Oswald Trippe and Company announced that James R. Pender will continue to serve as its honorary chairman, after ending his 50 years of service with Oswald Companies, a Cleveland risk management and insurance brokerage that was founded by his grandfather, James B. Oswald, in 1893. In recent years, Pender served as honorary chairman and previously as chairman and CEO of Oswald Companies.

“For more than five decades Jim has made untold contributions to the insurance industry and to numerous nonprofit organizations,” said Gary V. Trippe, chairman/CEO of Oswald Trippe and Company. “He has been a visionary for Oswald Companies, so we are honored that he will remain active in the direction and management of our firm.”

A part-time resident of Sanibel Island, Pender co-founded Oswald Trippe and Company in 1982 with Trippe and his wife, Gay G. Trippe. Headquartered in Fort Myers, the agency provides comprehensive insurance and risk-management services to families and business in 16 locations throughout Florida and North Carolina.

Pender is an officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Council of Agents and Brokers, which is the premier association for the commercial property, casualty and employee benefits insurance agency industry. He is past chairman of Assurex Global International and past president of the Cleveland chapter of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, as well as a former teacher for insurance at the collegiate level.

Oswald Trippe and Company, founded in 1982, is the largest employee-owned insurance agency in Southwest Florida. The agency’s 200 employee-owners represent the nation’s leading insurance companies. Oswald Trippe has offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Miami, Naples, Ocala, Port Charlotte and Sarasota.