National Pawnbrokers Association Names 2026 Industry Leaders

Kaminsky, based in Long Island City, New York, received the Pawnbroker of the Year award during the association’s annual meeting at Pawn Expo. A long-time advocate within the Collateral Loanbrokers Association of New York, he emphasized the vital financial role pawnbrokers play in their local markets, noting the need for passionate leadership to influence legislative outcomes.

The ceremony highlighted several other key figures: Joel Levinson of Dynasty Jewelry & Loan Ltd was named Young Professional of the Year, while Jerry Whitehead of Pawnshop Consulting Group, LLC received the Industry Partner of the Year title. Additional honors went to the Oregon Pawnbrokers Association for State Association of the Year, Robert Barnett for community relations, and Scott Nell for the Outstanding Pawn Image Award. NPA President Bill Dawson praised the winners as benchmarks for the sector, noting that the event drew participants from as far as New Zealand, highlighting the global scale of the profession.