Shelton’s Ned Miller is the 46th winner of the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award, the lower Naugatuck Valley’s oldest and most prestigious award for public service.
Miller is the president of the Ned Miller Associates, a division of Starkweather and Shepley insurance brokerage company. He is the 46th recipient of the award named for Charles H. Flynn, who was, at the time of his death, editor of The Evening Sentinel and had been one of the founders of the Valley United Fund.
Miller will receive the award at the Valley United Way’s 48th Annual Meeting & Recognition Dinner of April 26 at Villa Bianca in Seymour.
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The Valley Indy asked Miller about his life and service in an email Q&A posted below.
Valley Indy: Tell us a little bit about your background — where you were born, grew up, live now, etc.
Ned Miller:I lived in Shelton for my entire life, born at St. Vincents in Bridgeport. I went through the Shelton Public School system and then St. Joseph High School in Trumbull. I graduated with a BS degree in economics at St. Bernard College. I currently reside with my wife, Marianne in Shelton. My son Nick works for the University of Colorado Medical School in technology department and resides in Denver. My daughter Erica is a hedge fund attorney and resides in New York City with her husband, Dan and two children.
Valley Indy: Congratulations on winning the Flynn award. What’s it mean to you to win it?
Ned Miller: I was surprised to learn that I had been selected for the Flynn Award. There are so many great candidates to choose from that do so much for our Valley. My father was a recipient of the award a number of years ago and I know how much it meant to him. I hope to continue on with my involvement with the Valley community over the next few years as I look towards retirement.
Valley Indy: You’re president of the Ned Miller Associates, a division of Starkweather & Shepley, in Shelton (and formerly of Ansonia!) For those unfamiliar, tell us what the agency does.
Ned Miller: After graduating from college I joined the Kemper Insurance Company as an underwriter. After a few years with Kemper I joined the Miller Agency which was owned by my father and my uncle with offices in downtown Shelton and Kingston Drive Ansonia. We were primarily a property and casualty agency selling both personal and commercial insurance. I have been in the business for 38 years now. I sold the agency at the end of 2012 to Starkweather & Shepley, out of East Providence Rhode Island. They are a employee owned agency that was established in 1879. We are ranked 77th nationally in revenue size in the nation for property/casualty agencies. I run their Shelton office.
Valley Indy: Why did you decide to go into the insurance business?
Ned Miller: The insurance industry offers great careers whether it’s working for a insurance company or an agency. The latest statistics show that within the next 10 years 50 percent of the agency employees will retire. There are employment opportunities now and advancement will be swift.
Valley Indy: Over the years you’ve held a number of leadership roles at community organizations. In addition to currently being a board member at the United Way, you’ve served with Shelton Jaycees (President), Ansonia Rotary Club (President), Housatonic Council Boy Scouts of America (President), Parent Child Resource Center (Vice President) and Mason Temple Association (Treasurer). In a lifetime of service, are there any experiences or events that jump out as especially noteworthy?
Ned Miller: There are a few noteworthy experiences but I’m saving that for my short speech!
