ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 5, 2010 — Independent insurance agent associations in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia were recognized by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) for their outstanding Excellence in Insurance Education (EIE) Awards at the recent education convocation in San Francisco.
“The Big ‘I’ Excellence in Insurance Education awards recognize the tremendous contributions made by our state associations in their efforts to improve education,” says Patty Padon, chair of the Big “I” Virtual University curriculum and research committee and benefits consultant for Pat Campbell Insurance in Las Cruces, N.M. “The continuing education needs of our agents could not be successfully met without the hard work and dedication of the men and women who head education efforts at our state associations.”
The EIE awards celebrate and recognize state associations and staff who have made significant contributions to education for their members and the industry in the key area of class offerings, continuing education (CE), professionalism, designation offerings, industry collaboration, planning goals, marketing, resources and more. Each entrant is scored based on a state’s overall educational offerings in a variety of areas and a short essay detailing their overall education programs. The 2010 EIE awards were presented as follows:
Diamond:
Florida Association of Insurance Agents
Gold:
Michigan Association of Insurance Agents
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey, Inc.
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc.
Bronze:
Independent Insurance Agents of Maryland, Inc.
Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Hampshire
Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina
Independent Insurance Agents& Brokers of South Carolina
Independent Insurance Agents of Texas
Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, Inc.
“The Big ‘I’ greatly appreciates all the hard work the state associations put forth on education programs,” says Madelyn Flanagan, Big “I” vice president of agent development, education and research. “Continuing education programs across the country are increasingly more important and helpful to our agents and, ultimately, to consumers.”
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, and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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