LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Michael J. Barranca upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by
Siena College

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Michael J. Barranca upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Siena College, to be celebrated
with an Awards Ceremony in the Sarazen Student Union, Loudonville, New
York on Tuesday, March 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, The Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an alum who,
driven by the entrepreneurial spirit and values of Siena College, has
excelled as an entrepreneur and positively impacted his community; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular distinction, Michael J. Barranca has
continually demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence
and diligent leadership in his unwavering service to both his community
and profession and consequently has been selected for this most presti-
gious honor; and
WHEREAS, Michael J. Barranca, who graduated from Siena College in 1987
with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, is the Vice President of
Rowlands + Barranca Agency, an employee benefits specialist firm he
co-founded in 1996; and
WHEREAS, By 2012, under the luminous direction of Michael J. Barranca,
Rowlands + Barranca had grown tremendously to become the Capital
Region's fourth-largest health insurance agency; just one year later,
the firm was acquired by Brown & Brown Inc. of Daytona Beach, Florida,
one of the nation's largest insurance companies, for which it now oper-
ates as a unit; and
WHEREAS, Michael J. Barranca's demonstrated excellence in starting and
sustaining a successful company, supported by his dedication to strong
business ethics and commitment to give back to his community, offers
current Siena College students a sterling example of the right way to
pursue an entrepreneurial career; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed man began his illustrious career as an actuari-
al analyst for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield; he later served as direc-
tor of finance and actuarial services for Blue Shield of Northeastern
New York, and as manager of employee benefits for a large independent
insurance agency in the Capital Region before incorporating Rowlands +
Barranca Agency; and
WHEREAS, Now in its 19th year, Rowlands + Barranca serves clients
throughout the Northeast and beyond, specializing in employee benefits,
including the brokering of health, dental, life, AD&D, LTD, STD, and a
host of other benefit policies; the company also provides FSA and HRA
administration, consolidated billing options, COBRA billing and adminis-
tration, and enrollment processing; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his loving wife, Susan, and
their three beautiful children, all of whom feel privileged to be a part
of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Michael J. Barranca upon the occasion of his designation as recip-
ient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Siena College, and to wish
him continued success in all of his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Michael J. Barranca.