SOUTHEAST REGIONAL NEWS
Late last year, Sandy Spring Bank, a subsidiary of Sandy Spring Bancorp, reached an agreement to acquire the assets and liabilities of the Chesapeake Insurance Group in Annapolis.
Chesapeake's president, Robert Elling, will assume the position of president of Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation. All 30 of Chesapeake Insurance Group's employees will become Sandy Spring Insurance employees and join Sandy Spring Bank's more than 500 employees. According to Sandy Spring, the agency will continue to operate general insurance agency activities under the trade name Chesapeake Insurance Group.
Georgia
Young Agents win award
The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia received the 2001 Outstanding Young Agents Meeting Award at the IIAA InfoXchange in October. During the year, they held three conferences with a total attendance of 527 young agents. Promotion for the events was done paper-free, via e-mail and the state's Web site. The Georgia Young Agents Committee was also the first committee to send in their award submission electronically.
Florida
Soto added to IIAA board
Alex Soto, ARM, CPCU, has been elected as a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association's executive committee. He is president of the Miami-based InSource, Inc., and was the Florida representative to IIAA's board of state national directors and chairman of the association's communication committee immediately prior to his election to the executive committee.
Willis named Professional Agent of the Year
The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents has named Larry R. Willis of Miami as Professional Agent of the Year for 2001.
He has held a series of leadership positions in PIA at both the national and state level. He was named PIA of Florida Chairman of the Year in 1996, and again in 1997, and was honored as PIA of Florida Agent of the Year in 2000.
Kentucky
Young Agents recognized for political involvement
For the second consecutive year, the Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky received the 2001 Outstanding Political Involvement Award at the IIAA InfoXchange in October. Besides supporting state and national PACs, the Committee compiled a Political Playbook, which educates state association members about the political process, communicating with legislators, supporting PACs and other relevant information.
Stiglitz serves on IIAA board
William G. Stiglitz, III, serves as a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association's executive committee. He is with the Louisville-based Hyland, Block & Hyland, Inc., and has been in the insurance industry for 30 years.
Virginia
Canter named IIAA vice president
Louise "Bebe" Canter, CPCU, ARM, serves as vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents of America. In 1998, she became the first woman in IIAA history elected to serve on the executive committee. Canter is with Patterson Smith & Associates in Falls Church.
North Carolina
Anders named IIAA president-elect
W. Cloyce Anders serves as president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents of America. He is president of VFIS of North Carolina in Raleigh, and Pamlico Insurance Services, Inc., in Bayboro. Anders is also a managing partner of Independent Agency Services, LLC, in Durham. He was elected to the IIAA executive committee in September 1997.
IIANC Young Agents win award
The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina Young Agents Committee was honored with the 2001 Outstanding Membership Development Award at the IIAA InfoXchange in October. IIANC's Young Agents also earned runner-up in the Outstanding Young Agents Committee category. Their accomplishments included: creating a marketing plan to increase young agent involvement, tracking members by birth date and developing a Young Agents mailing list of more than 800 qualified members.
IIANC elects officers
Following are the 2001-2002 officers of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina:
President--Larry B. Roland, Senn, Dunn, Marsh & Roland, Inc., Greensboro; President-elect--Dal Snipes, Snipes Insurance Service, Inc., Dunn; Vice President--Don Evans, Coastal Insurance, Shallotte; Secretary/Treasurer--Bo Walker, Walker Robinson Clark, Statesville; Director--Lester Brown, Hooker & Buchanan, Inc., Greenville; Director--William (Bill) Connolly, III, AAI, CIC, Hart Insurance Agency, Kinston. *