuing a demanding professional work schedule; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Leland M. Nye on the occasion of his retirement as general manager and secretary of the Virginia Property Insurance Association; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Leland M. Nye as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation and respect for his commitment to serving policyholders and the insurance industry in the Commonwealth as the general manager and secretary of the Virginia Property Insurance Association.