Photo courtesy LeMay – America’s Car Museum.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, has presented its highest award to one of the best-known figures in the world of insuring collectible vehicles. McKeel Hagerty, president and chief executive officer of The Hagerty Group, LLC, received the Nicola Bulgari award at the museum’s recent Wheels and Heels Gala, which marked the museum‘s second anniversary.
The museum’s Bulgari Award is presented annual to people deemed to have made outstanding contributions to preserving cars through education, restoration and collecting, according to the museum. Hagerty, the firm and person, were honored for their portfolio of insurance and valuation options aimed specifically at the collector world. Past winners have included Dr. Fred Simeone, founder of the Simeone Automotive Museum in South Philadelphia and a leading proponent of original cars; and Ed Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors. McKeel took over the family insurance business, based in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1995, focused it strongly on collector insurance, and increased its workforce from 30 to more than 500. The award is named for jewelry designer Nicola Bulgari, who owns one of America’s most noted private car collections, and who like McKeel is a LeMay board member.
