Joe Dittmar is a recently retired 46-year veteran of the insurance industry, leaving the industry from his role as Vice-President – Commercial Underwriting for Swyfft Insurance. He has held senior management positions at numerous major insurance companies. A native of Philadelphia, PA, he has resided and done business in NYC, NJ, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Richmond and Durham NC. He now spends his days doing “retirement things” while at his home on the beach in Lewes, DE!
On September 11, 2001, Joe was attending a normal business meeting with representatives of various commercial insurance carriers at the NYC offices of Chicago-based AON Corporation- on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center. One of only seven survivors of the meeting of 54 insurance executives, Joe‘s sharing of his experience of that day gives an informational, historical, inspirational and even motivational insight into one of the most incredible events in US and World history. Joe is Lewes, DE resident, devoted husband and a father of four, grandfather of five and is a founding member of the Naperville 9/11 Memorial Commission.
Dittmar Presentation Overview
Lessons Learned from a Date with Destiny/ A Historic and Inspirational View of 9/11/01:
Joe Dittmar’s eyewitness account of the sights, sounds and scenes from inside and outside the World Trade Center complex on 9/11/01 presents an intriguing and gripping perspective on what really happened before, during and after the terrorist attacks. While steeped with facts and observations of historic proportions, his presentation also presents concepts and ideas on what was learned that day and what lessons we can continue to teach. These lessons are not only historical, but also personal, philosophical, ethical and social.
The recitation of his journey from the 105th floor of 2 WTC all the way back to Aurora, IL in a 36 hour period provides a wealth of insight on an event that not only changed the world, but changed the way we proceed with our daily lives as Americans and residents of an ever-compacting world community. Joe’s perspective deals with not only our political and militaristic vulnerability, but also with the awaking of patriotic spirit and human determination. His offering stresses the point of “always remember and never forget”, allowing all of us to help him continue to “tell the story” so that perhaps history doesn’t have to repeat itself.