WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 27, 2010—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) today announced that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, will address the association’s Large Agent/Broker and CEO dinner on March 5 during the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention.
The Big “I” Large Agent and Broker Roundtable, a group which advises the Big “I” Board of Directors on topics important to large agents and brokers, hosts the annual dinner. The group has recently been working on issues such as agent licensing reform, technology and workflow efficiency, and industry workforce recruitment. Large agents and brokers from around the country, as well as regional and national carrier CEOs, will be in attendance.
“The Big ‘I’ Large Agent and Broker Roundtable is honored that Sen. Dodd will be addressing our annual event,” says John Murray, chairman of the Big “I” Large Agent and Broker Roundtable, and CEO, president, and director of Rose & Kiernan, Inc. headquartered in East Greenbush, N.Y. “Sen. Dodd understands the challenges our industry is facing and we look forward to hearing his perspective.”
Sen. Dodd is chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. He is currently serving a fifth term in the United States Senate and recently announced he will not run for re-election. In 2002, the IIABA was honored to present Sen. Dodd with the association’s Gerald Solomon Legislator of the Year Award.
“The Big ‘I’ has a long history of working closely with Sen. Dodd (D-Conn.) on key issues that impact independent insurance agents and brokers, small businesses and insurance consumers,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Sen. Dodd has distinguished himself as a dynamic and effective legislative leader for 30 years. He is a resilient and outspoken champion for independent insurance agents and brokers in Connecticut and throughout our country on a wide range of insurance and small business issues vital to their livelihoods.”
The Big “I” National Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place March 3-5 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“Sen. Dodd is a true expert and has long been a leader on business and insurance issues that directly impact independent insurance agents and brokers and companies,” says Charles E. Symington, Jr., Big “I” senior vice president for government affairs. “He truly understands the important role our members play in communities across the country. In 2010 we look forward to continuing to work with him on the pending financial services legislation and many other critical issues that impact our members, small businesses and all insurance consumers.”
Other highlights of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention will include in-depth issues briefing sessions; appearances by numerous high-profile speakers discussing important insurance and national issues confronting lawmakers as well as agents and brokers; a CEO panel comprised of top carrier presidents & CEOs (CNA, The Hartford, Fireman’s Fund and Safeco to participate) and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and their elected representatives in the Congress.
For registration and hotel information, go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link. Journalists interested in attending, please contact Margarita Tapia, director of public affairs, at (800) 221-7917 or margarita.tapia@iiaba.net for media registration.
Founded in 1896, 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, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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