Temie Seibert, executive director for the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA), plans to make significant changes to the organization and provide more value-added services to its members.
the new and first "full-time" executive director of the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA), September (Temie) Seibert expects to make several significant changes in the organization. Seibert says that the IMCA already has a lot to offer its membership and is "poised to move to the next level." She adds, "I bring new energy, association management experience and a fresh perspective to the table. I am excited about working with the IMCA board of directors and membership to move the IMCA forward."
IMCA President Lena Pigg says that the association board made the decision to hire a full-time director because it believed that IMCA needed someone in that job who could provide greater leadership and assume more operational responsibilities. "There were more than 100 applicants for the job," she says. "We are delighted to have Temie with us, and we look forward to helping her in this important executive director transition period."
Seibert began her career in the insurance industry in 1974. She has held numerous marketing positions, including marketing executive for Group Health Cooperative and supervisor of Health and Welfare Plans for PACCAR, Inc. In 1988, Seibert obtained her Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation. A year later, she expanded her marketing and management expertise into property and casualty insurance. For the last eleven years, Seibert has been with Associated Risk Managers of the Northwest, a marketing association that comprises independent insurance agencies located in Washington and Idaho. As executive director of ARM, Seibert was responsible for all aspects of managing ARM. In addition, she was responsible for the acquisition and marketing of all programs and products available to ARM members.
"The opportunity to work with the IMCA allows Asked why she was interested in becoming executive director of the IMCA, Seibert said, "My interests and strengths are in the area of marketing and communication. The opportunity to work with the IMCA allows me to continue my career as executive director of a larger international association in the industry I know best--insurance. IMCA allows me to utilize my managerial talents while expanding my knowledge base well beyond the retail and wholesale aspects of the industry."
Seibert says that she sees membership retention and growth as top priorities for the IMCA. "The members are the lifeblood of any association," she says. "Active membership keeps the association vital. The IMCA has done a good job in the past providing educational opportunities and, of course, the Annual Showcase Awards. However, I have identified areas that can be enhanced and which will result in increased benefits to both the IMCA members and IMCA associate members."
One area that Seibert wants to enhance is electronic communication with members. At present, IMCA has no active Web site and her goal is to establish one with links to members and associate members. "Members and associate members haven't had the opportunity as yet to market themselves through the IMCA. I think establishing a Web site with the proper links is the way to go."
In addition, Seibert is looking to make changes in the IMCA newsletter. "I think the newsletter can be enhanced to include articles that are more newsworthy," she says. "There should be more informational articles to assist our members, to find out their problems and answer their questions."
And most important, according to Seibert, is the need for the IMCA to broaden the scope of its membership. Right now, IMCA members are mostly insurance companies, she says. Seibert wants to attract more brokers into the association and managing general agents. "There are important issues that affect all segments of the insurance industry," she says. "The IMCA can play a leadership role in bringing those issues to the forefront.
"By the same token," she continues, "there are certain issues that are particular to some segments and they need to be addressed. The IMCA must become diverse enough to address all the issues, perhaps some on a local level and others on a national level. Also, we have had discussions about the IMCA broadening into the life insurance area."
Seibert brings a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table. She plans to devote an ample amount of energy to IMCA's membership retention and growth.
As the insurance industry continues to become more global, Seibert believes that the IMCA should try to attract insurance entities of international repute. "We have some international representation at present," she says. "We have several Canadian companies, a few from Mexico and a couple from Bermuda. But I want to expand that more. I have some contacts in the United Kingdom, for example, through my years at ARM. There are some very large brokers in the U.K. and of course Lloyd's of London. I am exploring those contacts right now."
Seibert said she is encouraged in trying to reach her goals by the fact that the IMCA board has always been and continues to be an "active" board." I see a great deal of synergy and energy in the IMCA board. Some of our best ideas and contacts have come from the board and from within the association."
The new IMCA executive director says that she is looking forward to the coming annual meeting. "We will be introducing a new mission statement at the annual meeting. It will not change the basic intent of the organization, which is to assist members in attaining high standards of professionalism in marketing and communication. But it will also emphasize the educational and networking benefits that IMCA has to offer."
The IMCA was founded in 1923 as the Insurance Advertising Conference. Its name was changed in 1984 to reflect the broader communications roles of its members, which include companies of all sizes. The IMCA annual convention, held each June, features the Showcase Awards presentation, recognizing excellence in a wide range of property/casualty communications work. Members' entries are judged both by outside experts and by their peers.
Seibert said that at this year's annual meeting (June 25-28), there will be an impressive array of speakers. Keynoting the annual meeting will be John P. Cavoores, chief executive officer of American International Group's National Union Fire Insurance Co. Cavoores will present a "global" perspective on the property and casualty insurance industry. He is also expected to share his views on how recent trends of convergence, consolidation and capacity are having an impact on today's insurance industry and how they will shape the industry's future. Cavoores joined AIG in 1998 and was named CEO of National Union Fire Insurance only last year. Prior to joining AIG, Cavoores was with Chubb & Son for twenty years in various management positions, including executive vice president responsible for all operations outside the United States.
Also on the program will be John R. Cook, senior vice president and chief communications officer of Nationwide Insurance, who will speak on "Reinventing a Corporate Brand." His task will be to emphasize the importance of maintaining a consistent image and communicating a full complement of products and services in a competitive market. Cook joined Nationwide in 1997 after having worked with such prestigious firms as USAA, the American Insurance Association and Allstate.
Jim Cecil, a leading consultant to chief executive officers, is expected to give meeting-goers an innovative approach to nurturing business skills and talents. Cecil says that, in the fast-paced business environment of the new millennium, "effective strategies require better business knowledge and the ability to execute efficiently." Cecil is a veteran sales and marketing executive with SCM (Smith Corona) and founded his first consulting firm in 1977 in Seattle.
In addition, attendees at the June IMCA meeting will hear Juan Senor, who is coming to the annual meeting from London. Senor is an on-air commentator for CNBC. He will discuss the structured corporate world vs. the unstructured world of media and look at how bridging this gap can help capitalize on media opportunities. His presentation is titled "No Comment, No Business: Media Crisis Management."
"So we have a lot going on that will be of value to our members," says Seibert. "And that's what I believe IMCA is all about, providing value to our members. In the new millennium, with all the changes that are taking place at such a rapid pace, our members and associate members are going to need more information and demand more information. And, in order to attract new members, we have to be ready to answer their needs as well. My goal is to assist IMCA in becoming a broader, more diverse organization."
Seibert lives with her husband and three daughters in Mukilteo, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Her hobbies include boating, gardening, and working with her three Shetland sheepdogs. Seibert is also active in community organizations such as the PTA and the local 4-H program. *
For more information, contact:
Temie Seibert: seibertsept@msn.com
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