Special AAMGA Section
The Under Forty Organization
Growing group stresses education, networking and leadership
By Phil Zinkewicz
Seventeen years ago, in 1991, the AAMGA established its Under Forty Organization (UFO), which, as its name implies, was intended to afford young insurance professionals under age 40 an opportunity to network, learn and exchange ideas. Recognizing that the insurance market requires innovative and dedicated leaders, the AAMGA established the UFO to focus special attention on this unique group of skilled practitioners.
The UFO moved slowly at first. At the outset, the UFO consisted only of under-40 insurance executives who were relatives of managing general agents. However, the enthusiasm that the initial group brought to the UFO caused the AAMGA leadership to rethink its original philosophy, and soon the organization was opened to anyone under 40 who was employed by a partner or owner of an MGA.
Consider what 17 years have brought about. Today, UFO membership numbers more than 300, both domestic and international. The UFO elects its own chair and vice chairs for the board of directors, holds an annual meeting each September, and sponsors a reception open to all attendees at the AAMGA’s annual meeting in May.
In addition, the UFO conducts leadership, perpetuation and management training sessions throughout the year. The UFO has established strong ties with Lloyd’s of London’s and Bermuda’s “under 35 groups.”
“The three words that describe the UFO are education, networking and leadership,” says Bryan Clark of Harry W. Gorst Co., Inc., who is chair of the UFO. “We spend the year networking with each other at meetings and through the online chat room and bulletin board on the AAMGA Web site. We learn from each other and then network and learn from older AAMGA members at the annual meeting. As far as producing leaders is concerned, two of AAMGA’s past presidents—Francis Johnson of the Charleston, South Carolina-based Johnson & Johnson, and Scott Anderson of the Fargo, North Dakota-based Concorde General Insurance Agency—came out of the Under Forty Organization.”
Clark says that UFO members take the concept of networking very seriously. “We discuss the important trends in the surplus lines industry—market dislocations, regulatory developments and legislative changes—with each other and with our older mentors. We also want to elicit the views of older members of the AAMGA as to coming market cycles. For example, we are at present in a soft market cycle. There are some UFO members who have never seen a soft market. Talking with veterans can give them insight into what they might expect.”
In recent years, the UFO members have widened their learning experiences by visiting the London and Bermuda markets. UFO leaders have studied the workings of these international markets, spending time with local underwriters and brokers to get a first-hand feel for how these markets work. Currently the UFO is planning a trip to Munich, Germany, to examine market opportunities there, according to Clark.
The UFO has several committees, including membership, education, New membership and Web site.
The Membership Committee is responsible for keeping up to date with membership changes. “We have to know when members pass the age of 40, for example, and leave the organization,” says Clark. “Also, our members need to know how to get in touch with each other. The Education Committee works to secure speakers for certain industry events. The committee makes certain that these are qualified to address particular subjects. Our New Membership Committee deals with recruitment, which is of great importance to us. And we are continually updating our portion of the AAMGA Web site to make certain our members have easy access to AAMGA contact information. The Web site also provides information for those who are not yet members to learn more about the organization.”
Finally, the UFO has completed a two-year project to develop a set of bylaws for the organization. “As I said, education, networking and leadership are what the UFO is all about. I think we have attained those goals, and we will continue to improve upon them,” says Clark. *