Jamaican-born insurance executive Dwight Geddes has been named the 2026 recipient of the Alonzo Herndon Award by Business Insurance, recognising his contributions to the insurance industry and his work to expand opportunities for Black professionals and the next generation entering the field.
Geddes, founder of Metro Claims & Risk Management and The Geddes Management Group, will be recognised at Business Insurance’s INSUREChange 2026 conference on October 8th at the Union League Club of Chicago.
Reacting to the recognition, Geddes described receiving the award as an “amazing privilege and honor”.
“As a Jamaican, as an immigrant, I carry with me the values of those that came before me; perseverance, ambition, community, and the belief that opportunity can transform lives. I hope to make them proud,” he told Jamaicans.com.
Jamaica College Alum
Geddes was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and attended John Mills Primary School before going on to Jamaica College. He is the son of the late Jamaican journalist Tino Geddes.
He migrated to the United States in 1985, continuing his education at Pace University and York College in New York. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York College.
Before entering insurance, Geddes worked in investigative and legal-related roles. In a 2021 interview with CLM Magazine, he recalled working at a plaintiff’s law firm, where his experience with litigation and investigative work helped prepare him for his first position as an insurance adjuster.
That first opportunity would eventually lead to a career spanning more than 25 years in the US insurance industry.
Building a Career in Insurance
Geddes worked his way through the industry in roles that included adjuster, claims manager and director of claims. Before going into business for himself, he served as director of claims for a multistate commercial property and casualty carrier in New York, where he helped build its claims, special investigations and in-house legal operations.
In 2011, he began running his own business and today heads Metro Claims & Risk Management and The Geddes Management Group, both based in Floral Park, New York.
His work has included claims handling, consulting, auditing, risk management and catastrophe response. Metro Claims personnel have been involved in responses to major natural disasters, including Hurricane Ike, Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irma, Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Ida.
Geddes has also published, presented and taught insurance professionals across the United States on subjects including fraud, risk management, automobile claims, catastrophe property trends, and diversity, equity and inclusion. He is also a certified mediator, insurance expert witness and FINRA arbitrator.
Opening Doors For the Next Generation
Alongside his professional career, Geddes has been involved in efforts to introduce more people of colour to opportunities within insurance and support their advancement in the industry.
He has served as co-dean of the CLM Claims College School of Casualty and has held leadership roles with the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA).
In 2022, Geddes was elected to the NAAIA National Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in 2023, becoming the first Jamaican to serve on the organisation’s national board.
He also founded the Northeast Insurance Conference in 2018, bringing together insurance professionals to discuss industry issues, career opportunities and the participation of Black professionals in the sector.
For Geddes, the recognition also reflects his broader commitment to ensuring that others have opportunities to advance.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not simply organizational objectives, they are about creating opportunities, opening doors, and ensuring that talent is recognized wherever it exists,” he told Jamaicans.com. “When we all have opportunities to succeed we all win.”
Geddes said his own journey has reinforced his commitment to helping make those opportunities available to others.
Following in Alonzo Herndon’s Footsteps
The Alonzo Herndon Award was launched by Business Insurance in 2021 to recognise individuals working to support diversity and inclusion within the insurance industry. Recipients are recognised for demonstrating the courage, leadership and goodwill associated with Herndon while helping others progress and succeed.
The award is named for Alonzo Herndon, who was born into slavery in Georgia in 1858 and went on to become a successful businessman. He founded what became Atlanta Life Insurance Company, which grew into one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in the United States.
For Geddes, Herndon’s journey makes receiving an award bearing his name particularly meaningful.
“The story of Alonzo Herndon is remarkable, and his life is a blueprint of perseverance,” he said.
Geddes joins a group of insurance professionals recognised with the award for their work to expand opportunities and inclusion within the industry.
Recognition For Leadership
The Herndon Award is not the first time Geddes’ professional and community work has received wider recognition.
In 2021, Crain’s New York Business included him on its Notable Black Leaders & Executives list, recognising Black New Yorkers for professional and civic accomplishments, including efforts to advance diversity and inclusion.
Geddes has also remained closely connected to Jamaica and his alma mater. In 2026, he serves as president of the Jamaica College Old Boys Association of New York, an organisation that has supported programmes and initiatives at Jamaica College.
Outside insurance, Geddes is also a published fiction author. His novel, A Favor for a Favor, was published by Histria Fiction and distributed by Simon & Schuster. His background in writing stretches back decades and includes contributions to insurance industry publications.
He is also a regular contributing writer to Jamaicans.com, where he shares his knowledge and perspective with the site’s audience.
For Geddes, the latest recognition is not simply about what he has already accomplished, but about continuing the work.
“My journey has reinforced my commitment to helping make that opportunity available to others,” he said.
“This award is a recognition of that and an indication to renew my commitment to continue the work.”
