WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2007—It’s a groundbreaking event for the insurance industry: representatives of all insurance stakeholders in one place at one time, discussing the industry’s challenges and opportunities, and taking audience questions. When the Big “I” hosts the Insurance Town Hall meeting on April 27 as part of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, lively discussion and debate is guaranteed.
Big “I” CEO Bob Rusbuldt will moderate the event. Panel participants include: J. Robert Hunter, Director of Insurance, Consumer Federation of America; Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), a former insurance commissioner and president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Roger Sevigny, Insurance Commissioner, New Hampshire and vice president of the NAIC; Alex Soto, independent agent and president, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and Tom Van Berkel, Chairman, President and CEO, The Main Street America Group.
With more than 1,200 independent agents and brokers from across the country in attendance, the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention is the insurance industry’s premier legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 25 through 27 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“The Insurance Panel & Town Hall Meeting is a truly unique opportunity to hear all of the perspectives on the issues the insurance industry faces,” says Big “I” CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “In my 20 years in the industry, I’ve never heard a panel which included a carrier, agent, regulator, legislator and consumer advocate all in one place. This could be unprecedented, and it will certainly be informative and educational.”
Each year during the legislative conference, Big “I” agents and brokers hold hundreds of meetings with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to share their perspective on how legislation affects their business. Top issues this year include insurance regulatory reform, natural disaster issues, terrorism risk insurance, the McCarran-Ferguson Act, and more.
Highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention include an in-depth issues briefing session, the annual Big “I” congressional reception on Capitol Hill, appearances by numerous high-profile speakers and national leaders, and the industry’s largest and best-attended trade show. This year’s event will also include an interactive insurance panel discussion, with representatives from the industry, a consumer group, a regulator and a legislator tackling top insurance industry trends and challenges.
To register online and make hotel reservations go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link.
Founded in 1896, IIABA (the Big “I”) 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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