LAS VEGAS, Sept. 21 - Independent insurance agent associations in Alabama, New Mexico and New York were recognized today for their outstanding educational programs as the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) presented each of them with a L.P. McCord National Education Award.
The awards, presented during IIABA’s National Board of State Directors (NBSD) meeting held immediately prior to the association’s Convention & InfoXchange in Las Vegas, are annually bestowed upon the state associations that have provided their members with the best educational and training opportunities to broaden their knowledge of the insurance profession.
State associations are evaluated in three size categories according to innovation in education, single-best seminar, and non-seminar education services.
In the “less than 250 members” category, the honor was bestowed upon the Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico (IIANM). The association’s Director of Education Marit Peters and Education Chair Patty Padon accepted the award on behalf of New Mexico’s agents.
IIANM was cited for its continued expansion of products and services for members. IIANM increased the accessibility of its educational and training programs by offering a variety of alternative delivery systems as well as a university level degree program.
In the “251-460 members” category, the award was presented to the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents (AIIA). Victor McCarley, the association’s state executive, accepted the award on behalf of Alabama’s agents.
AIIA was recognized for its wide variety of quality education programs available to members. Courses are structured and offered at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels based on the students’ own levels of expertise. In addition, a variety of specialty courses and alternative educational mediums are offered for student flexibility.
In the “more than 1,000 members” category, the honor was bestowed upon the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York (IIABNY) in recognition of its wide range of curriculum designed for a variety of experience levels as well as its ability to offer a wide range of continuing education credits. To meet the diverse needs of its audience, IIABNY offers instruction in several different locations for the convenience of its members. New York Education Director Dee Macheda, Chair of the Board Maura Clancy, and State National Director Paul Babbitt accepted the award on behalf of New York agents and brokers.
The Convention & InfoXchange is IIABA’s showcase meeting taking place in Las Vegas from Sept. 21-24. The event features a compelling company CEO roundtable; several prominent guest speakers and panelists; a variety of innovative continuing-education (CE) classes and other cutting-edge workshops; the largest exhibit hall in the insurance industry; numerous networking opportunities; and many other exciting events.
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.
###