Young Agent Forum

Developing tomorrow's leaders

Young agents gather to learn, share ideas

By Jeff Karll, CLCS

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler. Let the good times roll in New Orleans, September 11-13, 2009, at the annual Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) Young Agents Leadership Institute, which will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

The IIABA National Young Agents Committee is working diligently to present an outstanding program packed with educational and networking opportunities that will strengthen established young agent programs and assist programs that are new or revitalizing.

This meeting is open to young agents holding leadership positions in their respective states as well as those wanting to expand their personal leadership skills and knowledge of the insurance industry. We also encourage state association staff liaisons to attend the Institute, to build on their relationships with other states’ staff, committee chairs and the Big “I”.

The highlight of this conference is the Magnificent Seven—an interactive panel comprised of the 2009 Young Agents Committee (YAC) state award winners in the categories of membership development, political involvement, meetings, communications and state committee project, as well as the Outstanding YAC of the Year and Runner-up committees. These winners will provide insight into how their state’s YAC made it to the top and the tools and techniques they used to get there.

If your state has a strong young agents program or has experienced growth or accomplished something unique in one of the above categories, get more information about these awards on the Young Agents link found under the Member Resources tab at www.independentagent.com. You may also contact one of the National Young Agent Committee members or Katie Cosgrove, National Young Agents Program Manager. Submissions are due by July 15, 2009.

The Leadership Institute will once again host a Staff Liaison and State Committee Chairs Roundtable Discussion. This “meeting of the minds” allows staff liaisons and committee chairs to share success stories, discuss current challenges and brainstorm on how best to manage their program and provide the greatest value to their members. The National Young Agents Committee and Big “I” staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance to attendees.

The conference agenda includes events with a variety of motivational and educational speakers, including the Agents Council for Technology (ACT) Special Event: Best Practices Workflows to Enhance Agency Productivity where attendees will discuss advanced agency processes, workflows and technology. Other events include the Habitat for Humanity Project, Welcome Reception, and YAC Awards Reception with Big “I” Leadership.

The Leadership Institute provides young agents with an opportunity to interact with peers from across the country and creates an environment for up-and-coming leaders to share Best Practices and tips with one another. In addition, attendees will be able to meet the Big “I” Executive Committee and Board of Directors as well as company representatives.

As industry and technology constantly create new challenges in the business world, it is more important than ever for insurance professionals to utilize the tools available to them. The Big “I” young agents program is a fantastic support system that allows individuals to learn and grow professionally.

For more information on the 2009 Young Agents Leadership Institute, go to www.independentagent.com (“Events” tab) to find registration, schedule updates and hotel information. Don’t let this experience pass you by. On behalf of the National Young Agents Committee, we invite you to New Orleans! n

The author
Jeff Karll, CLCS, is a commercial producer with Trissel Graham & Toole in Eagan, Minnesota. He serves on the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Young Insurance Professionals Committee and recently became a member of the IIABA National Young Agents Committee.