News

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed today presented the EXIM 2020 New Broker of the Year award to JZJ Insurance Services, Inc. (JZJ), a specialized insurance agency headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Chairman Reed made the award presentation during a tour of Robbins Sports Surfaces, a Cincinnati small business client of JZJ that also was honored today as an EXIM 2020 Exporter of the Year. 

JZJ also was honored virtually during EXIM's 2020 Annual Conference in September. The company was founded in March 2019 by principals with more than 30 years of service, focusing on trade credit and political risk insurance for small and medium-sized businesses. Under the leadership of President Jack Johnstone, JZJ brokered 53 EXIM multi-buyer and single-buyer policies in less than a year. As a result, JZJ was EXIM's eleventh-largest producer in fiscal year 2019 by authorization count and eighth-largest producer by authorization amount, giving EXIM a strong new partner in the small business brokerage market.

JZJ Insurance Services President Jack Johnstone and EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed

"JZJ Insurance Services is to be congratulated for being the EXIM 2020 New Broker of the Year. It was an honor to join JZJ President Jack Johnstone at the headquarters of one of their clients - Robbins Sports Surfaces - and hear about these Ohio success stories and recognize both companies together," said Chairman Reed. "As the New Broker of the Year, JZJ underscores how EXIM's broker partners play a critical role in supporting these small business exporters as they export their 'Made in the USA' goods and services worldwide."

Export credit insurance accounts for the majority of EXIM's authorizations, most of which is distributed by insurance brokers like JZJ. These brokers provide industry and product expertise that ensures their exporting customers obtain the most appropriate coverage at the most affordable price.

"We at JZJ Insurance Services are grateful to Chairman Kimberly Reed and the Export-Import Bank of the United States for being steadfast supporters of U.S. exporters during these difficult times. We also hail companies like Robbins Sports Surfaces for demonstrating the importance of family-owned companies to the U.S. economy," said JZJ President Jack Johnstone.

Since 2014, EXIM has supported exports valued at $5 billion from 211 companies across Ohio. Approximately 90 percent of EXIM authorizations directly support small businesses.

U.S. companies, particularly small businesses, can utilize EXIM's financing tools and resources to increase their international sales, showcase their "Made in the USA" products, and sustain American jobs. By partnering with EXIM, exporters can mitigate the risk of nonpayment on international sales, offer credit terms to foreign buyers, and access working capital loan guarantees. In addition, EXIM has implemented several COVID-19 (coronavirus) relief measures for U.S. exporters and financial institutions to enhance the agency's existing programs.

ABOUT EXIM:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers. A robust EXIM can level the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive support from their governments. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth by helping to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, approximately 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt. 

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.