Alan Phillip Cotrone

I worked closely with Al at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) from 2006-2011. He was the VP of North America Operations and I was the VP of North America Commercial. He and I made many client calls together and he was always the best with the client, whether it was an executive we were calling on or a line engineer. I trusted his judgment and his UL expertise. We also worked together to bring our two teams together to work collaboratively on many occasions. He and I also enjoyed some free time away from UL on the golf course. He would always beat me and we always enjoyed the fellowship of each other's company. On one client trip that he and I were making, I remember we were checking into the hotel where both of us were staying and as he checked in there was a problem...he had no reservation. Good news...I did and so we "bunked up" for the evening and had a very successful client call the next morning. Both of us laughed off the mix up and I was glad I was able to have a reservation in the same hotel. I enjoyed his company and he was a very close colleague of mine and a trusted friend. He and I had discussed my visiting him over the last several years at his new retirement home as I had a brother living in the Lake Norman area.

I thought of him last weekend and found the announcement of his passing on the internet. I am so sorry I was not available to be there with his family at the funeral. I will always fondly remember our many times together. All the best to his family during this time.

I have worked with many professional executives in the course of my career and I want you to know that I had the utmost respect for Al as a professional leader and a person. He was more than a professional colleague of mine, he was my friend.

Best,

Robert Simmons
Scottsdale, AZ
2243615759