Le Moyne to Honor Utica National Senior Vice President John H. Eckmair ’07 with the College’s Highest Honor, the Simon Le Moyne Medal, at 2025 Founders’ Day Gala

John H. Eckmair ’07, senior vice president and chief product, pricing and performance officer with the Utica National Insurance Group, will be honored at Le Moyne College’s 2025 Founders’ Day celebration on for Friday, Oct. 17. This year’s gala marks a return to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (formerly the Hotel Syracuse), the location of the event for many years prior to the gala moving to campus for the past 25 years.

Eckmair will receive the Simon Le Moyne Medal, the College’s highest honor, in recognition of his exceptional professional accomplishments, service to the community and ongoing commitment to his alma mater. This 2025 celebration marks the return of presenting a medal to recipients in place of the crystal award given for several years.

Eckmair, who joined Utica National in 2008, assumed his current leadership role in 2024, and oversees the company’s actuarial, product, enterprise risk and underwriting functions. Founded in 1914 as the Utica Mutual Compensation Insurance Corporation, in 2017 the company reached the $1 billion in direct premium threshold.

In addition to his professional achievements, Eckmair is an engaged community leader. He currently serves as treasurer of the board of directors for Empowered Pathways, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, advocacy and empowerment programs. He has also served on the board of directors for the United Way of the Mohawk Valley and in 2020 was recognized as a 40 Under Forty honoree by the Central New York Business Journal. Eckmair has served on the executive committee for the McNeil Institute of Risk and Uncertainty at Le Moyne for the past five years, helping to bridge the gap between academic learning and careers in insurance.

A native of Clinton, N.Y., Eckmair grew up working in his family’s diner, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for community – values that have guided him ever since. “Le Moyne laid the foundation for how I lead with purpose, with empathy, and with an unrelenting focus on service,” Eckmair said. “I am deeply honored to be recognized by a place that means so much to me and that continues to shape the future of so many young leaders.”

“John’s journey is both inspiring and deeply rooted in the values we hold dear at Le Moyne,” said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura. “He hasn’t just built a successful career, he’s used his success to lift others, especially our students. Whether he’s mentoring future leaders or helping expand opportunities in the insurance industry, John shows us what it means to lead with purpose, humility, and heart.”

“John’s impact on his alma mater and the McNeil Institute for Risk and Uncertainty has been nothing short of invaluable,” said Jim Joseph ’83, Ed.D. ’23, executive dean of the Madden College of Business and Economics. “Through his service on both the McNeil Advisory Board and the McNeil Executive Board, he has helped shape our curriculum, mentored numerous students, provided dozens of internships and hired many Le Moyne graduates. He was a key voice in the Utica National Group Foundation’s decision to provide $500,000 in scholarships to McNeil RMI students. John is a dedicated leader and a passionate advocate for the next generation of insurance professionals, not only supporting them with opportunities, but shaping the industry to be a force for good for decades to come.”

Eckmair earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from Le Moyne in 2007. He went on to receive two Master’s Degrees from Quinnipiac University – in organizational leadership in 2013 and business administration in 2026. He also holds numerous professional insurance designations, including Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.

First held in 1968, Le Moyne’s Founders’ Day Gala honors individuals who embody the College’s Jesuit values and who have made a lasting impact through their work, leadership and service.