Who We Are

Our History

In the late 1950s, brothers Donald and George Derham, claims supervisors at Allstate and Royal insurance companies, started their own insurance brokerage. In 1962, Don Derham became an agent of the State Farm insurance companies. His business quickly grew from the first dollar to a $10,000,000 agency through the simple philosophy of treating his clients in a professional, but neighborly manner.

In May of 1993, Don's son, Don Derham, Jr., started the Inter Insurance Agency brokerage operation to broaden their business and better serve their existing clients who wished to purchase insurance products outside of the State Farm agency system.

In November of 1996, Don Jr. opened the Manhattan office of Inter Insurance Agency. To assist the agency with its growth, Don Jr. brought on Chinh Nguyen to manage the Manhattan office, focusing on more diverse clientele. Chinh is fluent in 3 languages: English, Japanese, and Vietnamese. A year later, Socorro Sanchez joined the Manhattan office as office manager, and works closely on the agency efforts in the Filipino market.

On February 14, 1998, Donald Derham passed away and the agency portion of Inter Insurance was opened. In the following year, the agency established its commercial division as part of its continued growth and vision to become a full-service wholesale brokerage and underwriting facility, including policy issuance and risk management services.

In June of 2000, Rollin Becker joined Inter Insurance to spearhead the captive agency marketing effort as well as to maintain relationships with our premier direct market. Rollin had a successful 20-year career at State Farm in Mineola, New York.

July of 2001 marked the conclusion of a five-year project in the development of an offshore agency-owned insurance captive, The International Underwriting Insurance Company of Barbados. This captive aims to target the writing of specific high-quality risks. The program is still under development through outside consultants and reinsurance experts whose purpose is to continue to cultivate a relationship and work with Insurance Carriers and Reinsurers for Program business opportunities.

An administration company, JRPG Administrators, Inc., was formed for the business development and daily operation of the Japanese Restaurant Purchasing Group and other similar business and niche program administration opportunities.

In October 2002, Tom Cirrincione joined Inter Insurance from HRH as Senior Vice President in charge of the Wholesale brokerage and Specialty programs. Tom brought over various specialty programs and is a national expert in Contingent and Excess Coverage.

Inter Insurance became the runoff manager of a defunct cover holder and has successful re underwrote this book of business. It is currently a correspondent for the Underwriters at Lloyds. It has specific underwriting skills in Commercial Physical Damage, Motor Truck Cargo, Contractors Equipment Floaters, Garage Keepers Legal Liability and Ocean Marine Coverage.

The Agency's commercial division will continue to focus on the development of standard and specialty programs through retail agents. Its main focus is to develop an underwriting culture for all its retail partners.

Association Memberships

We are proud members of the following insurance and business associations: IIAA, IIANY, PIA, Society of CPCU, Society of CIC, Target Markets Program Administrators Association, Group 500 of Independent Agents, Nihon Restaurant Association of America.