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For Jack Naccarato, 2023 is already destined to be a banner year. It is 60Th Not just a wedding celebration, but also the business he and his new groom, Pat, founded in a basement in Saugerties: Naccarato Insurance. And 30 years ago, Jack was inducted into the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame at that organization’s annual banquet. His insurance business was doing well and the family became active local philanthropists. “We’ve been the main sponsor of that invitational every year,” says Jack.
So, on April 1 of this year, when the inductions rolled around again, it was time for some recognition: Jack Naccarato and Naccarato Insurance received the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Club’s highest honor, the President’s Award. It was a tribute to not only their support of that institution, but decades of support to a wide range of charities, clubs and non-profit organizations in Saugerties, New Paltz and Kingston, the communities where the company is based. Offices. “I really like answering,” Jack said politely.
Jack started his insurance career at John Hancock Mutual Life Company, but quickly decided he wanted to strike out on his own. He didn’t quit his full-time job right away, though. As Pat took phone messages from his private clients, Naccarato Insurance experienced a “slow increase” from its first customer – a $128 life insurance policy – and today the business is a serious concern with annual premiums of about $40 million a year.
Before long, the business was doing well enough to hire an assistant while Pat raised Naccarato’s two children. Daughter Jacqueline, born in 1964, became a successful detective with the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. In the year Son John, born in 1967, joined the family business in 1989 and now serves as president and chief executive officer of Nacarato Insurance. “I’m still CEO,” says Jack, who has no plans to retire as long as I’m healthy.
In the year By the 1980s the business had outgrown its underground birthplace, and Jack was looking for a new site to make employees and customers feel more comfortable. Off-road parking was also a priority. He happened to be friendly with a couple who owned a building on the corner of Ulster Avenue and Elizabeth Street in Saugerties and were preparing to retire. “The original owners told me, ‘We don’t have any children to spare, so we wanted to sell it to someone we liked.’ It was great,” Jack recalls. “My wife decorated the Saugerties office. It’s very convenient.”
Over time, the business purchased two adjacent buildings to expand its parking capacity and office space. The staff is now up to 24 people, some of whom have been employed by Nacarato Insurance for decades. “Dina Cafaldo has been with us for 32 years and Susan Tiano for 30 years,” says Jack. “Dina and Susan are a big part of this. They see it as their own.
The growing company established its New Paltz branch 25 years ago, opened an office in Kingston’s Stockade District three years ago and is still looking for opportunities to expand into new locations or acquire other agencies. Naccarato now represents more than 60 insurers and is licensed in nine states. “We sell right across the board: life, health, supplement, group health, property, casualty, liability,” says Jack.
But for all the focus on growing a successful business, the Naccarato family has always placed a high priority on community involvement and volunteerism. Jack, Pat and John have served on the boards of various local organizations, including various youth sports leagues. Jack credits his wife with reviving the Saugerty Historical Society after a long period of dormancy by coordinating a fundraising campaign that enabled the society to acquire a building to serve as headquarters. “The Boys and Girls Club is one of our top priorities,” he said.
The list of corporate philanthropic beneficiaries of Nakarato Insurance is too long to list here, but can be found on the company’s website. Grant recipients range from schools and fire departments to arts, health, conservation and social service organizations. Saugerty-based teams are in abundance, though Jack says his company has been a major sponsor of Taste of New Paltz for many years and recently bought a sign for People’s Place in Kingston. “We offer a lot of things across the board,” he says. We will try to help as much as we can.
Non-profit organizations seeking sponsorship or other support for their projects can submit an online application. www.naccaratoinsurance.com/community.