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Industry News

LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE & CONVENTION

Thank You to the 2007 Sponsors

With another Big “I’ Legislative Conference & Convention behind us, the Big “I” would like to thank the companies whose endless support of the association, and independent agents made this event special. The support of these companies helps the Big “I” provide quality events aiding in the growth and success of independent agents throughout the nation.

Gold
AIG Agency Auto
Allstate Insurance
American Express
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
Encompass Insurance
The Hanover Insurance Group
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)
Travelers
Zurich North America

Silver
AAMGA
Aflac
Applied Underwriters
CNA
Coventry
Farmers and Foremost Insurance Group of Companies
The Hartford
Jackson National Life Insurance
Liberty Mutual Agency Markets
Markel Insurance
NAMIC
NAPSLO
Progressive
Safeco Insurance
Swiss Re

Bronze
Fireman’s Fund
ISO, Inc.
MetLife Auto & Home
The Mines Press, Inc.
Mutual of Omaha
Ohio Casualty Group
Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Inc.
RLI
SeaPass Solutions, Inc.


Agents, States,  Legislators Receive Awards

Several agents, state associations and legislators were honored for their service and commitment to the Big “I,” its legislative issues and InsurPac last week during the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention in Washington, D.C. Among the awards presented over the course of the three-day event:

Woodworth Memorial Award
Matt Berry of the William Gammon Agency in Austin, Texas, received the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the Big “I” bestows upon an individual.

“After 24 years of service to his state and national association, he is still being called upon as a valued resource and leader,” Big “I” President Alex Soto said in presenting Berry with the award. “As a state association staff person so aptly put it, ‘It has really not mattered what the request has been; he has always answered the call and then given his best to the task placed before him.’”

Berry began his contributions to the independent agency system first at the state level, sitting on the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas for 13 years and serving as its president in 1991. In 2002, Berry received the Drex Foreman Award---the Texas association’s highest individual honor.

At the national level, Berry served from 2003-2006 as chairman of the Professional Liability Task Force, leading the Big “I” national professional liability program through crucial negotiations with Westport while exploring new ways for the national association to work with its state association partners. He also served as the State National Director from Texas from 1993-1998. Prior to that, he served on the Direction and Resource Coordination Committee from 1993-1996, the Planning Committee from 1993-1999 (chairman from 1996-1999) and on the Finance Committee from 1995-1996.

The Woodworth Award was established in 1925 in memory of C.H. Woodworth of Buffalo, N.Y., the second president of the association. It is awarded annually to the Big “I” member who best demonstrates outstanding service to independent insurance agents and the entire insurance industry.

InsurPac and Young Agents Awards
Florida received the inaugural InsurPac National Championship Award for raising the most money for InsurPac in a calendar year.

The 2006 Barney Burns Award was given to R. Cleve Folger, partner at TriSure Corporation in Raleigh, N.C., for his chairmanship. North Carolina set a new InsurPac record with 574 PAC donors.

The 2006 InsurPac Young Agent Award was presented to Melissa Champany, Young Agent coordinator for the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. Champany launched a major InsurPac educational campaign among Florida young agents. In 2006, she increased Florida’s young agent InsurPac participation by 300%.

The 2006 Eagle Awards were given to Arkansas, South Carolina and Washington. This award is given out annually to states that average more than $100 in PAC contributions per member agency.

Herndon Award
The Louisiana state association received this year’s Maurice Herndon Award, the highest government affairs honor for a state association. The award was presented to the the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana CEO Jeff Albright. The state association was praised for it’s response to Hurricane Katrina and for its continual and overwhelming support of InsurPac despite the catastrophic losses it sustained after the record-breaking storm.

Sidney O’Smith Award
Dr. Sharon Emek of New York is the recipient of the 2006 Sidney O’Smith award, bestowed annually to an independent agent who promotes the Big “I” legislative agenda and InsurPac. In presenting Emek with the award, Big “I” CEO Robert Rusbuldt commended her for giving so much of her time and for her strong support of the Big “I” and InsurPac. “I do appreciate this award. There’s nothing more important than public policy from the grassroots up…and I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Emek said.

Gerald Solomon Award
Con. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) was awarded the Gerald Solomon Legislator of the Year for his work in supporting numerous Big “I” issues in Congress. Reynolds, a former Big “I” member from upstate New York, praised members for their voice on the Hill and emphasized the weight the association has in Congress.

“The Big ‘I’ is big on Capitol Hill,” Reynolds said. “If you really need something done you call a Big ‘I’ agent and have them call a member of Congress…I have a lot of respect for the Big ‘I,’”

The Solomon award is present annually by the Big “I” to a member of Congress who has demonstrated outstanding leadership on insurance issues.

LC&C Attendees --- The Big “I” Needs Your Opinion
Attendees of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention were sent an e-mail survey on yesterday. Please take a moment to complete the survey. The Big “I” values attendees’ opinions and looks forward to using the results to enhance future Big “I” events. Any attendee who did not receive the e-mail, contact Susan Bonner at susan.bonner@iiaba.net for a copy.

YOUNG AGENTS

Wasserman Schultz Addresses Young Agents

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a rising star of the Democratic Party and a member of House leadership as the Chief Deputy Whip, spoke to members of the Big “I” during the Legislative Conference & Convention last week.

