Vertafore announced the recipients of its inaugural Accelerate Velocity Awards, which recognizes agencies, MGAs and carriers who are leading with innovative approaches and Vertafore technology to drive Distribution Velocity for their businesses, clients and the insurance industry. The awards were presented at Accelerate 2026, Vertafore's annual user conference.

The 2026 Accelerate Velocity Award honorees are Guardian Service, Relation Insurance, Specialty Program Group (SPG) and Westfield. The recipients were chosen for their leadership in leveraging technology to reduce friction and accelerate the flow of data and processes within their organizations and across the insurance lifecycle. With their success, the 2026 Accelerate Velocity Awards winners are demonstrating the power of Distribution Velocity—speed with intentional outcomes.

"Across our industry, there's a lot of conversation about transformation, but what matters is execution," said Rick Warter, chief customer officer at Vertafore. "These organizations are showing what it looks like to move faster with intention, operate smarter and deliver better outcomes. That's what Distribution Velocity is all about, and it's why their success matters so much, not just to Vertafore, but to the future of this industry."

With a focus on personal lines coverage for insured in the southeast, independent agency Guardian Service was recognized for redefining the client experience through a digital-first, technology-driven approach to insurance. By leveraging automation, intelligent workflows and Vertafore's PL Rating^™ and AMS360^®, they re-shop policies to ensure clients are receiving optimal pricing and coverage without added effort. Their use of technology enables more personalized, risk-based recommendations tailored to each client's needs. Combined with a streamlined, multi-channel experience, Guardian is creating a more efficient, proactive, and customer-centric model for modern insurance servicing.

Through a deep collaboration with Vertafore, national broker Relation Insurance is setting a new standard for AI innovation and partnership in the insurance industry. They have gone beyond incremental improvements to find ways to put AI to work to better serve their teams and clients. With strong leadership and a clear vision, Relation has developed solutions like RelationGPT to drive smarter decision-making, increased efficiency and enhanced client experiences. Their approach reflects a forward-thinking organization that is actively shaping the future of insurance.