Special AAMGA Section
Promoting the cause
Marketing Committee advances the AAMGA agenda
By Phil Zinkewicz
The AAMGA Marketing Committee had a busy year in 2007 and plans another one for 2008. “Our responsibility is to keep abreast of what other AAMGA committees are doing and then promote those activities as well as the AAMGA itself, “says Kathy Bacon, CIC, CLU, CPIW, co-chair of the Marketing Committee.
“It’s also our charge to work with other associations in our industry by letting them know what AAMGA has to offer. For example, our committee has been working with the National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW), providing educational speakers at their meetings. And we want to continue to build our relationship with the Latin American Agents Association (LAAA).”
In addition, the Marketing Committee spends a good deal of time promoting the AAMGA designations, says Bacon, who is senior vice president of Program Underwriters, Inc., in Tampa, Florida. “There’s the CIW, that’s the Certified Insurance Wholesaler designation and the Agency designation which is Certified Managing General Agency (CMGA). These designations are attained by the completion of education requirements through University and non-University courses, and in the case of the individual CIW designation, completion of a project.”
Bacon says that the AAMGA wants the industry to recognize that attaining the CIW or CMGA designations is a mark of distinction for the individuals and for the wholesale agency as well as a visible demonstration of a commitment to investing in training, development and professionalism. “We want our own member insurers to realize that those who hold these designations are at the top of the list among wholesalers and managing general agents,” says Bacon.
“We also want to promote our new and improved Web site (aamga.org),” she continues. “We are proud of how our technology has advanced and we encourage our members to visit the site often.”
The AAMGA University education programs are some of the best courses provided to wholesalers, Bacon says, and the Marketing Committee is excited about promoting them. “The University is constantly adding to the curriculum that it offers to AAMGA members,” she says. The University is currently exploring new learning management programs for members that will be “state-of-the-art and extremely impressive in 2008.”
Another responsibility of the Marketing Committee, Bacon says, is to promote the Under Forty Organization (UFO). “The UFO brings young people into the organization to keep the culture going. It is an opportunity for younger members to network with seasoned AAMGA executives and to exchange ideas and views,” she explains.
Bacon points out that two of the AAMGA’s past presidents have come out of the UFO—Francis Johnson of Johnson & Johnson in Charleston, South Carolina, and Scott Anderson of Concorde General Insurance agency in Fargo, North Dakota.
Another new initiative of the Marketing Committee is an intern program, Bacon says. “We’re just beginning to study the viability of putting together an intern program for AAMGA members and associate members. Let’s face it, we need to recruit exceptional young talent today and what a good opportunity it is to partner with universities that have these capable, young, educated insurance individuals who are looking for job experience. We need to take our time and do it right,” Bacon says.
She adds, “We are also exploring ways to communicate more effectively electronically, such as e-mail blasts, sending e-mails to different lists to reach employees as well as the owners, and sending links to articles that will take members back to our Web site. The key is to enhance our communications with members.”
Concludes Bacon; “Our job at the Marketing Committee is to keep the industry aware of the opportunities offered by the AAMGA and to keep reminding the industry that AAMGA members are highly professional and continuing to improve themselves.” n