Wasserman Schultz spoke to the Young Agents about the importance of younger people as the fresh voice in an industry.  She emphasized that the next generation brings a new perspective and new ideas to the discussion.

She also stressed the importance of the insurance industry, especially in a time of natural disasters that are so relevant especially in the area around her district in South Florida.  “You are the first line of defense for the business world,” she said.

Wasserman Schultz also discussed legislation she introduced, the “Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Commission Act,” which would examine how to best structure and establish a national catastrophe fund. The proposed legislation would form a commission to make recommendations to the industry for all natural disasters, including hurricanes.

The address was just one of many opportunities Young Agents experienced during the three-day event. Each year during the legislative conference, Big “I” agents and brokers hold hundreds of meetings with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to share their perspective on how legislation affects their business. This year, the National Young Agents Committee offered several events geared specifically towards up-and-coming leaders including: a first-timers reception, a hospitality event, bus tour of Embassy Row and walking tour of the National Zoo and the always-popular President’s Panel breakfast with Big “I” leadership. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.


TRUSTED CHOICE^®

Trusted Choice^® Agencies Make ‘Top 100’ List

Five years after being launched as the leading consumer insurance brand, Trusted Choice^® is proud to have 36 of the top 100 property-casualty independent agencies in the country as members---as named in the April 9 issue of Insurance Journal. Trusted Choice^® salutes those agencies for having the vision and foresight to join the brand program and wishes them continued success with their agencies. All information in the Insurance Journal report was garnered from voluntary online submissions from agencies, brokerages and best estimates based on other public information sources. For more information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800- 221-7917; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.


EDUCATION

Best Practices Spring Cleaning

As the winter doldrums subside, now is the time to take a critical look at agency operations and make way for increased sales and improved workflows. Stiffer competition from direct writers, changing agreements with carriers, recruiting, hiring and retaining producers, technology and workflow issues are just some of the challenges independent agents are faced with today. The goal of the Big “I” Best Practices series is to help an agency be the best it can be––to overcome and combat these challenges––so the agency can continue to grow and prosper long into the future.

The Best Practices tools are designed to help agents do just that by providing the information, resources and guidance needed to work smarter, efficiently and more professionally so agents can enhance performance, maximize results and increase the value of their agency.

Take a look at the multiple tools in the Best Practices portfolio:

• The Annual Best Practices Study: This study is the heart of the program and gives detail on the inner workings of today’s most successful agencies, provides benchmarks against which you can measure your own agency’s performance and offers guidelines on how to use the study as a tool to improve operations and maximize potential.

• Best Practices of Crisis Management: No one expects the worst to happen to their agency, but with this tool, agents can be prepared and ready to take action. It includes a manual and an interactive CD to develop a personal plan, and is of value to both an agency and its clients.

• Joint Agency/Company Planning Tool Quick Step: Developed jointly by agents and companies, this Microsoft Excel document is designed to help agents build collaborative, planning relationships with companies to further their mutual success.

• Customer Service Made Simple: Learn how to raise the value of a business by raising the level of service you provide to customers. This results-oriented idea book contains information-packed pages filled with practical suggestions and useful tips.

• Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders: Skip the trial-and-error approach --- get four-star results from five proven practices for overcoming new and difficult challenges.  This handbook lets agents profit from the experience of 18 leaders who successfully guided their agencies through periods of change and uncertainty.

• Best Practices of Business Perpetuation & Management Succession: Obtain an analysis of privately held businesses, both inside and outside of the insurance industry, and their experiences with ownership transfers. The study provides practical information and planning tools to independent agents who are currently, or will soon be, addressing the issue of business perpetuation, whether internally or through a merger or acquisition with a third party.

• Top Producers: Discover, Train, Reward: Find out how to recruit, interview, train, compensate and retain top producers. The study is more than 125 information-filled pages and includes a section on sample producer contracts.

• Best Practices of Leading Sales Organizations in the United States: This guide provides an examination of the skills, approaches and management of the leading sales organizations in the country. It offers practical ways to improve the agency's sales environment and takes a look inside and outside of the insurance industry.

Join the growing list of agents who are implementing Best Practices to effect improvements in performance, value and prepare for the future to ensure long-term success. For more information, or to obtain on order form, visit www.independentagent.com and select “Best Practices.”

For more information about how the Best Practices program can help, contact Madelyn Flannagan at madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net.


InVEST

State Champions Development Workshop

Westfield Insurance, in coordination with InVEST, is hosting the State Champions Development Workshop July 16 to 18. The complementary event, hosted in Westfield Center, Ohio is designed to help independent agent leaders create InVEST programs in local high schools and junior colleges. Join current state champions as they share their successes and challenges and make a difference in the insurance industry. Learn how instituting an InVEST program can promote workforce development for the insurance industry by attracting and training the next generation of insurance professionals. Click here for the PDF invitation and  click here for the registration form. Please RSVP by June 15. Space is limited and will be available on a first-come first-serve basis. Please contact Bill Pierson with questions at 800-221-7917; bill.pierson@iiaba.net or visit www.investprogram.org.

A 501(c)3 educational trust, InVEST introduces high school and community college students to insurance and the more than 350 diverse careers available within the industry giving students a new outlook on the future. The program offers insurance agencies, brokers and carriers a diverse and talented group of entry-level recruits.