02/27/2026
✨ A Night to Remember! ✨
Our Kickoff Party & Awards Banquet was more than just a celebration—it was a powerful reminder of the incredible culture within our General Office. A culture rich in tradition, defined by high standards, and led by top-tier leaders.
With our spouses, significant others, and biggest supporters by our sides, we gathered to celebrate all that we accomplished in 2025 and to share our collective vision for 2026. The evening was filled with laughter, well-deserved recognition, and most importantly, a renewed commitment to growing our General Office and deepening the impact we have on the lives we serve. The energy in the room was electric—and exactly the spark we need to fuel a phenomenal year ahead.
Please join us in congratulating our 2025 Major Award Winners and all of our 2025 Award Winners, whose dedication and performance continue to show what’s possible:
🏆 2025 Agent of the Year: Chad Baker, CFP, ChFC
🏆 2025 Vice President’s Trophy Award: Matt Ferris, MBA
🏆 2025 New Org Agent of the Year: Courtney Rodriguez
🏆 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee: Mark Caldon, LUTCF
We were especially proud to welcome Mark Caldon into the Columbus General Office Hall of Fame. His years of hard work, service to his community, leadership, and commitment to living out the core values of New York Life has set a high bar for us all.
A special thank you to John Purdum, CLU, ChFC for introducing Mark into the Hall of Fame. As Mark’s manager at the start of his career, John played an instrumental role in shaping the legacy we celebrate today.
We are incredibly grateful for everyone in our General Office—the commitment, passion, and belief in what we can achieve together is what makes our General Office Family so special.
Let’s make 2026 a year of explosive growth and continued excellence—for all of us!