ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 25 -- Four successful and well-respected insurance industry leaders will participate in a CEO roundtable discussion during the opening session of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s (IIABA) Las Vegas InfoXchange, the association announces today.
More than 2,000 independent agents, brokers and other insurance professionals are expected to attend this year’s InfoXchange. The premier IIABA annual event—one of the industry’s largest and most successful—will be held Sept. 21 to 24 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
IIABA CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt will moderate the discussion, which will tackle hot issues affecting the independent agency system and the insurance industry as a whole. Current market trends, federal and state legislative initiatives, technology, diversity, branding and more will be discussed by industry leader panelists. Joining Rusbuldt for the CEO panel discussion will be:
· Dan Carmichael, CEO, Ohio Casualty Group
· Jeff Post, CEO, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
· Cathy Rein, CEO, MetLife Auto and Home
A fourth CEO will be added to the panel at a later date.
“The CEO roundtable is one of the liveliest and well-attended events at InfoXchange, and that tradition should continue this year with this who’s who list of company leaders,” says Rusbuldt. “These post-Sept. 11 days have been critical for our industry, and the days ahead will be filled with pivotal decisions and crucial issues that will profoundly affect the livelihoods of independent agents and brokers. This year’s CEO panelists are proven leaders with outstanding intellect and a keen vision of the future for their companies and the agency system. Their valued insight is going to help every agent and broker better prepare for the future.”
Carmichael has headed Ohio Casualty since December 2000. He previously was president and CEO of IVANS, Inc., and served eight years as chairman, president and CEO of Anthem Casualty Insurance Group.
Post was elected president & CEO of Fireman’s Fund in 2001 after spending five years as its chief financial officer. He came to Fireman’s from the St. Paul Companies in 1994 to take the position of senior vice president & chief actuary.
Rein joined MetLife in 1985 as vice president in charge of the human resources. She was later appointed senior executive vice president in charge of the MetLife Business Services Group before becoming president and CEO of MetLife Auto and Home—the personal lines casualty subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
“These leaders have much expertise to offer InfoXchange attendees on several vitally important topics,” says Rusbuldt. “Branding has never been more widespread in the agency system than it is right now with the success of Trusted ChoiceSM. Each CEO is a proven leader who has used branding to boost their companies to great success. The panel’s branding advice will help agents and brokers better understand the value of a brand and become more focused on branding themselves locally and together nationally through Trusted ChoiceSM.”
In addition to the CEO roundtable discussion, the Las Vegas InfoXchange will feature thought-provoking and nationally recognized business speakers, including keynote speaker Howard Putnam—the former CEO who resurrected now highly profitable Southwest Airlines. The event also features innovative continuing-education (CE) workshops designed to improve agency performance by providing attendees the tools necessary to take their businesses to the next level. Attendees also can experience the largest trade show in the industry and take advantage of numerous networking opportunities for agents, brokers and the many industry representatives who will be attending the event.
Agents and brokers who register by August 15 can save $75 on the registration fee. Register online or download registration materials by visiting www.independentagent.com and clicking on the “Events & Conferences” link. For more information about InfoXchange, contact IIABA’s Convention Department at (800) 221-7917. For more information about the Young Agents Leadership Conference held Sept. 20 to 22 in conjunction with InfoXchange, contact Leslie Mularski at (800) 221-7917.
Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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