(Canastota, NY – June 20, 2014) James E. Caldwell has been chosen as the recipient of the 2014 Vincent V. Albanese Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding and valuable contributions to his profession and to the community. The award will be presented at the annual Canastota Alumni Banquet on June 28.
A 1961 graduate of Canastota Central Schools, James (Jim) spent several months working on Wall Street as part of his MVCC education and received a Real Estate and Banking Degree in 1963. Furthering his education, he completed a National Education Program earning a Certified Insurance Counselor Degree.
Jim has been involved in the insurance industry for more than 50 years, initially employed by Kemper Insurance for the first 10 years of his career. In May of 1973 he purchased part of the Brewster Agency of Oneida and during his 11 years of association with this company, it expanded to include three offices.
The Caldwell Agency, Inc. was created in 1984 when Jim purchased the Canastota and Utica offices. From that time until the present, this business has continued to grow, with Jim attributing some of this growth due to the loyalty of customers and friends. Relative to his career, he has served on the Professional Agents Association Advisory Council for several years.
A lifetime resident of Canastota, Jim has been active in many community organizations and activities including our school community. An 11-year member of the Canastota Board of Education, Jim served as President in 1982 through 1983 and for several times as Budget Chairman. From 1981 through 1984, he went on to serve as President of the Madison-Herkimer-Oneida School Boards Association and in 1984 was awarded The Achievement Award from this organization. Jim continued his educational service for five more years as Area 5 Director for the NY State School Boards Association Representative School Districts for Madison-Oneida-Jefferson Herkimer and Lewis Counties.
Jim has served the community in many capacities, and holds the titles of Past president of the Canastota Little League, of the Canastota Rotary Club and of the Canastota Chamber of Commerce. He is a Past Treasurer for the United Church of Canastota.
Jim chaired the Joe Larue Memorial Fishing Derby for fifteen years; the purpose to raise money for support of several community programs. For several years, he also served as Field Announcer for the Madison County Special Olympics events.
Jim has received numerous awards for his services including the Canastota Chamber Community Appreciation Award in 1979, the Canastota Civic Club Community Service Award in 1997 and the 1998 Community Award from the Canastota Police Department.
At present Jim is, and has been, the insurance instructor at our local college (Utica Chamber of Commerce) for over twenty years. He oversees the Canastota Civic Club dinner program and serves as a member of the Canastota Alumni Association.
Jim and his wife Gerry of more than 50 years enjoy living on Oneida Lake in the home that Jim was reared in. Gerry has worked alongside Jim to help make their business successful and they are proud to call Canastota their home. They have a daughter Faith, son-in-law Greg and two grandchildren, Kirstin and Justin. Despite his busy schedule, Jim finds time on the weekends to fish with his good friends.