Young agents excel--For second consecutive year, Illinois young agents win IIABA's top award 03/05

Young agents excel

For second consecutive year, Illinois young agents win IIABA's top award

Each year at its Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) recognizes the accomplishments of young agent organizations across the country. For the second consecutive year, the top honor went to the Young Agents Committee of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, which, up until four years ago, had been dormant. Several other state young agent groups were acknowledged for their achievements at the conference, which was held in October 2004 in Orlando, in conjunction with the annual Big “I” Convention.

2004 OUTSTANDING YOUNG AGENTS COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR
Illinois

Louise “BeBe” Canter (second from left), 2003-2004 IIABA president, presents the 2004 Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year Award to the Young Agents Committee of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois. Accepting the award are (from left) Josh Warren, Laura Richter and Brian Konen.

Within the last four years, the Young Agents Committee (YAC) of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (PIIAI) has “evolved from having no direction, plan, leadership, funding, events, or experience, to having an active, viable and profitable young agents program with a membership base of over 600 young insurance professionals,” according to a PIIAI report. Since its revitalization, the report adds, the organization “continues to gain momentum, uniting young insurance professionals across the state and creating a perpetuation plan for future association leadership.”

During the PIIAI annual convention, the YAC promoted itself by hosting a Young Agents Reception and First Timers Orientation, hospitality suite, and party. Young agent attendance at the convention topped 100 in 2004, compared to fewer than 15 in 2000. Young agents also participated in Illinois’ legislative day and the Big “I” National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., as well as state and national PACs. Participation in conferences, as well as political action committee and political advocacy activities greatly increased over the last few years. The YAC is represented on the state association board of directors. On the national level, Brian Konen, who was PIIAI YAC co-chair from 2000 to 2004, serves on the IIABA National Young Agents Committee.

An annual whirlyball tournament and trip to a Cubs/Cardinals baseball game have become much-anticipated YAC opportunities to socialize and network. Last year, the PIIAI YAC, along with Wisconsin young agents, coordinated the 2nd Annual Midwest Young Agents Conference. The conference attendance grew from 286 in 2003 to 457 in 2004.

The Illinois YAC also coordinates a college internship program and college scholarship program.

2004 OUTSTANDING YOUNG AGENTS COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP and 2004 OUTSTANDING COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
Michigan

Members of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents Young Agents Council accept the 2004 Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year Runner-up Award from BeBe Canter.

Ten years ago, the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) Young Agents Council (YAC) underwent a culture change, making a commitment to become the best young agents group in the country. All new board members have adhered to this commitment, devoting the time and energy to year-by-year growth of the MAIA YAC. The result has been a strong, cohesive team “that has a lot fun at whatever it does.” Support and respect from the MAIA board and companies has helped further the YAC.

One of the YAC’s recent projects was to review members’ preferred methods of communication. As a result, the YAC built its own Web site and now uses it as the key communications tool to reach YAC members and friends of the YAC. To address sales interest, the YAC also began “YAC Chat” in the state association’s magazine in which sales experts provide their insights.

2004 OUTSTANDING YOUNG AGENTS MEETING AWARD
California

Representing the IBA West Young Brokers & Agents, Jeff Lang accepts the 2004 Outstanding Young Agents Meeting Award.

Last year marks the fifth year out of the past eight that the IBA West Young Brokers & Agents (YBA) have won this award. $100,000 of its conference budget was underwritten by various company and insurance-related sponsors. While northern California doesn’t typically draw as many attendees as southern California, 228 young agents and insurance professionals attended the conference, which was held in the northern city of Monterey. This included 53 “first timers.” The conference offered two tracks of classes: a CE track, which provided education on CE-related topics, and a sales track to help agents in that area. A trade show during the conference featured 20 exhibitors from insurance-related firms. The conference was promoted through a variety of vehicles, including a four-color brochure and the IBA West Web site.

2004 OUTSTANDING POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT AWARD
North Carolina
(co-winner with Kentucky)

BeBe Canter congratulates Jeff Thomas and Scott Evans of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina Young Agents Committee for winning the 2004 Outstanding Political Involvement Award (co-winner with Kentucky).

The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC) Young Agents Committee (YAC) employed a variety of methods to promote political involvement, such as letters, phone calls, and discussions at every young agent event. At the 2004 Big “I” National Legislative Conference, the 31 North Carolina young agent attendees represented 18% of the young agents there. The YAC also brought six insurance students from Appalachian State University to the conference. In addition to the YAC members who act as liaison to the IIANC’s legislative committee and PAC committee, eight additional young agents serve on these committees. To date, the IIANC’s YAC PAC donations account for 22% of the state’s total PAC contributions. The YAC was the first IIANC committee last year to have 100% PAC participation.

2004 OUTSTANDING POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT AWARD
Kentucky
(co-winner with North Carolina)

From left, Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky Young Agents Committee members Jeff Greer, Jordan Clarke, Charles Adams and Bart Rowland accept the 2004 Outstanding Political Involvement Award (co-winner with North Carolina).

Consistently strong in the area of political involvement, the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky (IIAK) Young Agents Committee (YAC) continued to raise awareness as well as funds last year. Besides having 100% of the committee board participate in the state and national PACs, the YAC raised 19% of Kentucky’s total amount contributed to InsurPac and 16.5% of the total amount contributed to KAPAC (state PAC). The committee also raised funds to send 10 young agents to the 2004 Big “I” National Legislative Conference. Their attendance at the 2004 state legislative meeting nearly doubled from 2003. The IIAK YAC used a variety of methods to make young agents more aware of the importance of political involvement, including presentations and booths at meetings. The YAC is represented on the IIAK Government Affairs Committee.

2004 OUTSTANDING STATE COMMITTEE PROJECT
Georgia

Ashley Ellis (left) accepts the 2004 Outstanding State Committee Project Award on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia Young Agents Committee.

Last year, the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAG) Young Agents Committee (YAC) hosted its Sixth Annual Chairman’s Choice Golf Tournament. In 2004, the charity of Chairman Ashley Ellis’s choice was the American Cancer Society. She chose this organization in honor of her grandmother, who died of leukemia, as well as the friends and family members of other YAC members who have been touched by this deadly disease. Underwritten by a variety of insurance-related firms, the tournament netted $20,000 for the American Cancer Society. More than 150 YAC members, company colleagues and friends participated.

2004 OUTSTANDING MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AWARD
New Mexico

BeBe Canter presents the 2004 Outstanding Membership Development Award to Francesca Ashcroft and Steve Grant, of the Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico Young Agents Organization.

In less than one year, the Young Agents Organization (YAO) membership of the Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico (IIANM) grew from 12 to 80. The core dozen, which included a company rep, took YAO brochures everywhere they went throughout the state. They looked for opportunities to speak with agency principals about the importance of allowing their younger producers to join the YAO, as well as with young agents directly. At every IIANM event, the YAO created interest by wearing (and giving away) YAO t-shirts, sponsoring a YAO booth and/or holding a YAO fund raiser. The YAO held its own member orientation meeting as well as its first young agent family barbeque. *