James Metzger (Jim) has always reached for his dreams. As a teenager, he excelled at competitive sports becoming an All-American lacrosse player. Growing up on Long Island, Jim was known as a gifted natural athlete playing football, basketball and lacrosse at Half Hollow Hills High School. He was a Suffolk County All-Star running back who started every game in his 3-year varsity football career graduating in 1977 with the distinction of being the school’s all-time leading scorer and rusher. As a sophomore Jim played for the 1974-1975 HHH varsity basketball team in the Suffolk County League 1 playoffs. After college, Jim discovered his passion for the insurance industry. In 1983, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with two of the industries’ most prolific sales executives, Richard Ferrucci and Frank DeMartino. It was Jim’s knowledge of sports strategy that taught him to identify areas of opportunity on the playing field. Early in his insurance career, Jim recognized that the same strategy could be applied to his business. He identified the funeral industry as a business segment with unrealized insurance potential. To support his role in assisting the funeral industry, Jim sat as a director on the Board of Trustees of the Funeral Services Foundation.

Jim continues to share his generosity with other organizations, especially on his home turf of Long Island. He is a leading Long Island philanthropist. In particular, he has generously supported his Alma Mater, Hofstra University. In addition to his support of Hofstra, Jim has been a major supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Long Island. Finally, Jim has not forgotten Half Hollow Hills High School, the place that he credits with launching his lifelong love for lacrosse. Nor have they forgotten him. In 1989, Jim’s drive led him to create the Whitmore Group, a leading Long Island insurance brokerage and financial services firm. Now Chairman and CEO of the company, Jim continues to break boundaries both with his business and as a renowned Long Island philanthropist. He contributes to and participates in a number of organizations with the belief that his support will help make it possible for future generations of leaders attain their dreams.