Janice Wojtanik Receives 2025 President’s Award
Charles Makey, President & CEO of Merchants Insurance Group and Janice Wojtanik, Executive Assistant and 2025 President’s Award recipient
Merchants Insurance Group is proud to announce the recipient of the 2025 President’s Award: Janice Wojtanik, Executive Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer.
Since 1987, the President’s Award has honored one exceptional colleague each year whose dedication, professionalism, and character have made a lasting impact on Merchants Insurance Group. Nominated by members of senior leadership, recipients exemplify the company’s core values of integrity, respect, loyalty, teamwork, and the aspiration to improve.
On March 5, 2026, during the company’s annual Colleague Recognition Celebration, President and Chief Executive Officer Charles E. Makey III announced that Janice Wojtanik is the 2025 recipient of the distinguished President’s Award.
Janice’s career with Merchants spans over an extraordinary 47 years, beginning on July 10, 1978, and over nearly five decades, she has become a steady and trusted presence within the company. Through industry shifts, economic cycles, and significant technological change, she has remained a source of reliability, professionalism, and institutional knowledge.
“Janice represents the very best of Merchants,” Makey said. “Her expertise, trustworthiness, and deep understanding of our organization have made her an invaluable partner to generations of leaders. She consistently goes above and beyond to support our leadership team and colleagues across the company, as well as our agent partners, policyholders, and other key stakeholders.”
Merchants colleagues applaud as Janice Wojtanik is announced as the company’s 2025 President’s Award recipient
In 2025, Janice played a fundamental role during one of the most significant leadership transition periods in the company’s recent history. She coordinated the onboarding of seven new senior leaders, ensuring schedules were seamless and communication remained clear while helping each executive feel welcomed from their first day. In addition to developing onboarding plans for senior leadership, she assisted in welcoming new members to the company’s Board of Directors while recognizing retiring members and helped implement a new board portal to streamline access to board materials.
“Janice’s impact extends far beyond what most people see day to day,” Makey added. “Her dedication, integrity, and commitment to others have helped make Merchants a stronger organization.”
Janice supports many efforts that strengthen connections across the organization, such as coordinating new employee introductions to the President & CEO, organizing colleague events with the Colleagues In Action and United Way committees, managing the distribution of holiday gifts to 325 colleagues (ensuring each received the correct item and size), and assisting with other companywide initiatives.
“I am truly honored to receive the President’s Award. This recognition means so much to me, and I am sincerely grateful to everyone who’s been a part of the journey that made this achievement possible. Thank you for this extraordinary honor and your continued support.”
-Janice Wojtanik, Executive Assistant
As the 40th President’s Award recipient, Janice Wojtanik’s name will join those of past recipients displayed at Merchants’ corporate headquarters in Buffalo, New York, celebrating a career defined not only by longevity, but by legacy.
